Learning Area Science 6

LEARNING Module No. Module 4.1

MODULE School Year and Quarter S.Y. 2020-2021 / 4th Quarter
Teacher Ms. Diana Marie M. Hernandez

i. Content Standards

ii. Performance Standards

iii. Most Essential Learning Competencies (MELC)

Topic Changes on the Earth’s Surface

Reference
Voyage in Science
Giselle V. Holandez and Cecilia Tamayo

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Earth’s Surface

Geologists are people who are responsible in studying the solid and liquid part of the earth.

THREE LAYERS OF THE EARTH

1. Crust

It is the outermost layer of the Earth. It is consist of different

minerals and loose solid rocks where landforms and bodies of
water can be found.

2. Mantle

It is the layer next to crust. It is composed mostly of hot, solid

rocks but can flow out because of the extreme temperature
and pressure through volcanoes.

3. Core

It is the innermost and the hottest part of the Earth. The outer
core is made up of molten iron and nickel. The inner core is
believed to be a solid ball of iron and nickel.
EARTHQUAKE

An earthquake is a sudden, powerful movement of the Earth’s surface. It may be caused by a volcanic
eruption or tectonic plate. The center or the source of the earthquake is called the focus. This is where
earthquake originates. An epicenter is the ground above the focus.

Tectonic earthquake happens when energy is released as a result of collision of the crustal plates. Volcanic
earthquake is caused by movements of molten materials or gas pressure inside a volcano. Volcanic eruption
triggers the vicinity causing the ground to shake.

The government agency responsible in studying the activity of volcanoes, earthquakes, tsunamis, and other
related hazards is the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology (PHIVOLCS). It warns the public
about disasters that may be brought by these phenomena.

To determine the intensity of an earthquake, the Rossi-Forrel Scale is used. Intensity tells the extent of the
damage caused by an earthquake.

The magnitude tells the measure of the amount of energy released during an earthquake. In calculating
magnitude, the Richter Scale method developed by Charles F. Richter is used. The formula in getting the
magnitude is based on the amplitude of the largest wave recorded by a seismograph. A seismograph is an
instrument used to get records of how strong an earthquake is. It also tells the direction and duration of the
tremor. Seismologists is a scientist who study earthquakes.
What are the effects of earthquakes?

Among the effects of earthquakes are tsunami, seiche, liquefaction, landslide, fire, destruction of buildings,
roads and bridges, as well as injury or death of people and other living things.

A tsunami is a series of huge waves generated by an earthquake under the sea. From newspaper reports, you
probably have learned of the powerful tsunami caused by the Indonesia earthquake (of magnitude 9.1) on
December 26, 2004. It killed more than 230, 000 people and destroyed properties and infrastructures in
Indonesia, India, Thailand, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.

Another large tsunami was generated by an earthquake off the northeastern coast of Japan on March 11,
2011. It caused much destruction to life and property, including the meltdown of a nuclear power plant. It was
reported to have killed 15, 891 people. The earthquake resulted as the Pacific Plate divided into the Earth’s
mantle beneath the Eurasian plate in a subduction zone east of Japan.

In the Philippines, a strong earthquake caused a tsunami at Moro Gulf in August 1976. It seems that the Moro
Gulf is prone to destructive earthquakes.

Similar to a tsunami is a seiche (pronounced as ‘s sh’ or ‘s sh’). It is a big wave in a lake or other enclosed
bodies of water generated by an earthquake or volcanic eruption. The seiche that occurred in Taal Lake on
September 24, 1911 was caused by the eruption of Taal Volcano. The wave destroyed houses and caused
loss of lives in several shoretowns.

The seiche that occurred in Lanao Lake in Mindanao on April 10, 1955 is said to have wiped out a village on
the western shore of the lake.

A seiche that occurred in Northern Luzon from the earthquake of September 5, 1959 was reported by
PAGASA.

Seiche waves from earthquakes were also observed to have caused river water to swish back and forth to
opposite banks or to overflow.

Several other cases of seiches were reported to have happened in our country mostly in lakes and affected
river flow.

In places where the ground consists of many sediments or the rocks are saturated with water, something
interesting happens during an earthquake. The shaking shifts the sediments and squeezes the water out; the
water spurts out of the ground. And because the ground has become soft, if there are buildings in the area, the
houses may sink deeper or tilt in any direction. The phenomenon is called liquefaction; the ground suddenly
behaves like a liquid. Liquefaction, for example, occurred in Dagupan City, Pangasinan, during the big Luzon
earthquake (of magnitude 7.8) on July 16, 1990.

What safety measures can we do before, during, and after an earthquake?

Before an Earthquake

1. Prepare an emergency bag or backpack to contain a first aid kit, flashlight, batteries, battery-powered
radio, whistle (for communicating with other people) and bottled water.
2. Have a pillow (or any strong headgear) within reach at all times to cover your head if the earthquake
suddenly comes.
3. At home, help your family fasten cabinets and other appliances to the wall so that they will not topple
during the earthquake.
4. Plan with your family what to do during an earthquake. That way, nobody will panic during the event.
5. Whatever building you go to, familiarize yourself with exit routes.

During an Earthquake

1. If you are in school, get under a table. Wait for shaking to stop. Then, while protecting your head, get
out to an open space, away from any building, electric post, tree or any infrastructure.
2. In getting out of a building, do not use an elevator. Be sure that your feet are protected from broken
glass.
3. If you are outdoors, stay away from any building, electric post, tree, etc.
4. If there is no light, use your flashlight instead of any open flame.
After an Earthquake

1. Seek information about the members of your family. Check if they are safe.
2. Listen to the radio for emergency instructions.
3. Do not return to your house until it is been checked for possible damages. If this has been done, help
shut off gas, electric, and water outlets in the house.

VOLCANOES

A volcano is an opening in the Earth’s crust.

We call the process where magma or molten rock reaches the surface of the Earth as volcanism.

Do you remember one of the Earth’s layers which is the mantle? It is a solid body of rock found under the layer
of the crust. Due to extremely high temperature and pressure, these rocks melt and become liquid rocks which
is called magma. When these rock accumulate, they form a large body of magma and rises when pressure
builds up. It finds its way toward the Earth’s surface through denser rock layers. When magma reaches the
surface of the Earth, it is then called lava. Through time, as a volcano continuously erupts, it gets bigger and
bigger and forms a cone-shaped land mass.

Formation of Volcanoes

Molten rocks in asthenosphere layer have weak spots. As magma rises, this creates secondary vents which
are small and branch out from the main tube. The top of the volcano is called a crater, which is the volcano’s
highest point.

A caldera forms when a volcano becomes hollow and collapses. It looks like a large indentation that may be
found on the side or at the top of a volcano.
CLASSIFICATION OF VOLCANOES

1. Active Volcanoes – these are the volcanoes which have histories of eruption within the last 600 years
and were documented by man. These may also have erupted within the last 10, 000 years based on
analyses of datable materials. This means that these volcanoes may also erupt anytime soon.

List of Active Volcanoes in the Philippines

Active Volcanoes Number of eruptions Latest Eruption Location

Mayon 48 2014 Legaspi City, Albay
Taal 34 2020 Talisay, Batangas
Kanlaon 21 2016 Negros Oriental
Bulusan 15 2015 Sorsogon
Ragang 7 1916 Cotabato
Smith 5 1924 Babuyan Island
Hibok-hibok 5 1953 Camiguin
Didicas 6 1978 Cagayan
Babuyan Claro 4 1917 Babuyan Island
Camiguin Babuyanes 1 1857 Babuyan Island
Cagua 2 1907 Cagayan
Banahaw 3 1843 Quezon
Calayo 1 1886 Valencia, Bukidnon
Iraya 1 1454 Batanes
Pinatubo 3 1991 Pampanga
Iriga 2 1642 Camarines Sur
Biliran 1 1939 Biliran
Bud Dajo 2 1897 Zamboanga
Matumtum 1 1911 South Cotabato
Makaturing 7 1882 Lanao del Sur
Parker 1 1640 South Cotabato

2. Potentially active volcanoes – these volcanoes are morphologically young looking but have no history
of eruption. However, there is a possibility that they would erupt in the future. Some of the potentially
active volcanoes are:

✓ Mt. Apo in Davao

✓ Mt. Isarog in Camarines Sur
✓ Mt. Mandalagan in Negros Occidental
✓ Mt. Mariveles in Bataan
✓ Mt. Pitogo in Sulu

3. Inactive volcanoes – these are volcanoes with no history of eruption from thousands of years ago and
have no possibility to erupt in the future. They are called inactive or extinct. The physical form is being
changed by agents of weathering and erosion. Some inactive volcanoes are:

✓ Mt. Abuyug in Leyte

✓ Mt. Calayan in Cagayan
✓ Mt. Tabuanan in Biliran
✓ Mt. Ticab in Quezon
✓ Mt. Verde in Batangas

VOLCANIC ERUPTION

Volcanic eruption is like the Earth’s chimney because it is considered a natural way of releasing Earth’s
internal heat and pressure. Beneath the surface of the Earth is the magma chamber, an underground pool of
extremely hot liquid rock and often called as the “heart of the volcano”.

There are factors that trigger a volcano to erupt. Since magma is lower in density, it rises because of the
surrounding rocks relative to it. As magma rises from depth, bubbles start to form from the gas dissolved in the
magma. These gas bubbles posses high pressure which pushes the magma out to the Earth’s surface and
expels it into the air.
Since volcano may erupt without any warning, it is hard for researchers to tell the timing and certainty of an
eruption.

However, earthquakes activity in the vicinity of the volcano can give valuable information. Small earthquakes
and ash emission mean that new composition of magma from the chamber is rising from the depth.

EFFECTS OF VOLCANIC ERUPTIONS

People usually think of the hazards and damages associated with volcanic eruptions. Examples are rocks,
other volcanic fragments and gases, lava flow, pyroclastic flow and lahar. Pyroclastic flow is a mixture of
volcanic materials traveling down the slope of the volcano like an avalanche. Lahar, on the other hand, is a
mixture of volcanic products mixed with water from heavy rainfall and river.

Volcanic eruptions may also cause earthquakes and fissures on the ground as well as tsunamis. And these
may be accompanied by great damage to lives and property.

But volcanic eruptions have beneficial effects. To begin with, the soil in areas surrounding active volcanoes is
rich in minerals. Coconut, abaca, sugarcane, and other crops grow well in such fertile areas.

There are also hot springs in the area that provide health benefits to people in addition to their recreational
value. One example is Los Baños in Laguna that has become a favorite destination of families and friends
surrounding Mount Makiling.

Of great interest to the government is the feasibility of setting up a geothermal power plant in the vicinity of a
volcano. The stream trapped underground in the area can be used to generate electricity, which is sure to
benefit many communities.

What are some signs that a volcano is soon to erupt?

The signs that a volcano is about to erupt are easier to detect than an impending earthquake. Among these
are:

1. Bulging of volcano.
2. Increase in temperature of the ground or lake in the crater.
3. Increase in amount of gases coming out of the crater.
4. Increase in seismic activity detected by the local PHIVOLCS monitoring station.

However, we are not 100 percent sure if the volcano will indeed continue to erupt or how big the eruption will
be.

What to do before, during, and after volcanic eruption and ash fall?

Before

1. When there is a possibility of a heavy ashfall, listen to the radio or watch television for updates.
2. Prepare important materials, such as face/gas mask, handkerchief or any cloth for covering the nose.
Prepare a grab-and-go bag containing candles, matches, flashlights, and extra batteries.

During

1. Stay calm and cover your nose by using face/gas mask or clean cloth.
2. Stay indoors. Cover the food and water containers.
3. If you are outdoor, look for a shelter and wear glasses to protect your eyes. Avoid using contact lenses.
4. Listen to the radio or watch television for updates on volcanic eruption.

After

1. Clean the roof with water to avoid corrosion.

2. To remove ash from glass windows, use water hose before cleaning with soap and lukewarm water.
3. Use powder detergent in washing clothes contaminated with ash.
4. Keep ash out of water drainage to prevent clogging.
 SCIENCE 6
WORKSHEET 4.1

Name: _______________________________________________________________________________

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Direction: Do this activity in your home. Follow the instruction well.

How are you going to prepare your own emergency kit? What things will you put inside your bag?

Cut out pictures of important things that you think should be included in your emergency bag. Paste them on
the box below. Then write the reasons for choosing them on the space provided.

I chose to prepare ______________________________________________________________________

because ______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________

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Direction: Tell whether the following is true or false. If false, change the underlined word/s to make the
sentence true. Write your answer on the line before the number.

_______________ 1. Rossi-Forrel scale is used to determine the intensity of the earthquake.

_______________ 2. The center of an earthquake is called the epicenter.
_______________ 3. The magnitude tells the extent of damage of properties and structures caused by
earthquakes.
_______________ 4. Tectonic earthquake happens when energy is released due to the collision of crustal
plates.
_______________ 5. The intensity tells the amount of energy released during an earthquake.
_______________ 6. Earthquakes having magnitudes which are less than 1.0 to 2.9 can be felt by people.
_______________ 7. The formula in getting the magnitude is based on the amplitude of the largest wave
recorded by a seismograph.
_______________ 8. A seismograph tells the direction and duration of tremor.
_______________ 9. Tsunami is a sudden, powerful movement of the Earth’s crust.
_______________ 10. PHIVOLCS is a government agency that warns the public about disasters that may be
brought by volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and tsunamis.