Branches of Earth Science 1.1

I. The Nature of Science

A. The goal of science is to understand the world around us.

1. Scientists achieve their goal by using special methods to determine facts about nature.

2. After determining many facts scientifically, scientists put them together and form explanations for the events they observe.

3. Next, they perform experiments to test their explanations.

4. Once a scientist has made observations, recorded facts, and performed experiments, they may develop theories.

a. A theory is the most logical explanation for events that occur in nature.

5. A theory is tested over time and if it survives, it is considered true and called a law.

a. As with theories, scientific laws may change over time as new facts and observations are discovered.

II. The Branches of Earth Science

A. Science in general has four main branches: life science (biology), chemistry, physical science, and earth science.

B. Earth Science deals with the study of the Earth, its history, its changes, and its place in the universe.

C. There are four main branches of Earth Science.

1. Geology is the study of the Earth’s origins, history, and structure.

2. Meteorology is the study of the Earth’s atmosphere, weather, and climate.

3. Oceanography is the study of Earth’s oceans, including their physical features, life forms, and natural resources.

4. Astronomy is the study of the position, composition, size, and other objects in space.