How Did the Earth Form Think about forces

How Did the Earth Form? (Think about forces) • What caused frozen space dust to gather together? • Particles start colliding, what did that produce? • Radioactive (nuclear) decay of some of Earth’s elements produced energy • Some Earth materials melted. Why just some? Think about chocolate chip cookies.

Formation of the Earth • Dense materials such as iron, nickel separated as they melted. Where would they go? • How about less dense material such as hydrogen, CO 2 , H 2 O? • These gases spewed out of volcanoes. What would that make? • Water vapor cooled in the atmosphere. What would be the result of this?

Earth Systems • This is our Physical environment • Interconnected systems grouped into spheres – atmosphere = – hydrosphere = – biosphere = – lithosphere = • Resources are found in all these spheres

Earth Systems • All systems are fueled by energy. • What are the 2 main sources of energy for Earth’s systems? • “open system” with regard to energy • “closed system” with regard to matter

Earth Systems • Focus on Lithosphere and hydrosphere in this unit • Meteorology focuses on atmosphere and hydrosphere • Biology and Ecology focus on biosphere in relation to atmosphere, hydrosphere and lithosphere

Human Impact on Earth • • Positive, negative, and neutral Use of resources Population change with time Exacerbate geologic hazards, such as – – – fires landslides floods earthquakes global warming