Chapter7EarthOurHomeinSpace.ppt

Chapter 7 Earth: Our Home in Space After completing this chapter, you should be able to: describe the general physical properties of the Earth. describe Earths composition in terms of refractory vs. volatile elements. describe the important characteristics of the Earths atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, magnetosphere, and biosphere. list the major chemical components of the Earths atmosphere explain why there are two high and two low tides each day describe the temperature, chemical, pressure profiles of Earths atmosphere discuss how Earths internal structure has been probed. describe the Earths internal structure. describe process of differentiation and its implications for understanding history of Earths lithosphere. describe the model explaining plate tectonics. list the three major rock types and explain how each is formed. explain the current theory explaining the formation of Earths magnetosphere. describe the chemical basis of Earths biosphere. describe the interaction between the hydrosphere and atmosphere. describe the interactions between the Earths various spheres. describe how geologists date the ages of rocks. Why Study the Earth? Easiest to study and best understood Serves as model for other planets processes within, on, and around planet properties of planets Atmosphere: formation, composition, and evolution Hydrosphere Solid body interior structure surface features: formation and modification Magnetic field Life and its affect EARTH: Physical Properties The Earth’s Shape and Size Round/spherical ancient Greeks and Romans Aristotle: lunar eclipse, stars at horizon Fernando de Magellan: 1st to circumnavigate the globe, proof that the earth is round. Modern measurements show Earth to be pear-shaped. Circumference Eratosthenes (Greek, ~200 B.C.): measured the circumference of the Earth to be 250,000 stadia or ~40,000 km measured by satellite to be 40,070 km The Earth’s Mass Applying Newton’s modification