LABORATORY 1

What is Physical
Geology

Visualization

Numbers: Wait there is MATH?

Introduction
Geology is the study of the Earth. As science goes this is quite a broad field including aspects
of chemistry, physics and biology in addition to geology specific topics. The term geology
derives from geos (Gk.) earth and logos (Gk.) study of.
Geology is divided into two broad areas. Physical Geology is the study of earth materials and
processes operating on and within the Earth. Historical Geology is the study of the origin
and evolution of the Earth, its continents, atmosphere, and life. This lab complements your
physical geology course.
Here at Estrella Mountain Community College we have the same instructor for your lab and
lecture classes. Please consult your instructors syllabus for details of assignments, quizzes, and
the general conduct of the class. After doing that, answer these questions in your lab manual.
The manual will not be collected but will serve as a guide for your preparation for lab quizzes
and lab exams.

Questions:
1. What is the name of your instructor? __________________________________
2. What is your instructors office, office hours, phone number and email address?

_________________________________

3. When will lab quizzes be due for this lab class? _________________________________
4. When is your lab exam scheduled for? ________________________________________

5. According to your syllabus, what process should you follow when you have questions?
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

LABORATORY 1 | what is pysical geology 1

6. How often should you check your grade?

_____________________________________________
7. How is your grade determined?

________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________

I. Visualization
You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is clear.

Sherlock Holmes -A Scandal in Bohemia
The fictional Mr. Holmes would have heartily approved of visualization, the examination in
detail of images, maps, and other data. All to often we see but fail to observe. Geology is a
very visual science. Examination (and the accompanying observation) of images, maps, and
specimens is vital to your success in this class.
When viewing an image you should try and compile four categories:
1. Observations of what you know
2. Observations of what you do not know
3. Inferences from your observations
4. Plan of investigation

LABORATORY 1 | what is pysical geology

1. Observations of what you know

Obviously as you progress through this course your entries in this category will greatly increase
(so I hope!). What colors do you see? What are the relationships of components of the image
to each other, to the horizon? Are there any people or plants in the image? What are the
approximate dimensions of the area shown in the image? Are there any symbols on the image
(as on a map or geological cross-section)?

2. Observations of what you do not know

This category should progress the opposite of number 1!

3. Inferences from your observations

4. Plan of Investigation
Simply put this refers to how will you investigate the aspects of the image that need
investigating? Is there a geologic structure that requires you to make a cross-section or 3-D
model?
Let us examine several sample images.

Figure 1-1: Image copyright Michael J. Farabee 2013.

1. Observations of what you know

2. Observations of what you do not know
3. Inferences from your observations
4. Plan of investigation

LABORATORY 1 | what is pysical geology 3

Figure 1-2: Image copyright Anne Rasmussen 2013

1. Observations of what you know

2. Observations of what you do not know
3. Inferences from your observations
4. Plan of investigation

Figure 1-3: Image copyright Michael J. Farabee 2013.

1. Observations of what you know

2. Observations of what you do not know
3. Inferences from your observations
4. Plan of investigation

LABORATORY 1 | what is pysical geology

Figure 1-4: Image copyright Michael J. Farabee 2013

1. Observations of what you know

2. Observations of what you do not know
3. Inferences from your observations
4. Plan of investigation

Figure 1-5: Image copyright Michael J. Farabee 2013.

1. Observations of what you know

2. Observations of what you do not know
3. Inferences from your observations
4. Plan of investigation
LABORATORY 1 | what is pysical geology 5

Figure 1-6: Image copyright Michael J. Farabee 2013

1. Observations of what you know

2. Observations of what you do not know
3. Inferences from your observations
4. Plan of investigation

Figure 1-7: Image copyright Michael J. Farabee 2013.

1. Observations of what you know

2. Observations of what you do not know
3. Inferences from your observations
4. Plan of investigation
6

LABORATORY 1 | what is pysical geology

II. Numbers and Units

In science classes we employ the standard metric units if measurement (although we still use
English distance units for American-made maps). Conversion between these units as well as
an understanding of them will help your success in this class (and maybe driving in a foreign
country too!).
Table 1-1: Basic metric units of length, mass, and volume.

Measures

Examples

Conversion to/
from English Units

Meter

Length

Kilometer
Meter
Millimeter

0.62 miles
39.4 inches
1/25.4 inches

Gram

Mass of any state of

mater

Kilogram
Gram

2.205 pounds
0.03527 ounces

Liter

Volume of a liquid
or gas

Liter

1.057 quarts

Units

We add prefixes to these basic units, as you can see from the examples in Table 1-1.

Notation
Often in geology we need to work with extremely large or small numbers, with lots of zeroes!
Using scientific notation we can simplify these numbers. Ten to the zero power is 1 (in math
we write this as 100=1). Ten to the first power is 10 (101=10; or ten with 1 zero). For fractions
we place a negative symbol in from of the exponent, such as 1/100 can be written and 10-2.
Examples of prefixes and exponents are shown below in Table 1-2.
Table 1-2: Scientific notation.

Prefix

Scientific
Notation

Decimal Form

Abbreviation

Forms used
in English

Billion

giga

109

1,000,000,000

Ga= giga-annum

gigawatt,
gigabyte

Million

mega

106

1,000,000

Ma=mega-annum

megabyte

Thousand

kilo

103

1,000

Ka=kilo-annum

kilometer

Ten

deca

101

10

One

-----

100

Tenth

deci

10-1

0.1

Hundredth

centi

10

0.01

cm=centimeter

centimeter

Thousandth

milli

10-3

0.001

mm=millimeter

milliliter

Millionth

micro

10-6

0.000001

m=micrometer

micrometer

Billionth

nano

10-9

0.000000001

nm=nanometer

nanometer

-2

decade
deciliter

LABORATORY 1 | what is pysical geology 7

Questions:
1. How many micrometers are there in a nanometer? ______________________________
2. Which of these is the correct scientific notation form for 65 million years?
a) 65 X 109 years; b) 65 X 106 years; c) 65 X 10-6 years; d) 65 X 103 years
3. How many centimeters are there in one meter? Express your answer in both decimal as
well as scientific notation _________________________________________________
4. How many centimeters are there in one kilometer? Express your answer in both decimal
as well as scientific notation _______________________________________________
5. The diameter of the earth is 12,756 kilometers. How many meters is this measurement?

________________________________________

6. One kilogram equals ________ pounds.

7. A fossil spore is 345 micrometers in diameter. How many millimeters is that?
______ mm. How many nanometers is that? ________nm
Table 1-3: Some standard measurements and conversions.

Unit
One mile

Conversions
5280 feet
63,360 inches
1.61 kilometers
1610 meters

One kilometer

1000 meters
100,000 centimeters
0.62 miles

One foot

12 inches
0.3048 meters

One meter

100 centimeters
1000 millimeters
39.4 inches
3.2808 feet

One centimeter

10 millimeters
0.39 inches

One millimeter

1000 nanometers

Questions:
1. One mile is _____________ kilometers.
2. Two kilometers is ___________ miles.
3. One meter is _______ inches
4. Five kilometers is ________ inches.

LABORATORY 1 | what is pysical geology 9