Page 149 - The Ontario Curriculum, Grades 11 and 12: Science, 2008 (revised)

Sample questions: What impact do stream ero- sion and alluvial deposits have on agriculture along a river? What are some ways in which humans can exploit mineral resources without depleting them or harming the environment? What negative effects can construction projects have on surface water or groundwater systems? How can these effects be reduced?
By the end of this course, students will:
f2.1 use appropriate terminology related to geo- logical processes, including, but not limited to: shear forces, compression forces, liquifaction, Benioff zone, aquifer, internal plastic flow, basal slip, mid- oceanic ridge, bedding, cross-cutting, isostasy, and lithification [C]
f2.2 investigate the difference between weather- ing and erosion (e.g., weathering occurs when the edge of a riverbank disintegrates from the force of the water; erosion occurs when the water transports the soil downstream), and construct models of the processes of physical, chemical, and biological weathering (e.g., tap water dripping on a bar of soap; vinegar drip- ping on a marble chip; dried beans soaking in a sealed plastic jar) [PR]
f2.3 produce a model showing simple sediment- ary sequences (e.g., successive layering, sorted sequences), using block diagrams or three- dimensional models (e.g., layering as sand settles in an aquarium) [PR, C]
f2.4 investigate, through laboratory inquiry or computer simulation, the main types of seismic waves, and produce a model (e.g., using 3D block diagrams or springs and ropes) to illustrate for each the nature of its propagation, the transfer of energy, and its movement through rocks [PR, C]
f2.5 locate the epicentre of an earthquake, given the appropriate seismographic data (e.g., the travel-time curves to three recording stations for a single event) [AI]
f2.6 produce a scale model (e.g., a 3D block diagram) of the interior of Earth, differentiating between the layers and their characteristics (e.g., label cross-sections with the dimensions of the crust, mantle, and inner and outer core, and add travel-time curves for various seismic waves to provide data on the characteristics of the individual layers) [PR, C]
f2.7 design and test models that show the types (i.e., falls, slides, or flows) and causes (e.g., effect of gravity [angle of repose], water content, earthquakes) of mass wasting [IP, PR, AI]
f2.8 analyse information from a plan view (e.g., topographic map, air photo, geologic map) and sectional view (e.g., cross section, block diagram) in order to deduce the geologic history of an area [AI]
F. Understanding Basic Concepts
By the end of this course, students will:
f3.1 describe the types of boundaries (convergent, divergent, transform) between lithospheric plates, and explain the types of internal Earth processes occurring at each (e.g., subduction, divergence, convergence, hot spot activity, folding, faulting)
f3.2 describe the characteristics of the main types of seismic waves (i.e., P- and S-waves; R- and L-waves), and explain the different modes of travel, travel times, and types of motion asso- ciated with each
f3.3 comparequalitativeandquantitativemethods used to measure earthquake intensity and magni- tude (e.g., the Mercalli Scale, the Richter Scale)
f3.4 explain how different erosional processes contribute to changing landscapes (e.g., channel erosion, mass-wasting events)
f3.5 identify and describe types of sediment transport (e.g., water, wind, glacial) and the types of load (i.e., dissolved load, suspended load, bed load) as sediment is moved by each type of transport
f3.6 describe the landforms produced by water, wind, or ice erosion
f3.7 describe the sedimentary structures formed by wind, water, or ice deposition
f3.8 identify major areas of tectonic activity in the world by plotting the location of major recorded earthquakes and active volcanoes on a map, and distinguish the areas by type of tectonic activity (e.g., Japan – convergent boundary; Iceland – divergent boundary; California – transform boundary)
f3.9 explain the processes of continuous recycling of major rock types (i.e., the rock cycle) through- out Earth history
GEOLOGICAL PROCESSES
F2. Developing Skills of Investigation and Communication
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Earth and Space Science
SES4U