Grade 8 Earth and Space Science’s

By Tia Stitt

ESS 1.1.1. Question

• Identify and describe the processes involved in the water cycle and explain it’s effects on climatic patterns.

ESS 1.1.1 Answer• The water cycle consists of many processes. It first

starts out in the process of evaporation, in which molecules at the surface of a liquid absorb enough energy to change into the gaseous state. When the water gets absorbed into the air it turns into water vapor. The further the gas goes into the atmosphere the more condensed it becomes. During condensation, a process by which a gas changes into a liquid, some of the vapor turns into clouds and the vapor that does not, turns into precipitation. The water is held in the clouds for a period of ten days. When this period is over precipitation happens; forms of water such as snow, rain, hail, or freezing rain fall form the clouds to Earth. When it hits the Earth it usually runs down mountain sides as runoff, or gets stored in the ground as ground water and then gets put into bodies of water. The water cycle has no real beginning or end.

ESS 1.1.1. Picture

ESS 1.1.1. Definitions• Evaporation- is the process by which molecules at the

surface of a liquid absorb enough energy to change to the gaseous state.

• Condensation- is the process by which a gas, such as water vapor, changes into a liquid, such as water.

• Precipitation- forms of water such as snow, rail, hail and freezing rain.

• Snow- water vapor in a cloud converted directly into ice crystals

• Rain- the most common type of precipitation• Hail- round pellets of ice larger than 5 millimeters• Freezing Rain- rain that freezes when it hits a cold

surface

ESS 1.1.2. Question

• Identify and describe the impact certain factors have on the Earth’s climate, including changes in the ocean‘s temperatures, changes in the composition of the Earth’s atmosphere, and geological shifts due to events, such as a volcanic eruptions and glacial movements.

ESS 1.1.2 Answer

• One factor could be El Niño. It changes the oceans temperatures and the climate on the coastal regions. Global warming and ozone depletion are causing the Earth’s temperature to rise immensely and UV rays are more easily let into the atmosphere. With the temperature rising, cold places are going to get warmer, but the glaciers and ice caps will melt causing sea level to go up and hurricanes to happen more frequently. With all of these things going on, if a volcanic eruption happens, the ashes would be carried up into the atmosphere and cause a blockage. When this happens the sun and heat cannot get though, thus causing maybe another ice age.

ESS 1.1.2. Definitions

• El Niño- is every 2-7 years in the pacific ocean; unusual wind patterns form over the western pacific; vast sheets of warm water move eastward toward the South American coast.

• Global Warming- is a gradual increase in the temperature of Earth’s atmosphere.

• Ozone Depletion- the thinning of the ozone layer due to chemicals produced by humans.

ESS 1.2.1 Question

• Describe the layers of the Earth, including the core, mantle, lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere.

ESS 1.2.1. Answer

• The many layers of the Earth include mantle, outer core, inner core, lithosphere, asthenosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere and biosphere. The mantle is a layer of hot rock between five and 40 kilometers. The outer and inner cores are similar, but the outer surrounds the inner core and is molten metal; the inner is a dense ball of solid metal. The lithosphere is the uppermost part of the mantle and crust together and the asthenosphere is a soft flowing material. The atmosphere has many different levels and is the outer most sphere mad of gasses. The biosphere is all the living things in the world and needs the hydrosphere, all water in the world, to survive.

ESS 1.2.1. Picture

ESS 1.2.2. Question

• Use geological evidence provided to support the idea that Earth’s crust/lithospheres composed of plates that move.

ESS 1.2.2. Answer• The theory of plate tectonics is proven true through many

things like earthquakes, tsunamis and mountains. Earthquakes and tsunamis are caused by the Earth’s plate moving and colliding into each other causing movement in the ground. Mountains are created from the plates colliding and building up Earth’s surface.

• There are many different types of stress concerning the Earth’s crust and plates. There is shearing, which is the stress that pushes a mass of rock in two opposite directions, tension, which pulls on the crust stretching the rock so that it is thinner in the middle, and compression, which squeezes rock until it folds or breaks.

• There are many different faults too. They are strike-slip, the rocks on either side of the fault slip past each other sideways with a little up-or-down motion, normal, the fault is at an angle so one block lays below the other, and reverse faults, is the same structure as a normal fault but the blocks move in opposite directions.

ESS 1.3.1. Question

• Explain how fossils found in sedimentary rock can be used to support the theories of Earth’s evolution over geologic time, and describe how the folding, breaking, and uplifting of the layers affects the evidence.

ESS 1.3.1. Answer

• Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of living things. Fossils are found in sedimentary rock, is the type of rock made of hardened sediment. They can be used to support the theories of Earth’s evolution over geologic time because many plants and organisms that were once alive have been discovered. Depending on what was found, could say what the surface used to be like and what organisms where there.

• The folding, breaking and uplifting of layers affects fossils because without these actions happening, the fossils would not get exposed and we would never find them or know they were there. This would cause us to not be able to discover more about our planet.

ESS 1.4.1. Question

• Describe how catastrophic changes that have taken place on the Earth’s surface can be revealed by satellite images.

ESS 1.4.1. Answer

• Catastrophic changes that have taken place on the Earth’s surface can be revealed by many different types of satellite images. When the images are taken, they are transmitted to meteorologists on Earth; who then interpret the information. You can see fronts, natural disasters, clouds and other things in these images; they are used to predict the weather over weeks, days or even hours.

• The one of the many different types of images is a weather map. A weather map consists of fronts, type of precipitation, wind speed, cloud cover, pressure and temperature. Weather maps are used to predict weather or tell the current forecast.

ESS 1.4.1. Definitions

• Front- an area where two air masses with different temperatures and densities collide

• Air mass- a huge body of air that has similar temperature, humidity and air pressure throughout it

ESS 1.5.1. Question

• Explain that the Earth’s crust is divided into plates that move at extremely slow rates in response to movements in the mantle.

ESS 1.5.1. Answer

• The Earth’s crust is divided into plates that move at a steadily slow rate due to the mantle. Scientists believe this is true because the mantle/asthenosphere is made up of a soft flowing material. The Earth’s plates/lithosphere float on top of the asthenoshpere; convection currents rise and spread out beneath the surface thus causing the plates to move.

• There are many different Lithospheric plates; the Eurasian Plate, North American Plate, Pacific Plate, Caribbean Plate, African Plate, Nazca Plate, South American Plate, Antarctic Plate and Indo-Australian Plate.

ESS 1.5.1. Picture

ESS 1.5.2. Question

• Explain how earth events, abruptly and over time, can bring about changes in Earth’s surface: landforms, ocean floor, rock features, or climate.

ESS 1.5.2. Answer

• Earth events can, abruptly and over time, bring changes about in the Earth’s surface. Faults, folding and earthquakes can build tons of different landforms or rock features, but it happens over time. On the ocean floor many things can happen; if an earthquake happens, it will cause a tsunami which happens abruptly and there are underwater volcanoes. Many things can change the climate too, like El Niño and the switching of seasons. El Niño changes the oceans temperatures and the climate on the coastal regions and the switching of seasons brings the sun closer or further away and changes the temperatures.

ESS 1.5.3. Question

• Explain the role of differential heating or convection in ocean currents, winds, weather and weather patterns, atmosphere or climate.

ESS 1.5.3. Answer

• There is differential heating or convection in ocean currents, winds, weather and weather patterns, the atmosphere and climate. Ocean currents are caused by differential heating; lighter, warmer material rises while heavier, cooler material sinks. It is this movement that creates circulation patterns known as convection currents in air, water and the mantle of the Earth. Winds are created by differential heating in the atmosphere; as warm air rises allowing cooler air to flow underneath. Along with the turning of the Earth, this movement of air causes winds.

ESS 1.6.1. Question

• Describe the process of the rock cycle.

ESS 1.6.1. Answer

• The rock cycle is a series of processes on and beneath the Earth’s surface that slowly transforms rocks form one from type to another. To get to the igneous rock stage there must be volcanic activity. From there, there must be erosion to get to the sedimentary rock stage and heat and pressure to get to the metamorphic rock stage. From sedimentary rock you can get to metamorphic by heat and pressure. Metamorphic rock can transfer back into sedimentary rock by erosion. To get to molten material from all of the other stages, there must be melting.

ESS 1.6.2. Question

• Explain that sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks contain evidence of the minerals, temperatures, and forces that created them.

ESS 1.6.2. Answer

• Sedimentary, igneous and metamorphic rocks contain evidence of the minerals, temperatures, and forces that created them. Sedimentary rocks are created by sediments being pressured together in many different layers. The processes to get to that stage are erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation. Igneous rocks are hardened pieces of magma or lava. Metamorphic rocks are any type of rock heated and pressured. To find out what type of minerals each rock is made of, a geologist looks under a telescope and can observe the shape and size of the crystals in the rock. Different temperatures create different rocks; you can usually tell the temperature of when the rock was created by which category it fits under.

ESS 1.6.2. Definitions

• Sediments- are small, solid pieces of material that come from rocks or living things.

• Erosion- occurs when running water or wind loosen and carry away the fragments of rock.

• Deposition- is the process by which sediment settles out of the water or wind carrying it.

• Compaction- is the process that presses sediments together.

• Cementation- is the process in which dissolved minerals crystallize and glue particles of sediment together.

ESS 1.6.3. Question

• Explain how sediments of sand and smaller particles, which may contain the remains of organisms, are gradually buried and cemented together by dissolved minerals to form solid rock.

ESS 1.6.3. Answer

• Sediments of sand and smaller particles are gradually buried and cemented together by dissolved minerals to form solid rock. To get the sediments, rocks have to be warn away causing fragments to be carried away. The sediments are gradually collected and compressed. During this process they get forced into the ground, thus burying them. Some, when buried, turn into fossils.

ESS 1.6.4. Question

• Using data about a rock’s physical characteristics make and support an inference about the rock’s history and connection to the rock cycle.

ESS 1.6.4. Answer

• There are many different ways to tell about a rock’s history and where in the rock cycle they are. To figure out it’s history and category you collect and study samples. When studying a rock sample, geologists observe a rock’s color and texture and determine it’s mineral composition. Color alone cannot classify a rock; when discovering a rock’s texture they look for grain size, grain shape, grain pattern, and some have no visible grain. To figure out the rocks connection to the rock cycle it must get classified under either igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic.

ESS 1.6.4. Definitions

• Texture- to a geologist, a rock’s texture is it’s size, shape and pattern of the grains.

• Grains- particles of minerals or other rocks

ESS 1.7.1 Question

• Describe how water flows into and through a watershed, falling on the land, collecting in rivers and lakes, soil, and porous layers of rock, until much of it flows back into the ocean.

ESS 1.7.1. Answer

• A watershed is the land area that supplies water to a river system; also called drainage basins. This is where a river and it’s tributaries collect their water.

ESS 1.7.1. Picture

ESS 1.7.2. Question

• Identify the physical and chemical properties that make water an essential component of the Earth’s system.

ESS 1.7.2. Answer

• There are many physical and chemical properties that make water an essential component of the Earth’s system. Water is not just used for household purposes it is used for agriculture, industry, transportation, and recreation. Water is a odorless and tasteless liquid. Water is usually transparent, but when frozen has a tint of color to it. Since water is transparent, aquatic plants can get sun light.

ESS 1.7.3. Question

• Explain the processes that cause cycling of water into and out of the atmosphere and their connections to our planet’s weather patterns.

ESS 1.7.3. Answer

• The water cycle consists of many processes. Evaporation is the first, in which molecules at the surface of a liquid absorb enough energy to change into the gaseous state. Next is condensation, a process by which a gas changes into a liquid, some of the vapor turns into clouds and the vapor that does not precipitates. The last process is precipitation; forms of water such as snow, rain, hail, or freezing rain fall form the clouds to Earth.

ESS 2.1.1. Question

• Identify the characteristics of the sun and its position in the universe.

ESS 2.1.1. Answer

• The sun has many different characteristics. The sun’s layers are the core, photosphere, chromosphere and corona. On the surface there are sunspots, prominence,

and solar flares. The sunspots just seem to move across the surface, which makes it known that the sun rotates on it’s axis like the Earth. The sun gets it’s energy from nuclear fusion which only occurs under conditions of extremely high temperatures. The sun is in the middle of our galaxy giving light to all of the planets.

ESS 2.1.1. Definitions

• Sunspots- are areas of gas on the sun that are cooler than the gasses around them.

• Prominence- is a huge looping mass of gas seen above the chromosphere.

ESS 2.1.2. Question

• Recognize the relationships between the tides and the phases of the moon, and use tide charts and NOAA information to describe them.

ESS 2.1.2. Answer

• The tides and the phases of the moon have a huge relationship. Tides mainly occur because of the differences in how much the moon pulls the Earth. Depending on where the moon is tells weather or not the tide is high or low. The tides change about every six hours. If the moon is full the tides are irregularly high and if the moon is new the tides are irregularly low.

ESS 2.1.3. Question

• Recognize and describe how the regular and predictable motions of the Earth and Moon account for phenomena on Earth, including the day, the year, phases of the moon, shadows and eclipses.

ESS 2.1.3. Answer

• Day and night occur when the Earth rotates and the moon is on the dark side of the Earth and the sun is on the light side. It takes 24 hours to complete this process and for a new year to start it takes 365 day of the Earth rotating and then making a revolution around the sun.

• During the phases of the moon the Earth only sees one side of the Earth. This is due to the moon revolving around the Earth in the same amount of time the moon takes to rotate on its axis.

ESS 2.1.4. Question

• Explain the temporal or positional relationships between or among the Earth, Sun and Moon (e.g., night/day, seasons, years, tides.)

ESS 2.1.4. Answer

• Day and night occur when the Earth rotates and the moon is on the dark side of the Earth and the sun is on the light side. It takes 24 hours to complete this process. For a new year to start it takes 365 day of the Earth rotating and then making a revolution around the sun. Tides mainly occur because of the differences in how much the moon pulls the Earth.

ESS 2.2.1. Question

• Describe the Sun as the principle energy source for phenomena on the Earth’s surface.

ESS 2.2.1. Answer

• The sun is the principle energy source for phenomena on the Earth’s surface. All organisms need the Sun’s energy to survive and plants use the sun for photosynthesis to produce food. The energy comes to Earth in the forms of visible light and inferred radiation; only a small amount is ultraviolet radiation which is very harmful.

ESS 2.3.1. Question

• Identify the characteristics and movement patterns of the planets in out solar system and differentiate between them.

ESS 2.3.1. Answer• Mercury is the planet closest to the sun. Scientists only know what one

side of Mercury looks like and it is just like the Earth’s moon; Mercury also has a very thin atmosphere. Venus takes about 7.5 Earth months to revolve around the sun and is called Earth’s twin. The atmosphere on Venus is so thick that everyday is a cloudy one; Venus is covered in rocks, volcanoes and craters. Mars has a tilted axis and therefore has seasons. The surface of Mars is covered with craters and volcanoes; Mars’s atmosphere is mainly carbon dioxide. Jupiter is the most massive planet and has a think atmosphere made up of mainly hydrogen and helium. There are 17 moons orbiting Jupiter. Saturn is the second largest planet and has rings. There are 5 moons orbiting Saturn. Uranus is twice the distance form the sun than Saturn is and rotates in 17 hours. The axis is in a 90 degrees tilt and there are 18 moons orbiting Uranus. Neptune is 30 times Earth’s distance from the sun and has 8 moons. The last planet is Pluto; it has solid surfaces and masses much less than Earth. Pluto revolves around the sun once every 248 Earth years; Pluto is not actually a planet, it is a dwarf planet.

ESS 2.3.1. DistancesPlanet Distance (to sun in km)

Mercury 58,000,000 km

Venus 108,000,000 km

Earth 150,000,000 km

Mars 228,000,000 km

Jupiter 778,000,000 km

Saturn 1,427,000,000 km

Uranus 2,871,000,000 km

Neptune 4,497,000,000 km

Pluto 5,913,000,000 km

ESS 2.3.1. Picture

ESS 2.3.2. Question

• Explain the affects of gravitational force on the planets and their moons.

ESS 2.3.2 Answer

• Gravitational force is the force of attraction between all masses in the universe. This causes tides and effects on the seasons and weather. Gravitational force also keeps the planets and their moons in orbit around the sun.

ESS 2.3.3. Question

• Explain why Earth and our Solar System appear to be somewhat unique, while acknowledging recent evidence that suggests similar systems in the universe.

ESS 2.3.3. Answer

• Earth and our Solar System are unique because there are most likely no other planets like them out in the universe. There might be planets with life, but not with the same atmosphere and climate as Earth. All of the other planets are special too. They have more moons and different, more unique conditions concerning climate, atmosphere and preserved organisms.

ESS 2.3.4. Question

• Compare and contrast planets based on data provided about size, composition, location, orbital movement, atmosphere, or surface features.

ESS 2.3.4. Answer

• Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars are the inner planets are composed of rock and earthly materials. The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune; they are the gas giants of the universe. Pluto is a dwarf planet. The planets atmospheres are either very thin, very thick or average like the Earth. Moons can very depending on which planet you talk about. The moons help to keep the planets in orbit around the sun.

ESS 2.3.5. Question

• Explain how gravitational force affects objects in the Solar System.

ESS 2.3.5. Answer

• Gravitational force affects many things in the Solar System. It keeps planets, moons, and satellites in orbit; affecting tides and seasons. Gravitational force pulls on the Earth, thus causing high tide and low tide depending on where the moon is. By keeping satellites in orbit they can observe and take pictures of our Solar System and planets.

ESS 2.4.1. Question

• Explain how technological advances have allowed scientists to re-evaluate or extend existing ideas about the Solar System

ESS 2.4.1. Answer

• Many technological advances have allowed scientist to re-evaluate or extend ideas existing about the Solar System. The main technical advances have been in the telescopes and in the space program; leading to more discoveries like life may have one point been on Mars and discovering that Pluto is a dwarf planet. More has been discovered about each planet including problems like global warming.

ESS 3.1.1. Question

• Define an astronomical unit as the distance from the Earth to the Sun.

ESS 3.1.1. Answer

• An astronomical unit is a unit of length used in measuring astronomical distances within the solar system equal to the mean distance from the Earth to the sun; approximately 150 million kilometers (93 million miles).

ESS 3.1.2. Question

• Explain that special units of measure, such as light years and astronomical units are used to calculate distances in space.

ESS 3.1.2. Answer

• There are different and unusual measurements for distances in space. A light year is the distance that light travels in one year and is usually used to measure the distance to stars because a kilometer is so small. In space, light travels at a speed of 300,00 kilometers per second. An astronomical unit is used to measure the distance between planets or to other galaxies.

ESS 3.2.1. Question

• Describe objects such as asteroids, comets and meteors in terms of their characteristics and movement patterns.

ESS 3.2.1. Answer

• Asteroids are objects revolving around the sun that are to small and to numerous to be considered planets; most revolve between the planets Mars and Jupiter called the asteroid belt. Comets are chunks of ice and dust whose orbits are usually very long, narrow ellipses; a comets tail can stretch out millions of kilometers. A meteor is a streak of light in the sky caused by the burning of a meteoroid in Earth’s atmosphere; there are many stages. The stages are meteoroid, meteor and meteorite.

ESS 3.3.1. Question

• Describe the universe as being comprised of billions of galaxies, each containing many billions of stars, and explain that there are vast distances separating these galaxies and stars from one another, and from the Earth.

ESS 3.3.1. Answer

• The universe is composed of billions of different galaxies each containing billions of stars and planets. There are light-years between the Milky Way and these other galaxies. Scientists discover and observe them from a far using telescopes. Many new ones are discovered each day.

ESS 3.3.1. Picture

ESS 4.1.1. Question

• Describe ways in which technology has increased our understanding of the world in which we live.

ESS 4.1.1. Answer

• Technology has increased our understanding so much about this planet. Scientists have learned about the past life and the problems occurring now. Global warming can be stopped and we discovered that not to long ago. Each layer of the Earth is different and technology has helped teach us this along with new landforms and climate patterns.

ESS 4.1.2. Question

• Recognize the importance of technology as it relates to science, for purposes such as: access to space and other remote locations, sample collection and treatment, measurement, data collection, and storage, computation, and communication of information.

ESS 4.1.2. Answer

• Technology relates to the important of science in so many ways. It is used for sample collection and treatment on rocks, core samples and other things. New locations are discovered everyday and we can communicate this to each other thought e-mail. Data can be collected and stored on computers for use later. Technology has transformed and helped in so many ways.

ESS 4.2.1. Question

• Calculate temperature in degrees Celsius.

ESS 4.2.1. Answer

• The United States is the only country to not use the metric system. To convert Fahrenheit into Celsius you mist complete the equation: n-32; multiply by 0.5555. To convert Celsius into Fahrenheit you must complete the equation: n∙1.8; add 32.

ESS 4.2.2. Question

• Perform calculations using metric measurements

ESS 4.2.2. AnswerMeasurement Symbol Meaning

Kilometer K 1,00

Hectometer H 100

Dekameter Da 10

Decimeter D .1

Centimeter C .01

Millimeter m .001

ESS 4.2.3. Question

• Describe how man uses land based light telescopes, radio telescopes, satellites, manned exploration, probes and robots to collect data.

ESS 4.2.3. Answer

• Man uses land based light and radio telescopes to collect data on our Solar System, universe and other galaxies. Pictures are collected by satellites, probes and robots. During manned exploration you can find all kinds of different data.

ESS 4.3.1. Question

• Provide examples of how creative thinking and economic need has shaped the way people use natural materials, such as the use of metal ores, petroleum, and fresh water.

ESS 4.3.1. Answer

• Creative thinking and economic need has shaped the way people used natural materials. Petroleum is being over used now and is causing problems in our atmosphere; soon it will disappear and we will not have any fuel. Fresh water is used for household purposes and other sources.

ESS 4.3.2. Question

• Explain how to test natural materials to measure and compare their properties.

ESS 4.3.2. Answer

• You can test natural materials to measure and compare their properties in many ways. You can check for their hardness, color, shape, texture, basically anything depending what the material is. You can do this by computer or telescope.

ESS 4.3.3. Question

•    Explain how technologies can reduce the environmental impact of natural disasters.

ESS 4.3.3. Answer

• Technologies can help reduce the impact of a natural disaster. With the new technology we have, we can predict a disaster earlier and therefore we can prepare for it. A weather map is able to see storms and fronts coming in a head of time and then they can be predicted on harsh they are going to be.

ESS 4.3.4. Question

• Identify the potential impact of converting forested land to uses such as farms, homes, factories, or tourist attractions.

ESS 4.3.4. Answer

• The impact of cutting down all forested land is destroying homes, the Earth and lives. By destroying forests all animals in them have no habitats and are becoming endangered; humans are loosing oxygen and more carbon dioxide is being released into the air and atmosphere. Forests are being replaced by factories and other buildings which are destroying the atmosphere and environment because of all the fossil fuels they burn.

ESS 4.4.1. Question

• Understand that some scientific jobs/careers involve the application of Earth Space science content knowledge and experience in specific ways that meet the goals of the job.

ESS 4.4.1. Answer

• There are many jobs that involve the work and knowledge of Earth Space science. Some are oceanographers, geologists, astronomers, environmental scientists, and meteorologists.