Earth's Systems and Processes

​Lesson: The Earth System

Lesson Objectives

• Describe why The Earth is considered a system while being made of systems

• Identify the systems that make up the Earth

• Describe the type of forces that change the Earth around us

  • Differentiate between constructive & Destructive Forces

Earth as a System

• The Earth's system involves a constant flow of matter throughout different parts

  • Example: The water cycle

  • Rocks and minerals cycle

    • Rock formed from magma, broken down by erosion, forms together into sediments to make new rock

Lesson 3.1 | Grade 8 Ohio

Earth as a System

• Energy: The ability for something to do work

  • All the Earth's cycles are driven by energy

  • Two main sources on Earth that flow in opposite directions

    • The Sun

    • Heat flowing out of the Earth as it cools​

Parts of the Earth's Systems

• Different parts of the Earth's systems form different distinct "spheres"

  • The atmosphere

  • The Geosphere

  • The Hydrosphere

  • The Biosphere

• ​Each sphere can be studied separately or together

  • They all interconnect​

• The sun can be considered a part of Earth's systems even though it is not on Earth​

Lesson 3.1 | Grade 8 Ohio

The Atmosphere

• Earth's outermost layer

• Is relatively thin

• A mixture of different gases, dust, cloud droplets, and precipitation

  • Mostly Nitrogen and Oxygen​

• Contains weather

Lesson 3.1 | Grade 8 Ohio

The Geosphere

• Three main parts

  • Metal core

  • A solid middle layer

  • A rocky outer layer

• Contains most of the Earth's Mass​ in the form of rocks

Lesson 3.1 | Grade 8 Ohio

The Hydrosphere

• All of the Earth's Water

  • About 75% of the Earth is covered by a relatively thin layer of water​

• Most of the Earth's water is Saltwater, and only a small portion is drinkable freshwater

Lesson 3.1 | Grade 8 Ohio

The Biosphere

• The parts of the Earth that contain all living organisms

• Exists all over the Earth, even in places we don't expect

• Includes Bacteria and other microorganisms​

Lesson 3.1 | Grade 8 Ohio

Feedback within a system:

• Feedback: information within a system that changes the system itself

  • Data is "fed​ back" into the system and it changes in response

  • Can increase the amount of change, or slow it down

    • Example: As glaciers melt, the land around them gets warmer causing more glaciers to melt

  • Changes in one part of a system can affect a part of another system

Lesson 3.1 | Grade 8 Ohio

Multiple Select

Which two systems are directly interacting in this picture?

• The atmosphere

• the geosphere

• The hydrosphere

• The biosphere

Multiple Select

Which three systems are directly interacting in this picture?

• The atmosphere

• the geosphere

• The hydrosphere

• The biosphere

Multiple Choice

Which system is shown in this picture?

• The atmosphere

• the geosphere

• The hydrosphere

• The biosphere

Match

Match the following spheres with their descriptions

• The Biosphere

• The Hydrosphere

• The Geosphere

• The Atmosphere

The parts of the Earth that contain all living organisms

All of the Earth's Water

Contains most of the Earth's Mass​ in the form of rocks

A mixture of different gases, dust, cloud droplets and precipitation

• The parts of the Earth that contain all living organisms

• All of the Earth's Water

• Contains most of the Earth's Mass​ in the form of rocks

• A mixture of different gases, dust, cloud droplets and precipitation

How is the Earth Changed?

• The Earth is constantly being changed by the forces around it

  • Different competing forces both create and destroy land

    • Constructive Force

    • Destructive Forces​

Lesson 3.1 | Grade 8 Ohio

Constructive Forces

• Constructive Forces: Forces that build up (construct) Mountains and landmasses

• Lithosphere: The topmost layer of rock​

  • Broken up into plates that move over the Earth

  • Plate Tectonics: The slow movement of the Earth's Plates

Constructive Forces Examples

• The Himalayas in India

  • Contains fossils from ocean animals

  • As plates collided, land was pushed up to form mountains​

• Volcanoes also build up surfaces by spewing lava that hardens into rock

Destructive Forces

• Destructive Forces: Forces that destroy and wear away landmasses through processes like erosion and weathering

  • Different forces tear/break down different landforms

    • Ice, Rain, Wind, Temperature Changes

Destructive Forces Examples

• Weathering: the process of breaking down rocks and landforms

  • As rocks are torn apart, gravity pulls the pieces downward​

• Erosion: The wearing down and Carrying away of land by natural forces such as water, ice, or wind

Multiple Choice

The eruption of a volcano is which type of force

• Constructive

• Destructive

Multiple Choice

A flood wearing down a rock is which type of force?

• Constructive

• Destructive

Multiple Choice

What is Orogeny?

• The formation of mountains

• The formation of volcanoes

• The process of breaking down rocks and landforms

• The wearing down and Carrying away of land by natural forces

Match

Match the following Vocabulary words to their definition

• Lithosphere

• Destructive Forces

• Constructive Forces:

• Weathering

• Erosion

The top most layers of rock

Forces that break down rocks and land forms

Forces that build up mountains or landmasses

The process of breaking down rocks and landforms

The wearing down and Carrying away of land by natural forces

• The top most layers of rock

• Forces that break down rocks and land forms

• Forces that build up mountains or landmasses

• The process of breaking down rocks and landforms

• The wearing down and Carrying away of land by natural forces

Open Ended

Give an Example of how you interact with each of the Spheres of the Earth in your everyday Life.