SCIENCE 5 - 4TH QUARTER NOTES: EARTH AND SPACE

PROCESSES THAT SHAPE THE EARTH’S SURFACE

Landforms
  • Definition: Landforms are natural physical features of the Earth's surface.
  • Types of Landforms:
    • Mountain
    • Description: Very tall land with steep sides.
    • Example: Mt. Mayon
    • Hill
    • Description: Smaller than a mountain, typically has a rounded top.
    • Example: Chocolate Hills
    • Valley
    • Description: Low land situated between mountains or hills.
    • Example: Cagayan Valley
    • Plain
    • Description: Wide, flat land.
    • Example: Central Luzon Plain
    • Plateau
    • Description: Flat but elevated land.
    • Example: Rice Terraces
    • Desert
    • Description: Very dry area with little rain.
    • Example: Zambales Desert
    • Island
    • Description: Land surrounded by water.
    • Example: Philippines
Bodies of Water
  • Definition: Bodies of water are significant elements of Earth's hydrosphere.
  • Types of Bodies of Water:
    • Ocean
    • Description: The largest body of saltwater covering 71% of Earth.
    • Example: Pacific Ocean
    • Sea
    • Description: Smaller than an ocean and partly enclosed by land.
    • Example: West Philippine Sea
    • River
    • Description: Flowing water.
    • Example: Cagayan River
    • Lake
    • Description: Water surrounded by land.
    • Example: Laguna de Bay
    • Estuary
    • Description: Where river meets the sea, often in coastal areas.
    • Falls
    • Description: Water drops from a high place.
    • Example: Kawasan Falls
How Landforms & Water Affect Climate
  • Areas near the ocean tend to have stable temperature ranges.
  • Areas far inland often experience extreme temperature variations.
  • Mountains can create a Rain Shadow Effect:
    • Front side of mountain: Receives considerable rainfall.
    • Back side of mountain: Experiences dryness.

WEATHERING

  • Definition: Weathering is the process of breaking rocks into smaller pieces without moving them.
Types of Weathering
  • Mechanical Weathering
    • Description: Involves physical breakage of rocks.
    • Example: Cracking due to heat.
  • Chemical Weathering
    • Description: Involves changes to the rock's composition.
    • Example: Acid dissolving rock.
  • Causes of Weathering:
    • Water
    • Temperature changes (freezing and thawing)
    • Plant roots penetrating rocks
    • Chemical agents like acids

EROSION

  • Definition: Erosion is the movement of soil and rocks from one place to another.
Agents of Erosion
  • Water: Carries soil to rivers.
  • Wind: Moves sand and can form dunes.
  • Ice: Pushes rocks.
  • Gravity: Causes landslides.
Human Activities that Increase Erosion
  • Deforestation
  • Improper farming practices
Prevention of Erosion
  • Planting trees
  • Implementing terracing techniques

ROCKS AND MINERALS

Minerals
  • Definition: Minerals are natural solids with specific properties such as color and hardness.
  • Importance: They are the building blocks of rocks.
Types of Rocks
  • Igneous Rocks
    • Formation: Result from cooled magma or lava.
    • Example: Granite
  • Sedimentary Rocks
    • Formation: Formed from compressed sediments.
    • Example: Sandstone
  • Metamorphic Rocks
    • Formation: Changed by heat and pressure.
    • Example: Marble

SOIL FORMATION

  • Processes Involved in Soil Formation:
    • Weathering (breaking rocks)
    • Erosion (moving sediments)
    • Deposition (settling of sediments)
  • Importance of Soil: Essential for plants and life on Earth.

WATER CYCLE

  • Definition: The water cycle is the continuous movement of water on, above, and below the surface of the Earth.
Process of the Water Cycle
  • Evaporation: Liquid water turns into gas.
  • Condensation: Gas changes back into clouds.
  • Precipitation: Rain falls to the ground.
  • Runoff: Water flows across land.
  • Infiltration: Water enters the ground.

WEATHER DISTURBANCES

What are Weather Disturbances?
  • Definition: Changes in the Earth's atmosphere that result in storms.
Types of Storms
  • Typhoon
    • Description: A strong storm originating from the ocean.
  • Thunderstorm
    • Description: A short storm characterized by lightning.
  • Tornado
    • Description: A funnel-shaped column of strong wind.
Tropical Cyclone Formation
  • Order of Development:
    • Low Pressure Area (LPA)
    • Tropical Depression
    • Tropical Storm
    • Typhoon
Winds in the Philippines
  • Amihan: Cool, dry winds from November to February.
  • Habagat: Warm, rainy winds.
  • Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ): An area near the equator that experiences heavy rain.
  • Easterly Wave: A type of atmospheric wave that can develop into storms.

EFFECTS OF WEATHER DISTURBANCES

  • Consequences:
    • Flooding
    • Strong winds
    • Landslides
    • Crop damage

SAFETY MEASURES

  • Evacuation: Move to higher ground during severe weather events.
  • Weather Monitoring: Regularly monitor weather forecasts.
  • Emergency Preparedness: Prepare emergency kits with essential supplies.

SOLAR SYSTEM AND THE UNIVERSE

Structure of the Solar System
  • Arrangement: The sun is at the center, with planets orbiting around it due to gravitational forces.
Types of Planets
  • Terrestrial Planets
    • Description: Small, rocky planets.
    • Examples: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
  • Gas Giants (Jovian Planets)
    • Description: Large, gaseous planets.
    • Examples: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Moon Phases
  • Phases:
    • New → Waxing → Full → Waning → New
  • Full Moon: Fully visible.
  • New Moon: Not visible.
  • Cycles: Complete cycle takes approximately 29.5 days.
Tides
  • Cause: Primarily influenced by the moon’s gravitational pull.
  • Effect of Full Moon: Generally results in higher tides due to stronger gravitational pull.
Other Space Objects
  • Asteroids: Rocky objects typically found in the asteroid belt.
  • Comets: Objects that develop a tail when near the sun.
  • Meteoroids: Small rocky or metallic bodies traveling through space.
  • Meteors: The phenomenon observed when a meteoroid enters Earth’s atmosphere and produces a streak of light.
  • Meteorites: Fragments of meteors that land on the Earth’s surface.

CONCEPT SUMMARY

  • Weathering: The process involved in breaking down rocks.
  • Erosion: The movement of soil and rocks.
  • Deposition: The process of settling particles in a new location.
  • Water Cycle: A continuous process of movement of water through different states and locations.
  • Mountain Impact: Mountains influence local rainfall patterns, creating rain shadows.
  • Ocean Temperature Regulation: Oceans play a critical role in moderating and stabilizing global temperatures.
  • Solar System Structure: The sun is the central star around which all planets revolve.
  • Lunar Phases: The moon goes through phases in a predictable cycle of 29.5 days.