PHYSICAL GEOLOGY LAB MANUAL - EARTH-OCEAN-ATMOSPHERE EXPLORER CD-ROM - Lab 1 - The Earth as a Planet

Sep 29, 2026

Physical Geology Lab Manual introduces Lab 1, The Earth as a Planet, guiding students to discover basic Earth characteristics using simple observations and measurements. It explains how Earth’s shape can be demonstrated from surface observations, discusses ancient astronomical reference to the Earth’s pole of rotation, and uses numerical plotting exercises. The lab connects Eratosthenes’ geometric method to calculate Earth’s circumference and then derives volume from the oblate spheroid approximation. It also uses a simple pendulum to estimate Earth’s mass, compute mean density, and compare specimen densities in air and water to infer interior composition.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages180

Reading Time7 h 34 min

AccessFree to download

PURPOSE

INTRODUCTION

Evidence From Early Astronomical Observations

Figure 1.1

Figure 1.2

Figure 1.3

0012 CHiCAGO PUBLICLIBRARY BUSINESS/SCIENCE/TECHNOLOG400S.STATEST60605 Chica00 Public Library Harbld Washington Library Center 8/31/200712:33:35 PM -PATRDN RECEIPT- -CHARGES- Ttes Nuaber:R040280911 1: DISCARD CHICAGOPUBLICLIBRARY BUSINESS/SCIENCE/TECHNOLOGV400S.STATE ST.60605 # PHYSICAL GEOLOGYLAB MANUAL for # EARTH-OCEAN-ATMOSPHERE EXPLORERCD-ROM by J.Bret Benningon,Charles Merguerian,John E.SandersSpecial Edition revised by:EOA Scientific Systems,Inc. Copyright o 1998 Charles Merguerianand EOA Scientific Systems,Inc.All Rights Reserved October 1998 EOA Scientific Systems,Inc.181 Herring Cove Road,Suite 200Halifax Nova ScotiaCanada B3P 1K9 email:sales@eoascientific.com web page:http://www.eoascientific.com telephone:1-888-666-6362 or(902)477-6336 fax:(902)477-6834 QE 2812B9(118 CHICAG0PUBLICLBFARY BUSINESS/SCIENCE/TECHNOL00Table of Contents400 S.STATE ST60605LAB1- THE EARTH AS A PLANET1LAB 2-PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF MINERALS25LAB 3-MINERAL IDENTIFICATION39LAB 4-MINERAL PRACTICUM AND INTRODUCTION TO THE THREE ROCKTYPES 49LAB5-IGNEOUS ROCKS54LAB6-SEDIMENTS AND SEDIMENTARY ROCKS72LAB7-METAMORPHIC ROCKS_80LAB8-INTEGRATED ROCK IDENTIFICATION88LAB 9-ROCK PRACTICUM AND INTRODUCTION TO MAPS99LAB 10- INTRODUCTION TO TOPOGRAPHIC MAPS103LAB 11-TOPOGRAPHIC CONTOUR MAPS AND PROFILES121LAB 12-EARTHQUAKE LOCATION AND ISOSEISMAL MAPS136ACTIVITIES-MINERAL INDENTIFICATION150APPENDIX A- JAMES HUTTON AND TIME_152APPENDIX B-SAFETY, RECYCLING AND CONSERVATION PRACTICES_-159REFERENCES165 CE 28.2 .B46 1998Benningon,J.Bret.Physical geology lab manual https://archive.org/details/physicalgeologyl0000eoas Lab 1-The Earth as a Planet # PURPOSE This first lab is intended to show you how some very basic characteristics of the Earthsuch as its shape,volume,and internal composition can be discovered by clever people usingsimple observations and measurements (no need for satellites,lasers,and other high-tech toys.)In the first part of this exercise,you will read about how the shape of the Earth can bedemonstrated from observations made at its surface.You will see the basis for ancient astronomers'using the Earth's pole of rotation as a point of reference.You will also gather somenumerical data from a few drawings and get some practice plotting these data on a graph.Thefirst part of this lab ends with an account of how a pioneering genius of mathematical geography,Eratosthenes of Alexandria,put together some significant geometric data in ancient Egypt andused them to calculate the circumference of Planet Earth.Because the Earth approximates theshape of a sphere (in truth it is an “oblate spheroid”-a sphere with a bulging waist),knowing itscircumference allows you to calculate its volume. In the second part of this lab,you will “weigh the Earth”(estimate its mass)by makingsome measurements with a simple pendulum.Having found out the Earth's volume and mass,you will calculate its mean density.Finally,you will weigh some specimens of minerals androcks--samples of typical Earth-surface materials--in air and in water and use these weights tocompute the densities of these materials.By comparing the density of the entire Earth to thedensities of common surface materials you will be able to draw some interesting conclusionsabout the nature of the Earth's interior. # INTRODUCTION As a resident of the Earth during the Space Age,you may never have experienced anydifficulty accepting the idea that the shape of the Earth closely approximates that of a sphere.Color TV images of the Earth taken from the Moon (Figure 1.1)for example,have convincednearly everyone of the correctness of this concept of the Earth's shape.(The diehards are card-carrying members of the “Flat-Earth Society”,who even today maintain that those picturesshown on TV of the Earth supposedly from the Moon were only elaborately worked out hoaxesdesigned to promote the sale of globes.) # Evidence From Early

FAQs

What is the main goal of Lab 1 in the manual?

Lab 1 aims to help students discover basic characteristics of the Earth—its shape, volume, and internal composition—through simple observations and measurements.

How does the lab connect Earth’s shape to astronomical observations?

It explains how observations at the Earth’s surface demonstrate its shape, and it references early astronomical reasoning using the Moon’s phases and eclipses as evidence for a spherical Earth.

What experiments are used to determine mass, density, and specimen densities?

The lab estimates Earth’s mass by “weighing the Earth” with measurements using a simple pendulum, then computes mean density. It also weighs mineral and rock specimens in air and water to calculate their densities.

Sep 29, 2026

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