Pop Culture
Astronomy
Dynamic Planet
Life on Earth
Weather, Climate, and Human Sustainability
100
Which artist released this album?
Bad Bunny
100
A planet will travel at its fastest speed with its strongest gravitational pull when it reaches this specific point in its orbit, where it is closest to the Sun. What is this position called?
Perihelion
100
This outermost, rigid layer of the Earth is broken up into large pieces called tectonic plates. What is the name of the system?
Lithosphere
100
Appearing roughly 2.4 billion years ago, what was the name of the microscopic, photosynthetic bacteria that were responsible for pumping the first major amounts of oxygen into Earth's early atmosphere?
Cyanobacteria
100
Identify the name of the air mass that is dry, cold and typically originates over Northern Canada and brings crisp, clear weather to New York.
Continental Polar
200
This word-guessing game gives players one puzzle per day and five tries
Wordle
200
When observing light from distant galaxies, scientists notice this phenomenon—a shift toward longer wavelengths—which proves the universe is expanding. What is this called?
Redshift
200
A divergent plate boundary occurs where two tectonic plates are moving away from each other, often creating mid-ocean ridges. Is this process constructive or destructive?
Constructive
200
Melting glaciers expose darker land beneath them, which absorbs more sunlight and causes further warming. This is an example of what?
A positive feedback loop
200
What is the name of the environmental crisis occurs when the ocean absorbs excess atmospheric carbon dioxide, decreasing its pH level and causing the calcium carbonate shells of marine organisms to literally dissolve?
Ocean Acidification
300
This game has many parts and released a movie in 2024. The goal is to survive the animatronic characters. What is the name of this game?
Five Night at Freddy's
300
Name the process powering a star, where lighter elements like hydrogen are fused together to form heavier elements like helium.
Nuclear Fusion
300
Unlike volcanoes at plate boundaries, the Hawaiian Islands were formed by magma rising from deep within the mantle through this stationary feature. What is the name of this feature?
Hot Spot
300
A dam is a massive engineering structure that provides humans with hydroelectric power and flood control, however, they drastically alter local areas. Identify a negative impact of a dam.
* Increases coastal erosion
* Blocks spawning pathway for local fish
300
Identify the name of the planetary wind belt that brings winds to the west in Northern Canada.
Polar Easterlies
400
Who sings this song?
You know you love me (Yo), I know you care (Uh-huh)
Just shout whenever (Yo), and I'll be there (Uh-huh)
You are my love (Yo), you are my heart (Uh-huh)
And we will never, ever, ever be apart (Yo, uh-huh)
Justin Bieber
400
According to Kepler's First Law, planets do not orbit the Sun in perfect circles, but rather in this stretched-out geometric shape. What is the name of this shape?
Ellipse
400
This dark, fine-grained igneous rock makes up the bulk of the oceanic crust and is much denser than the granitic rock of continental crust.
Basalt
400
Describe the difference between cohesion and adhesion.
Cohesion = Water molecules sticking to other water molecules.
Adhesion = Water molecules sticking to other surfaces.
400
Explain why hurricanes cannot form on the west coast of North America.
The California Current is a cold current and hurricanes cannot form in cold water.
500
Freeze the Screen:
What is the name of this song?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QBgl4rVz3Ks&list=RDQBgl4rVz3Ks&start_radio=1
(42 seconds to 1:03. 1:13 if extra time is needed)
Fireflies
500
Earth experiences a slight "wobble" in its rotational axis that traces out a full circle every 26,000 years, a part of the Milankovitch Cycles. What is the name of this motion?
Precession
500
What NYS landscape region can a Eurypterus fossil be found in?
Erie-Ontario Lowlands
500
As more carbon dioxide is being emitted into the atmosphere, describe the change in energy flow that is now occurring, resulting in a rise in temperature.
Less energy exits the atmosphere than energy entering the atmosphere.
500
Name the process that is legally required after a mining project finishes, this process involves reshaping the land, replacing the original soil, and planting native vegetation to restore the damaged environment back to a safe, natural state.
Reclamation