Earth’s rotation

• The Earth rotates on its axis

(imaginary vertical line
around which Earth spins)
every 23 hours & 56
minutes.
• One day on Earth is one
rotation of the Earth.
• One Day on Earth is when
our side of the Earth faces
the sun.
• Night on Earth is when the
side of Earth we are on
faces away from the sun.
 Earth’s revolution
• It takes the Earth
365.25 days (or
rotations) to travel or
revolve around the
Sun once.
• This is called a year.
Orbit
 Motion Terminology
• Rotation – to spin on an axis
 Motion Terminology
• Revolution – the motion of a body around
another body
 Motion Terminology
• Orbit – the path that is followed around
another body in space
 Why do we have seasons?
• The Earth’s orbit around
the sun is NOT a perfect
circle. It is an ellipse.
• Seasons are not caused
by how close the Earth is
to the sun.
• In fact, the Earth is
closest to the sun around
January 3 and farthest
away from the sun
around July 4.
Ellipse
 Why do we have seasons?
• Seasons are the result of the
tilt of the Earth's axis.
• Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5°.
• This tilting is why we have
SEASONS like fall, winter,
spring, summer.
• The number of daylight
hours is greater for the
hemisphere, or half of Earth,
that is tilted toward the Sun.
• Seasons Interactive
 Why do we have seasons?
• Summer is warmer than winter (in each
hemisphere) because the Sun's rays hit the
Earth at a more direct angle during summer than
during winter
 Why do we have seasons?
• Also the days are much longer than the
nights during the summer.
• During the winter, the Sun's rays hit the
Earth at an extreme angle, and the days
are very short. These effects are due to the
tilt of the Earth's axis.
Seasons…in a nut shell
Solstices
• Occur twice a year, when the tilt of the Earth's axis is
oriented at its extremes. Tilted the farthest or closest
• Winter solstice is the shortest day of the year. In the
Northern Hemisphere. It occurs on December 21 or 22
and marks the beginning of winter.
• The Summer Solstice is the longest day of the year. It
occurs on June 20 or 21 and marks the beginning of
summer.
 Equinoxes
• A day lasts 12 hours and
a night lasts 12 hours at
all latitudes.
• Equinox literally means
"equal night".
• Sunlight strikes the earth
most directly at the
equator.
• This occurs twice a year.
 Equinox
• The vernal (spring)
equinox occurs March
20.
• The autumnal (fall)
equinox occurs
September 22 or 23.
Eclipses
 What is an eclipse?
• When shadows are formed on
celestial bodies, a darkening
effect is observed. This
phenomenon is called eclipse.
 What is an eclipse?
• This happens when the Moon
and the planet are perfectly
aligned with the Sun during
their orbits.
 Types of eclipses
•Lunar Eclipse
•Solar Eclipse
 Types of eclipses
• Lunar Eclipse- When the Earth casts a shadow
on the moon, causing the moon to go dark.

Earth comes between the Sun and the Moon

and casts a shadow on the Moon (Full Moon)

• Solar Eclipse- When the Moon casts a shadow

on the Earth, causing the sun to go dark.

The Moon comes between the Sun and Earth and

casts a shadow on part of Earth (New Moon)
 Lunar Eclipses
• The Earth moves between the Sun and
the Moon, blocking the Sun’s light, and
causing the moon to glow red.
• Umbra – The dark inner portion of the
shadow cone.
• Penumbra – the lighter outer portion of
the shadow.
If you are in the umbra of the shadow, you will see a total eclipse.
If you are in the penumbra of the shadow, you will have a partial eclipse
 Types of Lunar Eclipses
• Total Lunar Eclipse
• Partial Lunar Eclipse
• Penumbral Lunar Eclipse
Total Lunar Eclipse – when the Moon
passes completely into the Umbra, or
total shadow of the Earth.
This is an animation showing a total lunar eclipse from start
To finish.
Partial Lunar Eclipse – Occur when
the Moon does not fully move into
the Umbra
Penumbral Lunar Eclipse – When
the moon passes only through the
penumbra, or partial shadow.
They are barely visible.
Types of Lunar Eclipses
 When we can See Lunar
Eclipses?
• a lunar eclipse usually lasts for a few hours.
• At least two partial lunar eclipses happen
every year but total lunar eclipses are rare.
• It is safe to look at a lunar eclipse.
 What is a Solar Eclipse?
• Sun’s light is blocked by the Moon
• Moon’s shadow on Earth
• Sun, Moon and Earth are in line
Solar
Eclipse
Types of Solar Eclipses
•Total Solar Eclipse
•Partial Solar Eclipse
•Annular Eclipse
Total Solar Eclipse – can only occur if
you are at the exact spot within the
moon’s umbra
 Here is an animation showing a total solar eclipse

Remember that it is not safe to stare at a solar eclipse !!!

Partial Solar Eclipse – This happens
when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are not
exactly lined up. Only some of the Sun
will be blocked by the Moon
Annular Eclipse – occurs when the
moon is farthest from the Earth in its
orbit. You see an outer ring of light
from the Sun.
Types of Solar Eclipses
 When we can See Solar
Eclipses?
• Solar eclipses happen once every 18
months and last for a few minutes.
• It is not safe to look on without wearing
a device.
 Eclipse Seasons
• Syzygy- The times where the Moon,
the Earth, and the Sun line up perfectly
for an eclipse.
CLOUDS
 3 BASIC TYPES
Stratus-

Cumulus-

Cirrus-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=velxZEWhrDo
 CLOUD PREFIXES
Latin Root Translation Example
cumulus heap fair weather cumulus
Stratus layer altostratus
Cirrus curl of hair cirrus
nimbus rain cumulonimbus
 CLOUD TYPES -Low

Stratus clouds- grey, cover entire sky,

resemble fog, no precipitation, but can
drizzle
 CLOUD TYPES - Low
Nimbostratus clouds- dark grey, wet looking,
associated with continuous light to moderate
falling rain or snow
 CLOUD TYPES – Mid level
Altocumulus clouds- have water droplets,
appear as grey puffy masses, rolled out in
waves or bands
 CLOUD TYPES – Mid level
Altostratus clouds- grey or blue-grey, composed
of ice crystals and water droplets, cover entire
sky, often form ahead of storms
 CLOUD TYPES – High level
Cirrus clouds- thin, wispy clouds, blown by high
up winds, usually mean fair weather
 CLOUD TYPES – High level
Cirrostratus clouds- thin sheet-like clouds, cover
entire sky, sun & moon can be seen thru them
 CLOUD TYPES – High level

Cirrocumulus clouds- small rounded white puffs,

has small ripples often resemble scales from
fish-thus a sky with cirrocumulus clouds is
referred to as a “mackerel sky”
 CLOUDS WITH VERTICAL
DEVELOPMENT
Cumulus clouds- puffy, resembles floating
cotton, base of cloud is flat, top has rounded
towers
 CLOUDS WITH VERTICAL
DEVELOPMENT
Cumulonimbus clouds- thunderstorm clouds,
continue to grow vertically, lightening,
thunder, and tornadoes are associated with
these clouds
Lets Rock!

THE ROCK & THE

ROCK CYCLE
3 Types of Rocks
There are 3
different
types of
rocks;
 Igneous
 Sedimentary
 Metamorphic
Igneous Rock
Igneous rocks are formed by magma and lava as it cools.
Igneous rocks form in two different ways.

 Rock that comes from lava cools very fast and can
either be very light and airy or the rocks can be glassy.

 Rocks that come from magma are formed under

ground. They are often times very hard and have
more colors.
Igneous rock
Sedimentary Rock

 Sedimentary rock is made when sediments

(sand, gravel, and dirt) are pressed together
over time and become a rock
 Sedimentary rock is formed in layers.
Sedimentary Rocks
Limestone

Shale

Sandstone

Granite
Metamorphic Rock

 Metamorphic rocks are made from other

rocks.
 Heat and pressure help change an igneous or
sedimentary rock into a new kind of rock
(think about how a caterpillar becomes a
butterfly)
The Rock Cycle
FOOD CHAINS
AND
FOOD WEBS
 Words to Know
Producer – an organism that makes it’s own
food
*Plants are
producers

Consumers – an organism that has to eat to

get energy
 Types of Consumers
herbivore – an organism that only
eats plants

carnivore - an organism that only

eats meat

omnivore – an organism that eats

meat and plants
 Decomposers
• Break down dead
plants and animals
• Bacteria and fungi
are two examples
• Reduces dead
organisms to
simpler forms of
matter
• Returns them to the
soil
 Predator: a living thing that hunts other
living things for food (lion)

 Prey: a living thing that is hunted for food

(rabbit)
 Scavenger: an animal that feeds on the
remains of dead animals (vulture)
 Food Chain
• Shows how each
living thing gets
food
• Always begins with
the producer
• Arrows show the
flow of energy from
one organism to
another
 Food Web
• A collection of food
chains
interconnected from
the same
ecosystem
• Arrows show the
flow of energy from
one organism to
another
• Multiple consumers
 Energy Pyramid
• Shows the amounts
of energy available
at each trophic level
of an ecosystem
• The higher in the
pyramid, the less
energy available
 Quiz
1. A lion is a __________ because it eats
only
meat. carnivore

herbivore

omnivore
2. A _________ is a producer.

cheetah

plant

grasshopper
3. True or False.

A food web can have multiple consumers

and
producers.

TRUE FALSE
4. Which animal would fit in the blank of this
food chain?

hawk zebra

mouse butterfly
5. The plant gets its energy from the
_______.

roots stem

sun flowers
CORRECT!!

Back to question
TRY AGAIN!

Back to question
Weathering is the process that
breaks down rock and other
substances at Earth’s surface.
 Weathering wears mountains
down to hills and can produce
strange rock formations like in
the previous slide.
 There are two types
of weathering:
 Mechanical (Physical)
Weathering

 Chemical Weathering
Mechanical Weathering
 Rocks are broken apart by
physical processes (heat,
water, ice, pressure,
temperature, etc.)
 The overall chemical makeup of
the rock stays the same
 Each piece has characteristics
similar to the original rock
Example of
Mechanical
Weathering:

Frost
Wedging
Mechanical Weathering:
Frost Wedging

Weathering and erosion - Freeze

thaw weathering [1:20]
http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/science_up_close/307/d
eploy/interface.html
Mechanical Weathering:
Frost Wedging
 Example of Mechanical
Weathering:
Rock expands when
the pressure of
overlying rock is
removed causing it
to break into flat
sheets [Exfoliation].
 Example of
Mechanical Weathering:

Exfoliation
Mechanical Weathering:
Exfoliation
 Example of
Mechanical Weathering:
The expansion and contraction of rock,
caused by temperature changes
[Thermal Expansion].

Expand Contract
For example, heating of rocks by sunlight or fires
can cause expansion of their minerals. This
stress eventually cause the rock to crack apart.

Thermal shattering of rock due

to a forest fire The heated exterior will expand
faster than the cool interior,
causing the exterior to break.
Example of
Mechanical
Weathering:

Biological
Weathering
Water and nutrients collect in the
cracks of rocks that can result in
the growth of plants. As the roots
grow, they enlarge the cracks.
 Burrowing animals also cause
mechanical weathering. They
loosen sediment and push it to the
surface as they burrow (dig).
Weathering can also occur by the
rubbing of one object or surface
against another [Abrasion].

Rocks and other

Sand rubbing sediment rubbing
against the rock against one another
Turn to an elbow partner
and describe examples of
mechanical weathering
you have observed
recently [in real life
not the activator] or
in the past.
Chemical Weathering
Chemical reactions dissolve
or change the minerals in
rocks or change them into
different minerals [changes
the chemical composition]
 Example of Chemical
Weathering:
Rocks and minerals can dissolve
in acidic waters [Dissolution].
Dissolution
 Caves form
when slightly
acidic
groundwater
dissolves
limestone.
Cave formed by acid
dissolved limestone
 Some plants give off acids that also
dissolve minerals in rock. The rock is
weakened and eventually breaks into
smaller pieces.

Rock Meets Lichen [2:06]

 Example of Chemical
Weathering:
The chemical compounds
(mixes) in rock can breakdown
due to a reaction with water
[Hydrolysis]. An example is
Feldspar changing to Clay.
Chemical Weathering Feldspar into Clay [28 sec]
Animation of Chemical Weathering
 Example of Chemical
Weathering:
When minerals containing iron
are exposed to water and
oxygen in the air, the iron
reacts to form a new material
that looks like rust [Oxidation].
Due to oxidation, iron-containing
minerals like magnetite can
weather to form a rust-like
material called limonite.

Magnetite Limonite
Turn to an elbow partner and
discuss how making,
baking, and eating chocolate
chip cookies is similar to
mechanical and chemical
weathering.
Mechanical and Chemical
Weathering: Breaking or Baking?
[2:50]
Weathering
Activities
[see resources]
Erosion
Erosion transports
weathered rock
material.
What are some ways that
weathered material can
be transported?
Erosion by
Gravity
Rocks and other materials,
especially on steep slopes,
are pulled toward the center
of Earth by gravity.
 Here, the
weathering
occurs by
frost wedging

The erosion
occurs by gravity
Erosion by Gravity

Slump

Rock Slide Mud Slide

Erosion
by Wind
When air moves, it picks
up loose material and
transports it to other places.
Erosion
by Wind
Sandstorm

Dust Storm Strong Winds

 Erosion
by Water
When water moves, it picks
up loose material and
transports it to other places.
 Erosion by Water
Rivers or Streams Rain

Runoff Flooding
Erosion by Water
Waves eroding
the shoreline

Images of Wave Erosion

 Animations of Erosion
by Water
• Animation of sediments being transported
• Animation of erosion by a waterfall
• Animation of the formation of an arch

Study Jams: Weathering and Erosion

 Erosion
by Ice

When a glacier moves, it

picks up loose material and
transports it to other places.
 Erosion by Ice

Images of how Glaciers erode rock

Turn to an elbow partner
and describe examples of
erosion you have
observed.
With a different elbow
partner, discuss the
difference between
Weathering and Erosion.
Weathering and Erosion are
two very different processes
that tend to act sequentially.
Deposition
 Deposition occurs where
the agents (forces) of
erosion lay sediment down.
 Weathering and Erosion
wear down, and deposition
fills in the Earth’s surface.
 Deposition by Water
As water moves through a river,
it loses some of its energy and it
can no longer carry some of its
sediment. As a result, it drops,
or is deposited, to the bottom
of the stream.
Sediments being deposited by Classzone
 Deposition by Water
Rivers and streams erode and
deposit water along their path.
 Deposition by Water
Water also loses energy and
deposits sediment when it
empties into an ocean or lake.

Sediment that is deposited as

water empties into an ocean or
lake forms a triangular shaped
deposit (delta).
The Mississippi River flowing
into the Gulf of Mexico forms
the Mississippi River delta.
In this example, river waters
are being deposited from
a mountain.
 Deposition by Water
Currents, wind, and storms carry
and deposit sand along beaches.

Sandbar Barrier Island

 Deposition by Wind
Sediments blown away by wind
eventually are deposited. Over time,
these deposits develop into landforms.

Sand Dune
Animation of the formation of a sand dune
 Deposition by Ice
When glaciers begin to melt, they
deposit sediment on the land.
 LANDFORMS
&
WATER FORMS
 Landforms: features that
make up the Earth's
surface.
 Mountain
A natural elevation of the
earth’s surface- much, much
taller than a hill.

Mt. Everest
 Plain
 Flat
lands that have only small
changes in elevation.
 Plateau
A large, flat area of land that is
higher than the surrounding
land.

The Nez
Perce Native
American
Reservation,
Idaho
 Peninsula
 Land that is surrounded by
water on three sides.

The state of Florida

 Valley
A low place between mountains.
 Island

A piece of land that is

surrounded by water.

Coral Island,
Philippines
 Desert

Avery dry area with very little

precipitation and vegetation.

The Sahara
Desert
 Dune
 A hill or a ridge made of sand.
Dunes are shaped by the wind and
frequently change shape.

Mesquite Flat Dunes

in Death Valley
National Park
 Canyon
A deep valley
with very
steep sides -
often carved
from the
Earth by a
View from the North
river. Rim of the Grand
Canyon.
 Archipelago
 ahr-kuh-pel-uh-goh
A group or
chain of
islands in a
large body of
water
Aegean Sea
 Bay
A body of
water that is
partly
enclosed by
land (and is
usually smaller
The bay at San Sebastian, Spain.
than a gulf).
 Gulf
A part of the ocean (or sea) that
is partly surrounded by land (it
is usually larger than a bay).
Gulf of Mexico in
3D perspective.
 Lake
 A large body of water surrounded by land on all
sides. Extremely large lakes are often called seas.

Lake in Slovenia
 Ocean
Alarge body of salt water that
surrounds a continent. Oceans
cover more the two-thirds of
the Earth's surface.
 River
Alarge, flowing body of water
that usually empties into a sea or
ocean.
 Sea
A large body of salty water that
is often connected to an ocean.
A sea may be partly or
completely surrounded by land.