1. Table of Contents Chapter Preview 1.1 What is Science?
1.2 Studying Earth
1.3 Exploring Earth’s Surface
1.4 Topographic Maps
1.5 Safety in the Science Laboratory

2. Chapter Preview Questions
1. Solar energy strikes Earth most directly at
a. the equator.
b. the North Pole.
c. the South Pole.
d. mid-latitudes.

3. Chapter Preview Questions
1. Solar energy strikes Earth most directly at
a. the equator.
b. the North Pole.
c. the South Pole.
d. mid-latitudes.

4. Chapter Preview Questions
2. Uneven heating of Earth by the sun causes
a. volcanic eruptions.
b. earthquakes.
c. wind.
d. landslides.

5. Chapter Preview Questions
2. Uneven heating of Earth by the sun causes
a. volcanic eruptions.
b. earthquakes.
c. wind.
d. landslides.

6. Chapter Preview Questions
3. The amount of heat that Earth receives from the sun varies with latitude because
a. of fusion in the sun’s core.
b. the sun is a yellow star.
c. the sun is the closest star to Earth.
d. of the sun’s height in the sky.

7. Chapter Preview Questions
3. The amount of heat that Earth receives from the sun varies with latitude because
a. of fusion in the sun’s core.
b. the sun is a yellow star.
c. the sun is the closest star to Earth.
d. of the sun’s height in the sky.

8. Chapter Preview Questions
4. Much of the energy on Earth is from
a. the sun.
b. Earth’s volcanoes.
c. earthquakes.
d. Earth’s core.

9. Chapter Preview Questions
4. Much of the energy on Earth is from
a. the sun.
b. Earth’s volcanoes.
c. earthquakes.
d. Earth’s core.

10. What is one main source of energy for Earth’s natural
processes and living things?
A flashlight beam and a ball can model how sunlight strikes Earth. Sunlight strikes Earth’s equator directly. But sunlight is more spread out where it strikes Earth’s polar regions. Explain how this uneven distribution of the sun’s energy affects Earth’s atmosphere and oceans.

11. High-Use Academic Words
Definition
Example Sentence
n. A particular part of a place or surface
In what area of the city is your school located?
area

12. High-Use Academic Words
Definition
Example Sentence
In a race, one factor to think about is the distance you will run.
factor
n. A fact to be considered

13. High-Use Academic Words
Definition
Example Sentence
The scientist predicted that an earthquake might occur at the site.
v. To take place; to happen
occur

14. Apply It!
Choose the word from the table that best completes the sentence.
Keep your work ____ clean and safe during a laboratory experiment.
area
2. Accidents sometimes ____ in a science laboratory.
occur
3. Price is a(n) ____ to be considered in buying baseball tickets.
factor

15. End of Chapter Preview

16. Section 1: What Is Science?
Lesson Objectives
You will be able to identify skills that scientists use to learn about the world.
You will be able to explain what scientific inquiry involves.
You will be able to differentiate between scientific theory and a scientific law.

17. Section 1: What Is Science?
California Standards
6.7 Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations.
a. Develop a hypothesis.
c. …develop qualitative statements about the relationships between variables.

18. Section 1: What Is Science?
What skills do scientists use?
What is scientific inquiry?
How do scientific theories differ from scientific laws?

19. Sequoias and Fire
The graph shows the growth of sequoia seedlings in relation to the intensity of controlled burns. Use the graph to answer the questions.

20. Sequoias and Fire Reading Graphs
What do the bars on the graph represent?
Seedlings in different locations

21. Sequoias and Fire Reading Graphs
What does the height of each bar represent?
Percent of trees with seedlings

22. Sequoias and Fire Interpreting Data
Which level of burn intensity led to the most seedling production? The least seedling production?
High-intensity burn; unburned site

23. The Nature of Scientific Inquiry
Scientific Inquiry refers to the many ways in which scientists study the natural world and propose explanations based on the evidence they gather.
Pose Questions
Communicate
Form a Hypothesis
Design an Experiment
Draw Conclusions
Collect and Interpret Data

24. The Nature of Inquiry Activity
Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and access Active Art about the nature of inquiry.

25. Warm-Up
What is science?

26. List three main skills that scientists use. Explain one.
Warm-Up
List three main skills that scientists use. Explain one.

27. End of Section: What Is Science?

28. Section 2: Studying Earth
Lesson Objectives
You will be able to name the parts of the Earth system.
You will be able to explain how energy is transferred in the Earth system.
You will be able to identify the main branches of Earth science.

29. Section 2: Studying Earth
California Standards
6.3.a Students know energy can be carried from one place to another by heat flow or by waves, including water, light and sound waves.
6.4.a Students know the sun is the major source of energy for phenomena on Earth’s surface; it powers winds, ocean currents, and the water cycle.

30. Section 2: Studying Earth
What are the parts of the Earth system?
How is energy transferred in the Earth system?
What are the branches of Earth science?

31. Earth as a System
The atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere, and biosphere together make up the Earth system. Changes in any part of the system can affect the other parts.

32. Earth as a System

33. Energy Transfer
Energy can be transferred from place to place by moving objects, by waves, or by heat flow. The different forms of energy transfer occur around us constantly.
Moving Objects A moving object such as this baseball transfers energy from the pitcher’s arm to the catcher—or the pitcher’s bat.

34. Energy Transfer
Waves When the fans cheer, sound waves transfer energy as they move through the air.

35. Energy Transfer
Heat Flow Heat Flow transfers energy from the warm air into the cold ice cream, causing the ice cream to melt.

36. Energy Transfer
Electromagnetic Waves Electromagnetic Waves transfer energy as they carry the TV announcer’s voice and image to people outside the ballpark.

37. The Branches of Earth Science
Earth science has several different branches. We will study three of them: geology, meteorology, and environmental science.

38. Warm-Up
What are the four “spheres” that make up the Earth system? Describe two.

39. What are three branches of Earth science? Describe one.
Warm-Up
What are three branches of Earth science? Describe one.

40. End of Section: Studying Earth

41. Section 3: Exploring Earth’s Surface
Lesson Objectives
You will be able to explain what the topography of an area includes.
You will be able to identify the main types of landform.
You will be able to explain how maps represent Earth’s surface and use them to locate points on the surface.

42. Section 3: Exploring Earth’s Surface
California Standards
6.2 Topography is reshaped by the weathering of rock and soil and by the transportation and deposition of sediment.
6.7.f. Read a topographic map and a geologic map for evidence provided on the maps and construct and interpret a simple scale map.

43. Section 3: Exploring Earth’s Surface
What does the topography of an area include?
What are the main types of landforms?
How do maps represent Earth’s surface and help find locations?

44. Elevations Across California
On a trip from California’s coast to the Sierra Nevada, you would see many changes in topography as the elevation and relief of the land changed.
Elevation is the height of a land feature above sea level.
Relief is the difference between the highest point and lowest point of a landform.

45. Types of Landforms
There are three main types of landforms: plains, mountains, and plateaus.

46. What Is a Map?
Maps are drawn to scale and use symbols to represent topography and other features on Earth’s surface.

47. Scales and Ratios
A ratio compares two numbers by division. For example, the scale of a map given as a ratio is 1:250,000. At this scale, the distance between two points on the map measures 23.5 cm. How would you find the actual distance?
1. Write the scale as a fraction.
2. Write a proportion. Let d represent the distance between the two points.
3. Write the cross products.
1 x d = 250,000 x 23.5 cm
d = 5,875,000 cm

48. Scales and Ratios Practice Problem
A map’s scale is 1:25,000. If two points are 4.7 cm apart on the map, how far apart are they on the ground?
117,500 cm or km; (1 x d = 25,000 x 4.7 cm) or (25,000 x 4.7 cm)

49. Earth’s Grid
Distances around circles are measured in degrees.

50. Earth’s Grid
The equator and prime meridian divide Earth’s surface into hemispheres.

51. Earth’s Grid
The lines of latitude and longitude form a grid that can be used to find locations anywhere on Earth.

52. Earth’s Grid
Every point on Earth’s surface has a particular latitude and longitude
xxx

53. Click the SciLinks button for links on landforms.

54. Links on Latitude and Longitude
Click the SciLinks button for links on latitude and longitude.

55. Latitude and Longitude
Click the Video button to watch a movie about latitude and longitude.

56. Warm-Up
What is topography?

57. What is relief? How does it differ from elevation?
Warm-Up
What is relief? How does it differ from elevation?

58. What are the three main types of landforms? Describe two.
Warm-Up
What are the three main types of landforms? Describe two.

59. End of Section: Exploring Earth’s Surface

60. Section 4: Topographic Maps
Lesson Objectives
You will be able to explain how elevation, relief, and slope are shown on topographic maps.
You will be able to explain how a topographic map is read.

61. Section 4: Topographic Maps
California Standard
6.7.f Read a topographic map and a geologic map for evidence provided on the maps and construct and interpret a simple scale map.

62. Section 4: Topographic Maps
How do mapmakers represent elevation, relief, and slope?
How do you read a topographic map?

63. Mapping Earth’s Topography
Mapmakers use contour lines to represent elevation, relief, and slope on topographic maps.

64. Topographic Map Activity
Click the Active Art button to open a browser window and access Active Art about topographic maps.

65. Reading a Topographic Map
To read a topographic map, you must familiarize yourself with the map’s scale and symbols and interpret the map’s contour lines.

66. End of Section: Topographic Maps

67. Section 5: Safety in the Science Laboratory
Lesson Objectives
You will be able to explain why preparation is important when carrying out scientific investigations in the lab and in the field.
You will be able to describe what you should do if an accident occurs.

68. Section 5: Safety in the Science Laboratory
California Standards
6.7 Scientific progress is made by asking meaningful questions and conducting careful investigations.
b. Select appropriate tools and technology (including calculators, computers, balances, spring scales, microscopes, and binoculars) to perform tests, collect data, and display data.

69. Section 5: Safety in the Science Laboratory
Why is preparation important when carrying out scientific investigations in the lab and in the field?
What should you do if an accident occurs?

70. Safety in the Lab
These safety symbols remind you to work carefully when performing labs in this textbook series. Make sure you are familiar with each safety symbol and what it means.

71. In Case of an Accident
When any accident occurs, no matter how minor, notify your teacher immediately. Then listen to your teacher’s directions and carry them out quickly.

72. Links on Laboratory Safety
Click the SciLinks button for links on laboratory safety.

73. End of Section: Safety in the Science Laboratory

74. Quick Take Quiz
Click to start quiz.

75. Click below to practice!
Build
Your
Vocabulary
Click below to practice!

76. Practice Test!
Click to start
practice test!