EARTH SCIENCE NOTES

LESSON 1: EARTH SCIENCE - argon (Ar) at roughly 0.93%

- carbon dioxide (CO₂)
WHICH PLANET IS KNOWN TO SUPPORT
LIFE?

- EARTH Earth's Mass and Gravity

WHAT GAS IN THE ATMOSPHERE IS MOST Mass:

IMPORTANT FOR HUMAN BREATHING?
- Earth’s mass is a measure of the
- OXYGEN amount of matter it contains. It's a
fundamental property of the planet
WHAT IS THE MAIN SOURCE OF ENERGY
and doesn't change based on
THAT SUPPORTS LIFE ON EARTH?
location or other factors.
- SUNLIGHT
Gravity:
WHAT LAYER OF EARTH’S ATMOSPHERE
- Gravity is the force of attraction
PROTECTS US FROM HARMFUL
between any two objects with
ULTRAVIOLET RAYS?
mass. On Earth, gravity pulls
- OZONE LAYER everything towards the center of
the planet.
WHAT NATURAL FEATURE HELPS EARTH
MAINTAIN ITS TEMPERATURE TO SUPPORT - It is what keeps us grounded and
LIFE? what causes objects to fall towards
the Earth.
- GREENHOUSE EFFECT
Standard Gravity:
LESSON 2: EARTH—A HOME FOR LIFE
- The acceleration due to gravity at
 Earth is located in the Habitable
the Earth's surface is
Zone.
approximately 9.81 m/s². This
 Not too hot, not too cold —
means that for every second an
“Goldilocks Zone”
object falls, its speed increases by
 Allows liquid water to exist
9.81 meters per second.
 Supports a stable temperature for
life Relationship:

Presence of Liquid Water - The Earth's mass and gravity are

directly related. A more massive
- Liquid water covers approximately 71%
object will have a stronger
of Earth's surface
gravitational pull. Because the
- It's a crucial component of Earth's Earth is so massive, its gravity is
hydrosphere and is essential for life as significant enough to hold down
we know it. our atmosphere and keep us from
floating away.
- The presence of liquid water on Earth is
due to a combination of factors, Protective Magnetic Field
including its distance from the Sun,
- Earth’s magnetic field shields us
which allows for a moderate
from harmful space radiation
temperature range, and the planet's
- Blocks solar wind and cosmic rays
atmospheric pressure.
- Protects the atmosphere and living
Atmosphere Composition things
The Earth's atmosphere is primarily Stable Climate
composed of:
- Earth has a relatively stable
- nitrogen (N₂) at about 78% climate
- oxygen (O₂) at about 21%
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- Balanced greenhouse effect keeps ● Mineral Resources: The
temperature steady geosphere contains valuable
- Supports biodiversity and minerals and resources like metals,
agriculture fossil fuels, and building materials,
which humans use for various
Internal Heat and Plate Tectonics
purposes.
- Plate tectonics reshapes Earth’s
Water Cycle:
surface
- Recycles nutrients and carbon ● Aquifers and Groundwater: The
- Helps regulate climate and form geosphere stores water in
landforms underground aquifers, providing a
crucial source of freshwater for
LESSON 3: EARTH SUBSYSTEMS
ecosystems and human use.
What is a system?

- It is a set of interconnected
Climate Regulation:
components that are interacting to
form a unified whole. ● Carbon Storage: Rocks and soil in
the geosphere store carbon,
What is the four subsystems?
helping to regulate the Earth's
Four major subsystems: carbon cycle and climate.
Weathering of rocks also affects
 Geosphere
the atmospheric composition over
 Hydrosphere
long periods.
 Atmosphere
 Biosphere Energy Resources:
Functions of Geosphere ● Fossil Fuels: The geosphere
contains fossil fuels (coal, oil, and
Support for Life:
natural gas), which are formed
● Habitat: The geosphere provides from ancient organic matter and
the physical foundation for are a major energy source for
terrestrial life. Soil, part of the human activities.
geosphere, supports plant life,
LITHOSPHERE
which in turn supports animal life.
❑ Rocky and solid part of the Earth.
Nutrient Cycling:
❑ Composed of crust and upper
● Soil Formation: The breakdown of
mantle.
rocks creates soil, which is
essential for plant growth. Soil ❑ Sits on the asthenosphere.
contains nutrients that plants need
❑ Is the Earth’s plates.
to grow, and these nutrients enter
the food chain. ❑ Made up of mostly Silicon and
Oxygen.
Regulating Natural Processes:
HYDROSPHERE
● Plate Tectonics: Movement of the
Earth's plates shapes the ❑ About 70% of the Earth is covered
landscape, creating mountains, with liquid water and much of it is
earthquakes, and volcanoes. These in the form of ocean water.
processes recycle materials and
❑ Only 3% of Earth’s water is fresh:
influence the climate.
two-thirds are in the form of ice,
Regulating Natural Processes: and the remaining one-third is
 EARTH SCIENCE NOTES
present in streams, lakes and ● Runoff and Infiltration:
groundwater. Precipitation runs off into rivers and
lakes or infiltrates the ground,
COMPONENTS OF HYDROSPHERE
replenishing groundwater supplies.
❑ Oceans: Covering about 71% of
Nutrient Cycling:
the Earth's surface, oceans contain
the majority of the planet's water. ● Transport of Nutrients: Water
bodies transport nutrients essential
❑ Lakes and Rivers: Freshwater
for ecosystems. Rivers carry
bodies that provide essential
nutrients from land to oceans,
resources for ecosystems and
supporting marine life.
human use.
● Dissolving and Diluting: Water
❑ Groundwater: Water stored
dissolves various substances,
underground in aquifers, crucial for
making nutrients available to
drinking water and irrigation.
organisms and diluting pollutants.
❑ Glaciers and Ice Caps: Part of the
Geological Processes:
cryosphere, these store large
amounts of freshwater. ● Erosion and Sedimentation:
Water shapes the landscape
❑ Atmospheric Water: Water vapor,
through erosion, transporting
clouds, and precipitation (rain,
sediments that form landforms like
snow) in the atmosphere.
deltas and floodplains.
FUNCTIONS OF HYDROSPHERE
● Soil Formation: Water aids in the
Supporting Life: breakdown of rocks into soil,
providing a medium for plant
● Habitat: Provides habitats for a
growth.
vast array of organisms, from
marine life in oceans to freshwater Human Activities:
species in lakes and rivers.
● Agriculture: Water is crucial for
● Drinking Water: Essential for all irrigation, supporting food
living organisms, providing production.
hydration necessary for survival.
● Industry: Used in various
Regulating Climate: industrial processes, from
manufacturing to cooling
● Heat Distribution: Oceans absorb
machinery.
and distribute solar heat around
the globe, moderating climate and ● Recreation and Transportation:
weather patterns. Water bodies are used for
recreation (swimming, boating) and
● Carbon Cycle: Oceans absorb
transportation (shipping).
carbon dioxide from the
atmosphere, helping to regulate ATMOSPHERE
global temperatures.
❑ It is the thin gaseous layer that
Water Cycle (Hydrological Cycle): envelops the lithosphere.
● Evaporation and Condensation: ❑ The present atmosphere is
Water evaporates from surfaces, composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21%
forms clouds, and returns as Oxygen, 0.9% Argon and trace
precipitation, distributing water amount of other gases.
across the planet.
❑ One of the most important
processes by which the heat on the
 EARTH SCIENCE NOTES
Earth’s surface is redistributed is rocks have very large crystals (coarse
through atmospheric circulation. grained).

BIOSPHERE Igneous rocks are classified based

on:
❑ It is the set of all life forms on
Earth. Composition - it refers to rock’s mineral
and chemical make-up.
❑ It covers all ecosystems – from the
soil to the rainforest, from Felsic – igneous rocks that are light in
mangroves to coral reefs, and from colors; feldspar and silicates
the plankton-rich ocean surface to
Mafic – dark-colored igneous rocks made
the deep sea.
up of magnesium, calcium and iron
❑ For the majority of life on Earth, the
Intermediate – refers to igneous rocks
base of the food chain comprises
between mafic and felsic composition.
photosynthetic organisms.
Ultramafic – denotes igneous rocks that
LESSON 4: The Three Main
composed chiefly of mafic minerals.
Categories Of Rocks
Texture - overall appearance of a rock
Earth is a solid rock to a depth of 2,900
based on the size, shape, and
kilometers, where mantle meets the
arrangement of interlocking mineral
liquid outer core.
crystals
A rock is a naturally solid aggregate of
Aphanitic – fine-grained rocks with
one or more minerals. The aggregate
crystals seen by aid of microscope
minerals forming the rocks are held
together by chemical bonds. Phaneritic - coarse-grained rocks

Porphyritic – large crystals with small

crystals
Geologists then group rocks into three
categories based on how the rocks form: Glassy - a rock that looks like colored
igneous sedimentary and metamorphic glass with no visible mineral crystal.
rock.
Pyroclastic- results from explosive
Petrology is the scientific study of rocks. fragmentation of volcanic material.
Petrologists classify rocks based on how
Examples: Obsidian, pumice, basalt,
they were formed.
granite, diorite, gabbro
Three Types of Rocks:
 Metamorphic - forms from pre-
 Igneous Rocks - It is formed from existing rocks: either metamorphic,
hardening and crystallization of igneous, sedimentary or other
magma or molten material that metamorphic rocks that have been
originates deep within the earth. altered by agents of
metamorphism.
Two types of igneous rock:
Examples: quartzite, marble, slate,
A. Extrusive/Volcanic rock - forms
phyllite
when magma makes its way to Earth’s
surface as lava and then cools. The Metamorphism - transformation of one
crystals are very small (fine-grained) rock type into another.
since the cooling process is fast.
2 types of metamorphism
B. Intrusive/Plutonic - It cools slowly
1. Regional - due to changes in
beneath the Earth surface and are
pressure and temperature over large
created by magma. The intrusive igneous
region of the crust. It may happen when
 EARTH SCIENCE NOTES
rock is buried deep below the surface of LESSON 5: Mystery Mineral
the earth. Challenge

2. Contact - the rock minerals and Quartz

textures are changed mainly by heat due
 Color: Clear, white, pink, purple
to contact with magma.
(varies)
Classification:  Luster: Glassy (vitreous)
 Streak: White
1.Texture - refers to the size
 Hardness: 7 (hard)
arrangement and grains within the rock.
 Cleavage/Fracture: No cleavage;
2. Foliation - any planar arrangement of conchoidal fracture
mineral grains or structural features  Use: Glassmaking, electronics,
within the rock. jewelry
 Chemical Formula: SiO₂ (Silicon
a. Foliated rocks – can be arranged in
Dioxide)
terms of increasing metamorphism, and
 Main Elements: Silicon (Si) &
it appeared layered or banded with
Oxygen (O)
compressed mineral grains.
Feldspar
Example: mica b. Non-foliated rocks
– usually made up of only few  Color: White, pink, or gray
minerals.  Luster: Glassy to pearly
 Streak: White
 Sedimentary rocks - provide
 Hardness: 6
information about surface
 Cleavage/Fracture: Two directions
conditions that existed in the
of cleavage
Earth’s past.
 Use: Ceramics, glass, construction
 Particles of sand, shells, pebbles, and materials
other fragments of materials called
 Chemical Formula (general):
sediments, accumulate in layers and over
KAlSi₃O₈ – NaAlSi₃O₈ – CaAl₂Si₂O₈
long period of time harden into rocks.
 Main Elements: Potassium (K),
 Compaction-due to increase of
Sodium (Na), or Calcium (Ca),
pressure of layered sediments it bind
Aluminum (Al), Silicon (Si), Oxygen
together to form the sedimentary rocks.
(O)

Calcite
a. Clastic Sedimentary rock - formed
 Color: White or colorless (can be
from accumulation of clasts: little pieces
tinted)
of broken rocks and shells.
 Luster: Glassy
Examples: conglomerate, breccia,  Streak: White
sandstone, shale  Hardness: 3 (soft)
 Cleavage/Fracture: Perfect
b. Chemical - formed when dissolved
cleavage in 3 directions
minerals precipitate from a solution.
 Use: Cement, building stone, soil
Example: Halite - formed when a body of
treatment
seawater becomes closed off and
 Chemical Formula: CaCO₃ (Calcium
evaporates
Carbonate)
c. Organic - rocks formed from the  Main Elements: Calcium (Ca),
accumulation of animal debris Carbon (C), & Oxygen (O)

Example: Coal - composed of organic Minerals - are the fundamental building

matter in the form of plants blocks of rocks. Rocks are naturally
fragments
 EARTH SCIENCE NOTES
occurring solid materials composed of  Hardness – how easily a mineral
one or more minerals. can be scratched (measured
using the Mohs Hardness Scale).
- common and abundant in rocks are
 Cleavage and fracture – how a
quartz, feldspar, mica, and
mineral breaks (smooth flat
amphibole
surfaces or uneven pieces).
Minerals are the basic units:
By carefully observing and testing
Minerals are naturally occurring, these properties, geologists can
inorganic solids with a specific chemical accurately identify and classify
composition and crystalline structure. minerals—even out in the field where
they don’t have lab
Rocks are aggregates of minerals:
“What is the Mohs Scale?”
Rocks are formed when these minerals
combine through various geological - The Mohs Hardness Scale ranks
processes like cooling of magma, or the minerals from 1 (softest) to 10
accumulation of sediments. (hardest) based on their resistance
to scratching.
How are minerals the building blocks
of rocks? Streak Plate

- Minerals have a definite chemical - a tool used to determine a

composition—they are the same, mineral's streak, which is the color
through and through, no matter of its powder
where they are found.
- useful in mineral identification
- All rocks are made up of a
because the streak color can differ
combination of minerals.
from the mineral's surface color,
Why Do Geologists Use Physical which can be affected by
Properties to Identify Minerals? weathering or impurities
- Geologists use physical properties What it is:
to identify minerals because each A streak plate is a small, unglazed
mineral has a unique set of porcelain tile, often white or black,
characteristics that make it used to test the color of a mineral's
different from others—like a powder.
mineral’s “fingerprint.” Since
How it's used:
minerals can look similar on the
A mineral specimen is scraped across
surface, scientists use tests and
the streak plate, creating a line of
observations to tell them apart.
powdered mineral. This powdered
Some of the most useful physical residue is the mineral's streak.
properties include:

 Color – the most visible

property, but not always reliable
since some minerals come in
many colors.
 Luster – how the surface reflects
light (shiny like metal or dull like
chalk).
 Streak – the color of the
mineral’s powder when rubbed
on a streak plate.