Page 16 - Laboratory Manual in Physical Geology

BIG IDEAS PRE-LAB VIDEO

Geology is the science of Earth, so geologists are
Earth scientists or “geoscientists.” Geologists observe,
describe, and model the materials, energies, and
processes of change that occur within and among
Earth’s spheres over time. They apply their knowledge
to understand the present state of Earth, locate and
manage resources, identify and mitigate hazards, predict
change, and seek ways to sustain the human population.

FOCUS YOUR INQUIRY

THINK How and why do geologists observe Earth
About It | materials at different scales (orders of magnitude)?
ACTIVITY 1.1 Geologic Inquiry (p. 3 )

|
THINK What materials, energies, and processes of
About It change do geologists study?
ACTIVITY 1.2 Spheres of Matter, Energy, and Change (p. 9 )

|
THINK How and why do geologists make models of
About It Earth?
ACTIVITY 1.3 Modeling Earth Materials and
Processes (p. 14 )

|
THINK How and why do geologists measure Earth
About It materials and graph relationships among Earth
materials and processes of change?
ACTIVITY 1.4 Measuring and Determining
Relationships (p. 14 )
|
THINK How is the distribution of Earth materials related
About It to their density?
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ACTIVITY 1.5 Density, Gravity, and Isostasy (p. 20 )
ACTIVITY 1.6 Isostasy and Earth’s Global Topography (p. 22 )
Thinking Like a

Geologist

C ONTRIBUTING A UTHORS
Cynthia Fisher • West Chester University of Pennsylvania
C. Gil Wiswall • West Chester University of Pennsylvania

Global Positioning System (GPS) devices, like this one on Mount St.
Helens, are used to detect changes in the elevation of the volcano
as magma moves beneath it. A rise in elevation of the volcano often
precedes an eruption.

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