Origins & Universe
What theory explains how the matter of the universe formed and is supported by evidence like the Doppler shift and cosmic microwave background?
The Big Bang theory.
Which instrument measures air temperature?
Thermometer
True or False: Earth was hot in the beginning and has stayed hot
True
According to the listed objective, where did much of the ocean water originate?
From outgassing by volcanoes and from cometary ice
What are atoms?
Atoms are the basic units of matter made of protons, neutrons, and electrons.
Name the two lightest elements formed in the first minutes after the Big Bang.
Hydrogen and Helium
Which instrument measures air pressure?
Barometer.
Name the three major compositional layers of Earth
Core, mantle, crust
Compare one physical property that differs between freshwater and saltwater (name the property and how it differs).
Density: saltwater is denser than freshwater because dissolved salts increase mass per unit volume.
State how atoms of the same element compare to each other.
All atoms of the same element have the same number of protons and similar chemical properties.
What observed phenomenon (shift in spectral lines) shows that distant galaxies are moving away from us?
The Doppler effect (redshift of spectral lines).
Match the instrument to what it measures: hygrometer, anemometer, satellite (write the measured variable)
Hygrometer — humidity; Anemometer — wind speed; Satellite — cloud cover/large-scale weather imaging.
Give two types of scientific evidence that tell us Earth’s interior has different layers (core, mantle, crust).
Meteorite composition, seismic wave velocity changes, and rock/mineral samples from mantle xenoliths or volcanic material
Describe two ways the ocean transfers energy (mechanisms of energy movement).
Ocean currents (advection), waves (surface energy transfer), and convection (thermohaline circulation) move heat and energy.
Describe what happens to particle motion when a substance is heated and when it cools.
Heating increases particle kinetic energy so particles move faster and spread apart (can change phase); cooling decreases kinetic energy so particles slow down and move closer together.
What is the "echo" of energy left over from the Big Bang called, detected as microwave radiation across the sky?
Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB)
Draw and label the symbols for a cold front and a warm front and describe one typical weather effect for each
Cold front symbol: line with triangles pointing in direction of movement — often brings cooler temps and thunderstorms. Warm front symbol: line with semicircles — often brings gradual warming and steady precipitation.
Identify the main metals expected in Earth's core and one common component of the crust by chemical composition.
Core: iron and nickel; Crust: silica (silicon dioxide) with aluminum, oxygen, etc
Explain how salinity, temperature, and pressure vary with depth and how each factor affects organisms living at different ocean depths
Salinity generally increases or varies by evaporation and freshwater input; temperature decreases with depth; pressure increases with depth. High salinity and low temperature generally favor organisms adapted to high pressure and reduced light; many shallow species cannot survive in high-pressure deep zones
Compare an element, a compound, and a mixture with one clear example of each.
Element: gold (Au); Compound: water (H2O); Mixture: saltwater (salt + water) — elements are one type of atom, compounds are chemically bonded atoms, mixtures are physical combinations.
Explain briefly why heavier elements (beyond helium) are more commonly produced inside stars rather than in the Big Bang itself.
Heavier elements are formed by nuclear fusion in stars and in supernovae; the Big Bang produced mainly hydrogen and helium because it expanded and cooled too fast for heavier nuclei to form in large amounts.
Define occluded front and stationary front and describe how the associated weather differs between them
Occluded front: when a cold front overtakes a warm front, often producing complex precipitation as warm air is lifted; Stationary front: boundary between air masses that is not moving much, producing prolonged cloudiness and precipitation.
Explain how seismic waves tell us about Earth's internal structure (brief, 2–3 sentences).
Seismic waves change speed and direction at boundaries between materials of different density and state (solid vs. liquid). By measuring arrival times at many locations, scientists infer depth and composition of layers.
Describe two human activities that change ocean systems and one likely ecological consequence for each activity.
Examples: pollution (chemical runoff) → eutrophication and dead zones; overfishing → loss of keystone species and altered food webs; sediment runoff → smothering of coral and reduced photosynthesis.
Examples: pollution (chemical runoff) → eutrophication and dead zones; overfishing → loss of keystone species and altered food webs; sediment runoff → smothering of coral and reduced photosynthesis.
Identify and explain Newton’s First Law of Motion and give a classroom example.
Newton’s First Law (law of inertia): an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion at constant velocity unless acted on by an unbalanced force. Classroom example: A book on a table stays put until pushed; a rolling ball slows due to friction (an external force).