Earth System: Matter & Energy Lab

Earth System:
Matter & Energy Lab

Grade Level Standard: ES.09.01 Students will use data, models, and investigations to develop an understanding of how energy and matter transfer within the Earth system.

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​

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is anything that has ​

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and takes up ​

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. Matter can take many forms (solids, liquids, gases, and plasma) called ​

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of matter.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

Matter

mass

space

states

countries

energy

Match

Energy is defined as the “ability to do work, which is the ability to exert a force causing displacement of an object.” Match the energy types!

• Kinetic

• Electrical

• Chemical

• Gravitational

• Electromagnetic

Energy of moving objects.

Generated by moving electrons.

Stored in the bonds of molecules.

Attracts objects with mass.

Travels as waves through space.

• Energy of moving objects.

• Generated by moving electrons.

• Stored in the bonds of molecules.

• Attracts objects with mass.

• Travels as waves through space.

Multiple Choice

What does it mean that matter and energy are always conserved? (Note: this is for normal processes, but not necessarily nuclear reactions!)

• They can change form but are not created or destroyed.

• They are only found within conservation reserves.

• Chemical reactions turn matter into energy.

During normal processes (not nuclear processes), matter and energy are not created or destroyed - they just change from one form or arrangement into another.

Multiple Choice

Open the picture. Which diagram correctly shows the conservation of matter?

• A

• B

• C

• D

• E

For matter transformations, there are usually
energy transfers as well (sometimes energy is
released, sometimes it is absorbed).

For the following slides, fill in the blanks to
create accurate statements about the matter and
energy transformations.

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Solid ice changes to water when heat is ​

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by the ice. This causes the particles to move ​

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absorbed

released

faster.

slower

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On a cold morning, water vapor forms into liquid water droplets. This happens because the vapor ​

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the surroundings and the particle movement ​

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.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

loses energy to

gains energy from

slows down

speeds up

For this lab, you will explore an “hands-on” energy and
matter transformation. Then, you will explore this same

transformation as it happens in the Earth system.

Hands-On Lab

Earth System Equivalent

Burning Steel Wool

Banded Iron Formations /

Stromatolites

Candle Burning

Forest Fires

Ice Melting

Ice Sheets Melting

Dry Ice Sublimation

Release of Gas Methane Hydrates

Hands-On Lab: Energy Transfer Questions

Directions:

Ask your teacher to assign a lab location and/or get you the lab materials.

Spread out the steel wool as
much as possible. Place the small piece of steel wool in the pie tin. Use the battery to ignite the steel wool.

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As the steel wool burns, the reaction ​

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energy. The reaction moves ​

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from the air and attaches it to the steel wool. Because the mass increases, it indicates that it is a(n) ​

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system.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

releases

absorbs

oxygen

carbon dioxide

iron

open

closed

Real-World Scenario: Banded Iron Formations

Previously this year, we
learned about stromatolites and how oxygen combining with iron affected the entire Earth system. You can watch the video on the next page to review!

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Banded iron formations were made when the ​

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filled with dissolved ​

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that came from hydrothermal vents. This combined with ​

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released from stromatolites and formed ​

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that fell to the bottom of the ocean.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

oceans

atmosphere

iron

oxygen

iron oxide (rust)

Reorder

Which describes the sphere movements for the oxygen? (Put them in order.) The oxygen was attached to atmospheric carbon as CO2, which was taken in by stromatolites, then released as oxygen to the ocean through photosynthesis, then combined with iron to form banded iron formations.

• atmosphere
• biosphere

• hydrosphere

• geosphere

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4

Open Ended

Examine the figure. How did stromatolites end up affecting both the geosphere and atmosphere? Explain!

For this lab, you will explore an “hands-on” energy and
matter transformation. Then, you will explore this same

transformation as it happens in the Earth system.

Hands-On Lab

Earth System Equivalent

Burning Steel Wool

Banded Iron Formations / Stromatolites

Candle Burning

Forest Fires

Ice Melting

Ice Sheets Melting

Dry Ice Sublimation

Release of Gas Methane Hydrates

Hands-On Lab: Energy Transfer Questions

Directions: Ask your teacher for the materials. Set the aluminum foil on top of the scale. Then set the candle on top of aluminum foil and light it. Observe what happens to the mass over time.

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As the candle burned, the mass went ​

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because the matter transferred from the candle to the ​

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. This was a(n) ​

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system. Stored chemical energy was ​

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from the candle and changed into heat and light energy.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

down

up

atmosphere

biosphere

open

closed

released

absorbed

Reorder

Put the sphere changes and events in the correct order (from first to last). A carbon atom is absorbed from the air by a tree during photosynthesis. A forest fire burns the tree, which is weakened and falls over and is covered by a mudslide. The carbon gets trapped in the soil.

• atmosphere

• photosynthesis

• biosphere

• fire/mudslide

• geosphere

1

2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

Multiple Choice

As indicated by the data in the chart, which best describes the trend in California forest fires over the last ten years?

• The total number of forest fires has gone up.

• The number of acres burned in forest fires has gone up.

• The total number of forest fires has gone down.

• The number of acres burned in forest fires stayed the same.

Open Ended

Examine the figure. Describe what sphere changes are involved in the forest fire feedback cycle. How could changes in one sphere affect other spheres to increase the chances of forest fires?

Ice Melting: If you don't already have ice at your table, ask your teacher for some. Observe the ice and then answer the following questions.

Hands-On Lab

Earth System Equivalent

Burning Steel Wool

Banded Iron Formations / Stromatolites

Candle Burning

Forest Fires

Ice Melting

Sea Ice Melting

Dry Ice Sublimation

Release of Gas Methane Hydrates

Drag and Drop

As the ice melts, heat energy transfers from the ​

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​ -sphere to the ​

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-sphere (because heat always moves from ​

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objects to ​

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objects).

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

atmos-

hydro-

hotter

colder

bio-

geo-

Reorder

Examine the figure (click on it to enlarge it). Put the events of the ice albedo feedback cycle in order!

• Ice sheets retreat due to warm temps.

• With less ice, more surface water is exposed.

• The surface water absorbs the sun's energy (instead of reflecting it).

• As a result, more warming happens in the area.

• More warming causes more sea ice to melt.

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2

3

4

5

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4
• 5

For this lab, you will explore an “hands-on” energy and
matter transformation. Then, you will explore this same

transformation as it happens in the Earth system.

Hands-On Lab

Earth System Equivalent

Burning Steel Wool

Banded Iron Formations / Stromatolites

Candle Burning

Forest Fires

Ice Melting

Sea Ice Melting

Dry Ice Sublimation

Release of Gas

Methane Hydrates

Dry Ice Sublimation

​Ask your teacher for a piece of dry ice. Use tongs (or a spoon) to place the dry ice in the water. Observe what happens and then answer the questions on the following slides.

Remember the safety expectations! The dry ice stays in the science classroom. Do not touch or eat the dry ice. If you aren't sure if you should do something, ask before you do it!

Drag and Drop

When dropped into the water, the dry ice changes directly from a ​

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into a ​

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that bubbles up and enters the ​

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. The dry ice ​

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the surrounding water (because heat energy always travels from the hotter object to the colder object).

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

solid

gas

atmosphere

biosphere

absorbs energy from

releases energy to

liquid

Methane hydrates are solid forms of natural gas. They occur in cold areas deep below the ocean surface. Just like dry ice, when warmed, methane hydrates turn directly into a gas. People are concerned that warming oceans will release these hydrates to the atmosphere. Because methane is a powerful greenhouse gas, people are concerned that it could cause further warming. Watch the video on the following slide to learn more about the release of methane and the potential effects of this on climate.

​

Methane Hydrates

Reorder

Click on the figure to examine it more closely. Put the events in order for a "methane hydrate" climate feedback loop.

• Warming in the atmosphere warms the oceans.

• Warm oceans heat up the methane hydrates.

• Heated methane hydrates turn into a gas and enter the atmosphere.

• As powerful greenhouse gases, the methane hydrates trap solar energy in the atmosphere.

• Further warming of the atmosphere further heats the oceans (releasing even more methane hydrates).

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