Ice Age & Evolution
Identify 2 animals present during the Ice Age that are still around today
Sloths and lions
Besides its coloring, how can we tell if there is oil in water?
Oil and water don't mix- the oil will form bubbles at the surface of the water
What are 2 key differences between Earth and all other planets in our Solar System?
It is the only planet with liquid water and thus is also the only planet with life
A skeleton of a mammoth was found in a backyard in which U.S. state?
Michigan
What is "gravity"?
A force on Earth that brings things down/keeps things from floating up
Identify 2 ways ancient sloths are different from modern-day sloths
Ancient sloths were larger, walked on their hind legs, and lived on the ground; modern sloths are smaller, crawl on all fours, and live in trees
How is crude oil formed, and how do we get to it?
It is formed when ancient plant/animal matter is crushed and liquified over millions of years; oil rigs dig underground
Where are Pluto and most of the other dwarf planets located?
The Kuiper Belt
Name 2 of the 3 kinds of teeth all mammals have
Canines, molars, and incisors
What is a "code"?
A set of directions a robot/computer must follow
Why were small shrubs, but NOT large trees, present during the Ice Age?
Large trees require a lot of water, but small shrubs don't. Since most of the water was frozen during the Ice Age, the trees weren't able to grow.
Identify the 4 steps of the clean-up process for an oil spill IN ORDER
1. Contain it
2. Skim it/Scoop it
3. Absorb it
4. Disperse it
5. Eat the rest
Why is Pluto no longer considered a planet?
It is too small, and thus does not have enough gravitational force to clear the area around its orbit
What kind of rabbit can be found in desert, tundra, AND forest regions?
Cottontails
The International Space Station (ISS) is in orbit around the Earth. What does "international" mean, and what does that tell us about the people living on the ISS?
"between nations" - this means that the astronauts on the ISS are from different countries all over the world
Are mammoths or mastodons the ancestors of the modern-day elephant? What evidence do we have?
Mammoths- their molars are flat and suited for grazing, just like elephants
Why aren't har mats used on a wider scale during major oceanic oil spills?
The hair absorbs both oil and water- it gets heavy and sinks to the bottom, spreading the oil there; they are difficult to recover
Why can't astronauts spit when they brush their teeth on the International Space Station?
Because the water/spit will float away in globs, since the lack of gravity makes things float, and water in space tends to stick to itself and to other objects
Soap, such as Dawn dish soap, is often used in the cleanup of oil spills - why is that?
Soap is a dispersant that separates oil from water; it is non-toxic and can safely be used to clean oil off of affected wildlife
What are the 3 criteria necessary for a celestial body to be considered a "planet"?
It must be spherical, orbit the Sun, and have a strong enough gravitational pull to clear the area around its orbit
How did animals get from the Americas into Asia and Africa during the Ice Age?
They used a frozen strip of land known as the Bering Strait, which connected Alaska to northern Asia
Identify one positive and one negative effect of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill on wildlife and the natural landscape
Negative: birds can't fly because they are covered in oil, Brown Pelicans become endangered, many fish die, Cat Island is destroyed
Positive: money put into rebuilding islands, conservation efforts help stranded sea creatures
Name one food/drink item that is banned on the ISS and why
bread/chips- crumbs go everywhere and can clog the machines; pop/soda- carbonation causes wet burps
What is the name of NASA's moon-based mission? What is its goal?
Artemis; to circumnavigate, explore, and/or colonize the moon
Identify one similarity and one difference between a grazer and a browser
They are both herbivores; grazers have flat molars and eat mostly grass, while browsers have ridged molars and eat mostly bark/branches