PRAXIS SCIENCE

What are earth’s layers

crust, lithosphere, mantle, core

What is the densest part of the earth?

Core (earth gets denser toward the center)

crust

the outermost solid layer of earth

mantle

Not liquid, it is ductile or plastic, can flow under certain conditions or changes in pressure, composed of aluminum and silicates

core

the innermost layer, there is an outer core (liquid) and a inner core (solid)

lithosphere

the outermost and most rigid mechanical layer, includes the crust and the top of the mantle

asthenosphere

underneath the lithosphere, not a liquid

mesosphere

beneath the asthenosphere, material flows at a much slower rate

outer core

a layer of liquid iron and nickel beneath the mesosphere (the only layer of earth that is a true liquid)

hydrosphere

all the water on earth in liquid form (lakes, rivers, oceans)

biosphere

the global sum of all ecosystems and living organisms

cryosphere

the masses of frozen water (frozen lakes, frozen rivers, frozen oceans, glaciers)

What takes up most of earth’s fresh waters

glaciers (69%)

Nitrogen

a gas that surrounds most of earth (78%) (the most prevelant)

Troposphere

most of earth’s weathers occurs here (closest layer to earth’s atmosphere)

stratosphere

contains the ozone layer

mesosphere

thermosphere

second furthest layer away from earth’s atmosphere

exosphere

furthest layer away from earth’s atmosphere

geological formations

formations made from rocks that exist on the lithosphere ( volcanoes, mountains, canyons)

mountains

formed because of earth’s tectonic plates smashing together

volcanoes

formed when magma from within Earth’s upper mantle erupts through the surface

canyon

formed by weathering and erosion caused by the movement of rivers or by tectonic activity

Earthquakes

caused when plates rub against each other in an opposite motion, and rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault

minor earthquake

3 to 4.9

moderate to strong earthquake

5 to 6.9

major earthquake

7 to 7.9

a great earthquake

8 or more

seismic waves

an elastic wave caused by an earthquake (primary, secondary, and surface waves)

primary waves (P waves)

fastest waves- can travel through solids, liquids, or gases

secondary (S waves)

can travel through rock and they travel through Earth’s inferior at about half the speed of primary waves

Surface waves

they move along earth’s surface and are the slowest of the three seismic waves

Tsunamis

giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea

Plate tectonics

the theory that earth’s outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle or the rocky inner layer above the core

divergent

pulling apart

convergent

coming together

subduction

sideways and downward movement of the edge of the plate

soil

a mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids and other organisms

The Water Cycle

also known as the hydrologic cycle— is a continue circulation of water throughout Earth and its atmosphere

precipitation

when it rains or snows

evaporation

water turns from a liquid to a gas (water vapor)

condensation

gas to a liquid (forming water droplets on a surface)

transpiration

when plants suck water from roots to the small pores in leaves, releasing the water vapor into the atmosphere

Hadean

the moon is formed around this time; there is no life yet

Archean

prokaryote life is first formed

Proterozoic

Eukaryotes are formed

Phanerozoic

vertebrates and other complex life is formed and dominates earth’s oceans

Rocks

any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter

what are the three main categories of rocks

igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary

Igneous

made from lava and magma, looks like: glassy, smooth surface, gas bubbles

Metamorphic

made from heat pressure, looks like: sparkly crystals, ribbon like layers

sedimentary

made from deposition, cementation, looks like: sand grains or visible pebbles, fossils may be visible

When are fossils formed

fossils are formed when organisms are buried by sediments

Is the sun a star?

YES

What is the third planet from the sun?

Earth

Sun

the most important source of energy for life on earth and is the center of the solar system

What planet is similar in size density and mass to Earth

VENUS

the solar system

is a planetary system that orbits the sun and consists of eight planets

How is Mars like the Earth

Mars is like the Earth in terms of rotation and tilt on its axis

Neptune is

the furthest planet from the sun

Mercury is

the closest planet to the sun

A comet is

a chunk of ice and rock originating outside the solar system

asteroids are

a chunk of rock and metal in orbit between Mars and Jupiter

meteorites are

a small asteroid

Seasons are

a result of Earth’s title on its axis

when earth is tilted towards the sun

it is warmer aka summer

when earth is tilted away from the sun

it is colder aka winter

When is earth tilted on its side

during the spring and fall

Fall—Autumnn Equinox

earth experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness

summer—solstice

earth’s maximum tilt is towards the sun, causing the longest period of daylight

spring— vernal equinox

earth experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness

winter—solstice

tilted furthest away from the sun, causing the shortest period of daylight

The heliocentric theory

created by Nicolaus Copernicus: positioned the sun at the center of the universe

The geocentric theory

earth sat stationary at the center of the universe

what does the moon affect

the moon affects the tides of the waves in the ocean

When the part of the moon that is illuminated is increasing…

the moon phase is waxing (illuminated on the right side)

when the part of the moon that is illuminated is decreasing…

the moon phase is waning (illuminated on the left side)

what is a supernova

a huge explosion that releases an immense amount of energy, making it one of the most energetic events in the universe

what is a star

a ball of gas, mostly hydrogen and helium, held together by its own gravity (the color of a star relies on its temperature)

what color do hotter stars emit?

bluer light

what color do colder stars emit?

redder light

What is a lunar eclipse

occurs when the moon passes directly behind the earth into its umbra (shadow)

what is a solar eclipse

happens when the moon moves in front of the sun

Earth’s pattern

earth spins on its axis and takes 365 days to make one whole revolution around the sun

Earth’s cycles

they are caused by earth’s rotation on its axis and creates— day, night, seasons, weather, phases of the moon, water cycle, and life cycles

Earth changes

changes can happen quickly (earthquake or storm) or slowly (tectonic plates)

what is the most important thing for a teacher to include in a science class?

inquiry learning because science is inquiry based

How can teachers be effective in a science classroom

they must have a current and relevant understanding of the research governing the profession