TOPIC 1
Conduction
Transfer energy from one object to another object through direct contact. “touch” Requires matter to transfer
Touch a hot stove – heat transfers into your hand Hand holds ice cube – heat transfers from hand to ice
Identify reasons why a scientist writes detailed experiment procedures.
Scientists write detailed procedures so that other scientists can replicate the work.
Mary and Peter observe a natural phenomenon — when they drop a golf ball it falls to the floor. They perform this operation several times, and each time they drop the golf ball, it falls to the floor. What scientific law they are observing?
The Law of Gravity
CLIMATE
Climate describes the average weather conditions over a long period of time
In which layer is the sun’s energy being produced by hydrogen fusion?
The core because temperatures at the core are high enough for fusion to occur.
Convection
Transfer energy by movement of matter “flow or currents” Air, water, molten rock inside earth Requires matter to transfer
Hot air in balloon rises and cool air outside of balloon sinks Hot magma in earth rises and cooler magma sinks to be circulated again
If you wanted to study prevailing winds on different parts of the earth, which type of investigation would you conduct?
Scientific observations using descriptive investigation methods involving models or simulations to determine the effects.
The water cycle
A. Evaporation – energy makes liquid water change state to water vapor
B. Transpiration – plants release water vapor into atmosphere
C. Precipitation – any form of water that falls to Earth from clouds, rain, snow, hail
D. Runoff – water on the land flowing down due to gravity, into oceans, lakes, rivers & marshlands
On which planet would you weigh less than you would weigh on Earth?
Uranus, which has a surface gravity that is 79% of Earth’s, so a person would weigh less on Uranus.
Which planet(s) in our Solar System have a mass less than the mass of the Earth?
Mercury, Mars, Venus
Radiation
transfer energy between objects that are not in direct contact with each other (by electromagnetic waves) Does not require matter to transfer
Solar energy as heat & visible light from sun Feel heat from campfire
The students discuss how different their readings are and discover the problem. What is the most likely cause of the different results and how should they be remedied in the future?
Javier was measuring in degrees Fahrenheit. Jessica was measuring in degrees Celsius. It is important to include unit measurements in data collection so both students should agree on a unit they intend to use and ensure their data points are recorded using that measurement.
The influence the Gulf Stream has on the climates of Florida and London, England
The heat energy is distributed across the Earth. Florida and England experience more mild winter weather due to the warm Gulf Stream currents.
On which planet would you weigh the most?
Jupiter because there is the most gravity.
A person’s weight is a measure of the gravitational force exerted on his or her mass. An important factor in determining the gravitational field of a planet is the planet’s mass. According to the chart that shows the masses of the planets, on which planet in our Solar System would a person weigh the least?
Mercury
Astronomical unit (AU)
Average distance between earth & sun
Used to measure distances between objects within our solar system
1 AU=150 million km Or 92.9 million miles
Describe two types of scientists other than a meteorologist interested in this field of study.
Climatologist – studies climate, climate history & climate changes, weather conditions of in an area for a long period of time, Hydrologist – studies the movement, distribution and quality of water on the Earth, Atmospheric Scientist – studies the scientific and mathematical aspects of atmospheric conditions, Research Meteorologist – beyond weather forecasting – studies air pollution control, agricultural planning
Why does the wind blow in different directions at the two times?
Air warmed by the Sun rises during the day and denser cool air falls at night. Solar energy heats the soil which heats the air and the less dense warm air rises.
In a main sequence star, what is the relationship between a star’s luminosity (measured as absolute magnitude) and its temperature?
The higher the temperature, the brighter the star.
According to the geocentric model, what is at the center of the solar system?
The Earth
Light year (ly)
Distance light can travel in 1 year
Used to measure distances of objects outside of our solar system (universe)
9.5 trillion km in year Or 300,000 km/second
Why is Plate Tectonics characterized as a theory rather than a law?
It provides an evidence-based explanation for why and how the plates form and move.
WEATHER
Weather is the atmospheric conditions at a particular place & time
What would be the color of a star that has a surface temperature of 15,000 K?
Blue White because the temperature of a blue-white star is about 10,000 to 25,000 K.
According to the heliocentric model, what is at the center of the solar system?
The Sun