Lesson 2 Quick Changes to Earth’s landscape – We learned that flooding can be considered both a slow and rapid change to Earth’s surface depending on the amount of snowmelt or precipitation. Flash floods may result from heavy rainfall and can sweep away crops, rocks, soil, and plants. We learned that volcanic eruptions can happen quickly. The sudden eruption of a volcano can be violent, resulting in gas, molten rock, ash, and bits of rock spewing into the air. A volcano can also produce the slow release of lava resulting in landforms. We learned that geophysicists study changes to Earth’s surface.
Lesson 2 Quick Changes to Earth’s landscape – We learned that geologists study land from soil to landforms. We looked at Bryce Canyon and the hoodoos. We learned that some events happen very quickly while others occur very slowly over time. Earthquakes, landslides, floats, and volcanoes can change Earth’s landscape very rapidly. Earthquakes produce seismic shaking or ground vibrations, liquefaction (stable soil suddenly turning liquid), landslides, mud flows, and tsunamis which are giant waves. If the earthquake is intense the damage can be quite severe. California experiences about 10,000 earthquakes each year and Alaska experiences 12,000 each year.
Lesson 4 Electromagnetism – We developed and used models to enhance our understanding of electromagnetism. We explored a day in the life of a Maglev (short for magnetic levitation) train engineer.
Lesson 4 Electromagnetism – We learned about the mechanics of electric motors. We learned that electric motors transfer electric energy to mechanical energy. The strength of an electric motor is affected by the strength of the permanent magnet, voltage, and the number of wire coils.
Lesson 1 Slow Changes to Earth’s Landscape – We learned slowing down steep slopes cut into the valley floor and carry material down-slope forming a V-shaped Valley. Over time, erosion and deposition of rock material widen the valley walls and floor decreasing the slope of the river. The longer these processes continue the wider the valley becomes. As the river slows down deposition becomes greater than erosion, and the valley becomes very wide with a gentle slope.
Lesson 4 Electromagnetism – We learned about what affects the strength of an electric current created by a magnet. We looked at the speed of rotation of a coil as well as other factors that affect the electric current produced by an electric generator. Then we looked at the strength of the magnetic field produced using electromagnets. Then we looked at the number of coils of wire and the number of loops in each coil. Next, we explored the orientation of the magnet with respect to the wires which also affects the amount of current.
We worked on adding pictures and descriptions of weathering, erosion, and deposition to our poster. Then we worked on finding examples to add to our poster too.
We worked on adding descriptions of weathering, erosion, and deposition to our work science notebook. Then we worked on finding examples to add to our notes.
