We are beginning our study of Space Science, also called Astronomy. We will begin by exploring the various objects that man finds in the night sky, and try to grasp the size and distance of these objects. The class will discuss and watch a video on the early space explorations of man. The week will focus on the topic:
Exploring Space
Look at the objects below in the pictures. We looked at the photos and worked together to try to put them in order to answer:
This week we will review the topics in our unit Weather and Climate. With the unit exam on Friday, it is a good idea to scroll through all the topics below to refresh your memories!
Remember, the Gulf StreamOcean Currentaffects us here on the south side of Cape Cod. The waters of Nantucket Sound and Buzzards Bay in summer are warmer than the cooler waters of Cape Cod Bay – remember this when you’re headed to the beaches this summer!
The precipitation of a location can be affected by either of two factors, as shown below when we used the Smartboard Maps.
Note the effects of the Prevailing Winds on the levels of precipitation. Global winds that blow across ocean areas bring moisture, such as the Trade Winds blowing into the Caribbean Islands and Southeast Asia. When the Trade Winds blow from south Asia onto northern Africa, they blow across land, bringing very dry winds and little rain into the Sahara Desert area.
The Westerlies blow across the North Atlantic Ocean bringing lots of moisture and rain to Ireland, England and Scotland!
Below is a diagram showing the effects ofMountainson the precipitation pattern of a location.
The side of the mountain facing the wind, the windward side, gets much more rain than the dry leeward side.
Effects of Mountains on Rainfall : Windward & Leeward
In Seminar classes we are reviewing Simple Machines. A simple machine is something that helps us do work. Simple machines are TOOLS that make work easier. They have few or no moving parts. Right now we are building Rube Goldberg Machines in class to illustrate the use of many simple machines.
Click on the picture to see the video “How to Make a Rube Goldberg Machine”
We have been studying the effects of unequal heating of the Earth’s surface, and the resulting wind patterns these cause. Land that is heated more directly absorbs more of the sun’s heat through radiation. The ground touches the air, and through conduction, heats the air – the air becomes less dense which causes it to rise. This creates an area of lower pressure in the atmosphere. As the air rises, it cools, becomes more dense, and then falls back to the earth, creating an area of higher pressure. The movement of the air creates a convection current.
AIR ALWAYS MOVESFROMAREAS OF HIGH PRESSURE TO AREAS OF LOW PRESSURE.
Moving air is called WIND.
Global Winds
The spinning of the Earth causes the winds to bend to the right as they move across the globe. We call this effect the Coriolis Effect. Global Winds are winds that move across large areas around the globe. There are three major Global Wind Belts – the Trade Winds, the Westerlies and the Easterlies. These wind belts are found in both the Northern and the Southern Hemispheres. There are also areas of calm winds, called the doldrums near the equator, and the Horse Latitudes nearthe 30 degrees latitudes. See the diagrams below.
Local Winds
The same convection currents that cause the Global Winds also affect the atmosphere at the local level, especially at the seacoast. Here on Cape Cod we experience these local winds during the summer. Cape Cod is kept cool, sort of a natural air-conditioning, by the local sea and land breezes. The hot summer sun heats the land on Cape, causing the air to rise (low pressure). Cooler descending air from the water (higher pressure) rushes in to take the place of the rising warm air on land, forming a cooling Sea Breeze. This keeps the Cape comfortable on most summer days. At night, the land cools down much faster, the warmer ocean water heats the air, causing the air over the water to rise. Cooler air from the land moves in to take the place of the rising are, creating a Land Breeze.
Study the diagram below, and then CLICK on it to see the animation!.
Both Global Winds and Local Winds are caused by the unequal heating of the Earth’s surface, creating differences in air temperatures and air pressures.
Air (wind) always moves from HIGH pressure to LOW pressure.
In light of the anniversary of the disaster and catastrophic losses from the Japan Earthquake in 2011, I have posted a special link to an interactive site in which you can explore the geology of the event and the images and video of the disaster.
Your knowledge of Plate Tectonics and Earthquakes enables you to truly grasp the science of what occurred, and what it means in the real world. Please take the time to explore and appreciate the real effects of The Changing Earth and its impact on our world and people.
The Electromagnetic Spectrum is the entire range of wavelengths that are found in the solar radiation that reaches the earth from the sun. It consists of many different sizes of waves (wavelengths) that represent different energy levels in the waves. There are three basic kinds of electromagnetic waves:
Infrared Waves – Longer than the red wavelengths
– low energy
Visible Light – the waves of radiation that we can see
R O Y G B I V
Ultraviolet Radiation – Shorter than violet wavelengths
We have been studying the Layers of the Atmosphere as we start our new unit. In our graphing lab activity we learned that the temperature of the air definitely changes as we go higher in altitude…but it does not always go down, as you may think! Each of the layers of the atmosphere is defined by a Change in the Temperature Direction. The chart below shows the changes as we graphed them in class.
This linkwill take you to the completed page of the Chapter 1 Notes Packet where you will find the highlights of the unique characteristics of each layer. Remember your Silly Sentence to recall the layers in order:
T S M T I E
or
The Sun Melts The Ice Everyday!
The Aurora Borealis, also know as the Northern Lights, are caused by the sun’s high energy radiation ‘charging’ the air molecules in the Ionosphere, causing them to glow. This happens near the North and South Poles, as the Electromagnetic Field is less strong at these points.
The Northern Lights are one of nature’s most spectacular visual sights, and in this speeded-up video from National Geographic Videos, they provide a breathtaking display of light, shape, and color over the course of a single night in Norway.
In the darkest regions of deep space, the temperature is a chilly -450° Fahrenheit. Closer to our Sun, temperatures reach thousands of degrees Fahrenheit. What makes Earth’s climate so moderate? Separating Earth from the extreme and inhospitable climate of space is a 500-mile-thick cocoon of gases called the atmosphere.
All planets have an atmosphere, a layer of gases that surrounds them. The Sun’s atmosphere is made up of hydrogen, while Earth’s is made up primarily of nitrogen and oxygen. Carbon dioxide, ozone, and other gases are also present. These gases keep our planet warm and protect us from the direct effects of the Sun’s radiation. Without this regulation, Earth could not sustain life.
Today we will start to learn WHY the earth’s atmosphere is so important to life. We will also discuss the major gases in the atmosphere and learn why each of them is so important.
From here we will then do an online activity called AstroVenture!
Processes at Earth’s surface and heat within Earth cause rocks to change into other types of rocks.
The rock cycle has no beginning and no end. Rather, it is an ongoing cycle in which rock — driven by tectonic processes such as volcanoes and earthquakes, the surface processes of weathering and erosion, and compaction — is created and destroyed.
For this assignment, you will go to the following web site:
Open the Interactives Rock Cycle in a different window.
This interactive web site will help you to review the types of rocks and the processes that occur within the rock cycle. Instructions given on the web site will lead you through the different sections of material.
The tutorial will review the three rock families and provide you with a list of key characteristics that can be used to place samples within the three rock families.
In this part of the tutorial, when you click on the rock sample, you will be provided with the name of the rock as well as information on how the rock forms and where it can be found. Make sure to add the rocks to your collection.
The next section, “Identify Rock Types”, will allow you to test your ability to recognize rock characteristics and types. Note: this section is timed (six minutes…more than enough time to complete the activity).
When you have completed this self-test, go on to the next section, which describes How Rocks Change. Be sure to view the animation sequences provided for each rock family!
At the end of this section, complete the self-test Transform the Rock to see if you can identify the processes that can change rocks from type to another.
This self-test is timed (six minutes); to complete the sequence, click and drag your answer into the appropriate box.
The next section describes the rock cycle and also includes a self-test Complete the Rock Cycle to see if you can name the different parts of the rock cycle.
The final activity at the web site is a Test Your Skills assessment to see how much you have learned.
Enter your first and last name in the space provided. When you have completed the assessment, print out your results. Make sure that you print out the complete results. Do not just print your score. You must show your teacher the printout with all of the graded questions to get credit.
This will then become your Study Sheet!
Alternate Assignment:Rocky’s Journey
You are now a well-educated geologic student of The Rock Cycle!
The video below, though corny, does show a lot of good information on Volcanoes….remember, it is the pressure from the magma and the DISSOLVED GASES in the magma that causes the eruption…just like a bottle of soda that is shaken, and then you open it! Watch out!
