NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______

netw rks
Physical Geography
Lesson 2: A Changing Earth

ESSENTIAL QUESTION
How does geography influence the way people live?

Terms to Know
continent a large, unbroken mass of land
tectonic plate one of the 16 pieces of Earth’s crust
fault a place where two tectonic plates grind against each other
earthquake a shaking or trembling of Earth, caused by the collision of tectonic plates
Ring of Fire a long, narrow band of volcanoes surrounding the Pacific Ocean
tsunami a giant ocean wave caused by volcanic eruptions or movement of the earth under the
ocean floor
weathering the process by which Earth’s surface is worn away by natural forces
erosion the process by which weathered bits of rock are moved elsewhere by water, wind, or ice
glacier a large body of ice that moves slowly across land

When did it happen?

1900 1950 2000 2050

1906 Earthquake, 1931 Floods 2005 Hurricane 2010 Haiti

fire devastate San in China leave Katrina strikes earthquake kills
Francisco 80 million southeastern more than
homeless United States 220,000 people

2011 Earthquake,
tsunami near
Japan triggers
nuclear accident
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 NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______

netw rks
Physical Geography
Lesson 2: A Changing Earth, Continued

Forces of Change
Guiding Question How was the surface of Earth formed? Defining
A continent is a large, unbroken mass of land. The continents 1. Tectonic plates are parts
have shifted and moved over time. Earth has seven unique of what layer of Earth?
continents:
• Asia
• Africa Marking the
• North America Text
• South America 2. Circle the number of
tectonic plates.
• Europe
• Antarctica Marking the
• Australia Text
The surface of Earth changes over time. Even though you 3. Highlight the two
usually cannot feel it, the land beneath your feet is moving. This is causes of earthquakes.
because Earth’s crust is not a solid sheet of rock. Earth’s surface is
more like many puzzle pieces pushed close together, floating on a Drawing
sea of boiling rock. The movement of the pieces creates many of
Conclusions
Earth’s landforms.
Earth’s rigid crust is made up of 16 enormous pieces called 4. How did the Ring of
tectonic plates. These plates move at different speeds over the Fire get its name?
liquid mantle below them. Some of the plates move a few inches a
year. It takes millions of years for plates to move enough to create
new landforms.
When plates collide or move apart, new landforms can be
made. When they hit, mountain ranges can result. When they
move apart, a crack can form and magma can rise through the
Reading
crust and form new crust as it cools. Progress Check
Sometimes sudden changes occur. A fault is a place where two 5. Earth’s surface plates
plates grind together. When rocks on either side of a fault move, are moving. Why don’t
an earthquake, a shaking or trembling of Earth’s crust, can result. we feel the ground
Earthquakes can also occur when volcanoes erupt. moving under us?
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Several tectonic plates lie at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean.

Over time, the edges of these plates have been forced under the
edges of plates surrounding the ocean. These movements led to
the creation of a long, narrow band of volcanoes around the
Pacific Ocean called the Ring of Fire.
An earthquake causes shaking of Earth. When this occurs in the
ocean, it can cause an enormous wave called a tsunami. Tsunamis
can cause terrible destruction along a coastline.

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NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______

netw rks
Physical Geography
Lesson 2: A Changing Earth, Continued

Other Forces at Work

Defining Guiding Question How can wind, water, and human actions
6. What is the difference change Earth’s surface?
between weathering Earth’s surface is also changed by weathering. Weathering is the
and erosion? process by which Earth’s surface is worn away by forces such as
wind, rain, chemicals, and the movement of ice and flowing water.
Plants can cause weathering too. Small seeds fall into cracks in
rocks. When rain falls it causes seeds to sprout. As plant roots
expand they can split the rock apart.
The effects of weathering may not be apparent from one day to
the next. They only become obvious over time. Edges become
chipped and worn. Raised surfaces become smooth. Rocks and
soil break down and wear away. The Appalachian Mountains in the
United States east of the Mississippi River have become worn
Making down and rounded over millions of years of weathering.
Inferences Erosion is a process that works with weathering to change surface
7. What are two ways features of Earth. Erosion is a process by which weathered bits of
that an ocean can rock are moved by water, wind, or ice. Fantastic formations can occur
affect a coastline? as a result of erosion. The Grand Canyon was formed by weathering
and erosion. Water flowed over the region and weakened the rock.
Bit by bit the moving water and wind took away small pieces of rock
until it carved a deep, wide channel across the land.
Different types of rock erode at different rates. Soft rock is
weathered and eroded faster than dense rock. The tall pillars of
rock in Utah's Bryce Canyon are formed by the hard rock left
behind after the soft rock has worn away.
The buildup of materials can also create landforms. Ocean
waves pound rocks into small pieces of sand and then deposit the
Marking the sand on the coastline. Rivers deposit soil where they empty into
Text lakes and oceans.

8. Masses of ice and Large masses of ice and snow can form valleys and plains. These
snow are found in masses are classified by size as glaciers, polar ice caps, or ice
three forms. Underline sheets. A glacier is the smallest ice mass; it moves slowly over
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the smallest mass. land. Ice caps are high-altitude ice masses, and ice sheets extend
Double underline the more than 20,000 square miles over Greenland and Antarctica.
next size mass. Triple Human actions also change Earth. Coal mining has leveled
underline the largest mountains. Millions of acres of forests have been cut down and
mass. landslides and erosion have resulted. Canals have altered natural
waterways. Pollution caused by burning gasoline and other fuels is
released into the air and can lead to chemical erosion. Even
buildings can be eroded by chemical pollutants.

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 NAME ________________________________________ DATE _____________ CLASS ______

netw rks
Physical Geography
Lesson 2: A Changing Earth, Continued

Forces of Change
Reading
Natural Forces Human Actions Progress Check
plate movements cutting down forests 9. Categorize each of the
following events as a
weathering mining
slow change or a
erosion digging canals sudden change:
water and ice movement pollution earthquake, glacier,
tsunami, volcano
Studies show that humans have changed the environment of eruption, wind erosion,
Earth faster and more completely in the last 50 years than at any water erosion, plate
time in history. One major reason is demand for food and natural movement.
resources is greater than ever. That demand continues to grow as
Earth's population increases.
Changes to Earth’s surface caused by natural physical processes
happen slowly, over millions of years. However, changes caused by
humans can damage Earth’s surface quickly. These changes can
threaten our safety and survival. We need to take steps to protect
the environment for future generations.

Writing
Check for Understanding
1. Informative/Explanatory What are two ways earthquakes contribute to changes on Earth’s
surface?

2. Argument Why should humans be careful about changing Earth’s surface?

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Reading Essentials and Study Guide 17