1. Review key concepts of time, plate tectonics, and the rock cycle.

2. Recognize the relationships and interconnectedness of the various processes.

3. Review water as a resource.4. Utilize a physical model to

demonstrate a component of the hydrologic cycle.

OBJECTIVES

Battle of theHeat Engines

Earth is a dynamic planet.

• Earthquakes

• Volcanoes

• Erosion by water, wind and ice

These processes require ENERGY

Battle of the Heat Engines

Battle of the Heat Engines

Earth has two Heat Engines.

The Internal Heat Engine

Source: Radioactive decay

Drives Plate Tectonics

Convection Cells in Mantle

Battle of the Heat Engines

The External Heat Engine

Source: Solar radiation

Drives the Hydrologic Cycle

Convection in the atmosphere

Battle of the Heat Engines

The continual battle between these two

Heat Enginesdescribes a process of building up and

wearing down of Earth’s crust.

Battle of the Heat Engines

The Hydrologic Cycle

Describes the movement of water around Earth.

Evaporation

Condensation

Transportation

Precipitation

Infiltration

Evapo-Transpiration

Runoff (Drain-a-Nation)

Battle of the Heat Engines

Battle of the Heat Engines

The Rock Cycle

Describes the transformation of one rock type to another via various processes.

Utilizes both

Heat Engines

to accomplish this work.

Battle of the Heat Engines

Three Rock Types:

Igneous – “Fire Formed”Formed from molten material

Sedimentary – “Settling”Formed from weathered rocks

Metamorphic – “Change Form”Formed from other rocks using various “agents”

Battle of the Heat Engines

Rocks “transformed” by the agents of:

Melting

Metamorphism(heat, pressure, chemically active fluids)

Weathering

Battle of the Heat Engines

A Simplified Diagram of the Rock Cycle

Battle of the Heat Engines

Battle of the Heat Engines

Weathering

Chemical – Rocks broken down into smaller pieces of something different.

Mechanical – Rocks broken down into smaller pieces of the same stuff.

Weathered materials can be eroded, transported, deposited, and lithified to become new sedimentary rocks.

Battle of the Heat Engines

Geologic Time

Many geologic processes requirevast amounts of time (aka Deep Time).

Earth is 4.6 Billion years old.

At one second per year, a movie of Earth’s history would last

about 145 years!

Battle of the Heat Engines

Problem: We don’t have that kind of time to wait for geologic events to happen…

…but we can attempt to build models that simulate real world situations and speed up the clock.

Battle of the Heat Engines

Physical Models:

Allow for repeatability

Speed up geologic processes

Can have variables altered to test for changes in results

Provide hands-on experience

Battle of the Heat Engines

The River Cutters Model

Great

Explorations in

Math and

Science