Adam+Struss


 * **ASSIGNMENT 1: Earth Systems Interactions**

Evaporation is a type of phase transition; it is the process by which molecules in a liquid state (e.g. water) spontaneously become gaseous (e.g. water vapor). Generally, evaporation can be seen by the gradual disappearance of a liquid from a substance when exposed to a significant volume of gas.Vaporization and evaporation however, are not entirely the same processes.
 * Evaporation** is a type of vaporization of a liquid, that occurs only on the surface of a liquid. The other type of vaporization is boiling, that instead occurs on the entire mass of the liquid. Evaporation is also part of the water cycle.

Directions: Many of the minerals we learned about during chapter 4 are the chief "rock-forming minerals." Next, we are going to investigate the 3 major rock types: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic. Your job during this assignment is to **search** the Internet for a common rock that is composed of __**2 or more of the minerals listed in bold below**__ and to **describe** how that rock forms from those minerals (1 good paragraph in your own words). You must include a **picture of the minerals** themselves, a **picture of the rock**, and a **picture illustrating the process by which the rock forms** (Include captions describing your images). The chief rock forming minerals are: **Calcite, Feldspar, Quartz, Augite, Garnet, Hornblende, Kaolin, Biotite Mica and Muscovite Mica.** Many many rocks are formed from these minerals so begin with some simple Internet research on "common rocks" formed from the most common minerals on our list. You can have one partner, but again make sure the completed assignment appears on both of your wikis.
 * **ASSIGNMENT 2: Rock Forming Minerals**

__**20 points total**__
 * Grading for assignment 4 is based on the following:**
 * 5 points for the paragraph description of how the rock forms**
 * 5 points for the picture showing how the rock forms**
 * 5** **points for the pictures of the minerals involved**
 * 5 points for the** **picture of the rock you're describing**

//Lava// **is magma that reaches the surface. A rock that is the same chemically as granite, but forms on the surface is called rhyolite. **
 * Granite is formed from the slow cooling of high silicate magma intrusions that have risen through the crust and formed large bulbous chambers of molten material called plutons. Plutons can take millions of years to cool and crystallize into granitic rock.**
 * Granite is an intrusive igneous rock, meaning it solidifies from** //magma// **under the surface.**


 * ASSIGNMENT 3: Solar System Formation and Leftovers
 * Directions: The current estimated age of the known universe is approximately 13.73 billion years old. The current estimated age of our solar system is approximately 4.5 billion years old. Your job is to use your notes and the Internet to EXPLAIN how our solar system and the planets formed and to describe the remnants that were left over from those formations.** Include a definition or link to these 16 terms**: __nebula__, __terrestrial planet, gas giant__, planetesimal, planet, satellite (moon), __[|asteroid]__, __asteroid belt__, __meteor__, meteoroid, __meteorite__, __comet__, nucleus, coma__, Kuiper belt, Oort cloud__. The EXPLANATION should be sequential (follows the correct series of steps in the actual formation of the solar system). You may work in groups of no more than 2 people to complete this assignment and you will be given at least 2 class periods. When done, make sure to copy the complete summary to the second partner's wiki page so I may grant credit.** NOTE: This can be written in paragraph format or as a series of sequential steps, but either way your notes are a good guide to follow since they are in correct chronological order already. **Also, I would recommend using a table(s) for good organization of terms, images, etc. (SEE TABLE BELOW)**

Your grade for this will be comprised of: define or describe 16 terms = 16 points content is well organized (table(s) are a good idea) = 4 points quality / completeness of overall explanation = 10 points 5 good supporting images = 10 Total = 40 points (Approximately half of a test)

Steps of Solar System Creation**


 * Nebula || an [|interstellar cloud] of [|dust], [|hydrogen] gas, [|helium] gas and other [|ionized gases]. || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b2/Eagle_nebula_pillars.jpg width="131" height="130"]] ||
 * Terrestrial Planet || a [|planet] that is primarily composed of [|silicate] [|rocks] and/or [|metals] ||  ||
 * Gas Giant || a large [|planet] that is not primarily composed of [|rock] or other [|solid] matter || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/be/Gas_giants_and_the_Sun_%281_px_%3D_1000_km%29.jpg width="114" height="65"]] ||
 * Planetesimal || solid objects thought to exist in [|protoplanetary disks] and in [|debris disks] ||  ||
 * Planet || a celestial body [|orbiting] a [|star] or [|stellar remnant] that is massive enough to be rounded by its own [|gravity], is not massive enough to cause [|thermonuclear fusion], and has [|cleared its neighbouring region] of [|planetesimals]. ||  ||
 * satellite (moon) || a [|celestial body] that [|orbits] a [|planet] or smaller body, which is called its //primary// || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a5/Occulting_Enceladus_PIA10500.jpg width="100" height="101"]] ||
 * Asteroid || a class of [|small Solar System bodies] in orbit around the [|Sun] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3b/%28253%29_mathilde.jpg width="172" height="107"]] ||
 * Asteroid Belt || the region of the [|Solar System] located roughly between the orbits of the [|planets] [|Mars] and [|Jupiter] || [[image:http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f3/InnerSolarSystem-en.png width="118" height="118"]] ||
 * Meteor || a meteoroid that has entered the Earth's atmosphere ||  ||
 * Meteoroid || a [|sand]- to [|boulder]-sized particle of debris in the [|Solar System] ||  ||
 * Meteorite || a natural object originating in [|outer space] that survives impact with the Earth's surface ||  ||
 * Comet || an icy [|small Solar System body] that, when close enough to the [|Sun], displays a visible [|coma] (a thin, fuzzy, temporary [|atmosphere]) and sometimes also a [|tail] ||  ||
 * Nucleus || the solid, central part of a [|comet], popularly termed a //dirty snowball// ||  ||
 * Coma || the nebulous envelope around the [|nucleus] of a [|come] ||  ||
 * Kuiper Belt || a region of the [|Solar System] beyond the planets extending from the [|orbit] of [|Neptune] (at 30 [|AU]) to approximately 55 [|AU] from the sun ||  ||
 * Oort Cloud || a hypothesized spherical cloud of [|comets] which may lie roughly 50,000 [|AU], or nearly a [|light-year], from the [|Sun] ||  ||