Course Outline

Course Outline

The Earth Science Course contains eight main topics. Below is the list of topics that will be covered.

Prologue: Skills needed when entering Department Earth Science.

Observation and Inference, Density, Rate of Change, Percentage of Error, Gradient, Graphing.

Unit 1: Measuring The Earth

Latitude, Longitude, Isolines, Profiles

Unit 2: Minerals, Rocks and Resources

Mineral Identification, Rock Identification, Rock Formation, Renewable/ Non-renewable Resources

Unit 3: Weathering, Erosion and Deposition

Physical and Chemical Weathering.

Agents of Erosion: Running Water, Wind, Waves, Gravity and Glaciers.

Deposition of sediments by Water, Ice and Wind.

Unit 4: How Water Shapes Earth's Crust

The Water Cycle and Landscapes

Mid Term Examination

Unit 5: Dynamic Crust

Earthquakes, Continental Drift Theory, Plate Boundaries, Plate Tectonics Theory, Inferred Properties of the Earth's Interior.

Unit 6: Earth's History

Relative Age, Index Fossils, Unconformities, Correlation, Absolute Age, Radioisotope Dating, Geologic Time Scale

Unit 7: Weather and Climate

Weather Instruments, Weather Variables: Air Temperature, Air Pressure/Winds, Atmospheric Moisture, Station Model Diagrams, Synoptic Weather Maps

Climate Factors: Angle/Duration of Insolation, Elevation, Bodies of Water

Unit 8: Astronomy

Earth and the Moon: Phases of the Moon, Apparent Diameter, Ellipses, Orbital Velocity, Gravity, Tides

Solar System: Planets, Comets, Meteorites

Stars: Structure, Classification(luminosity& temperature), Galaxies, Big Bang Theory

Lab Practical Exam: Hands on portion of the Regents Exam. Given in class during the last two weeks of school.

Final Examination: Physical Setting Earth Science Regents Exam (date TBA)