Catechism
The way things really are
Describe three ways in which the Earth is “just right” for complex life.
Earth occupies a special location within the solar system. It is in the “habitable zone”, which means that it is far enough from the Sun that the temperature doesn’t boil the oceans, but close enough to the Sun that the oceans don’t freeze, either. Earth is also an ideal size, has a good amount of water, and seems to have just the right chemical composition, in addition to other factors that make Earth just right for complex life.
Distinguish between renewable and nonrenewable resources. Give 1 example for each
Renewable is a natural resource that can be replaced as used. trees, water, etc.
nonrenewable is a natural resource that can not be replaced when used. iron or coal
What is the "ring of fire"
horseshoe shaped line of volcanoes that encircles the Pacific Ocean. Where the majority of the Earth’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur.
List and describe the three types of seismic waves.
P waves result from horizontal ground movement that compresses and expands material in the direction the wave is moving (parallel to that direction).
S waves result from side to side or up and down movement perpendicular to the direction the wave is moving.
Surface waves are a combination of P and S, and involve both parallel and perpendicular movement.
Explain why good stewardship of the earth is a biblical concept
In Genesis, God makes Adam and Eve vice-regents, ruling Earth in God’s place. This means that humans are to rule over the creation as God would: to be stewards of creation for God’s glory, for the good of all the people of Earth, and for the flourishing of the creation itself. Stewardship of Earth is like stewardship of any other valuable resource we have, whether it is our money, time, or talents.
List 4 major earth systems
Difference between minerals and rocks
a mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid with a definite chemical composition and definite physical property. A rock is a a solid mixture of one or more minerals
What are calderas and how do they form?
A caldera is an unusually large crater in a volcano, at least 1 km in diameter. They form when the magma chamber under a volcano collapses. When the magma chamber collapses, a large interior region of the volcano sinks into the crust, resulting in an enormous crater.
List 4 mineral properties that can be used to identify a mineral
color, streak, luster, hardness
Order the phases of the moon throughout the lunar cycle
New moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, waning crescent.
Explain why a solar eclipse is visible in only limited geographical areas?
This effect can be explained by the fact that there are two regions in shadows cast from light sources, the umbra and the penumbra.People located in the umbra of the Moon’s shadow will see a total eclipse. People located in the penumbra, where the Sun is not completely dark, will see only a partial solar eclipse
What makes an ore different from a mineral?
An ore is a mineral that can be mined for a profit.
Describe the 3 main types of volcanoes
Shield volcanos are the largest. From basalt lava that flows easily and spreads far out, resulting in large volcanoes that have a flat appearance.
Composite cone volcanoes are formed from alternating layers of lava and pyroclastic material. They are made of less fluid material, so the lava doesn’t spread out as far, leaving the volcano with steep sides.
The smallest volcanoes are the cinder cones, built from loose pyroclastic material such as cinders (pea-sized) and lapilli (walnut-sized).
Distinguish between Crust, Mantle, and Core. What is the Moho?
The crust is the outermost layer of the solid Earth and the only part of Earth that we have direct access to. Lithosphere
The mantle is the thick layer between the crust and the core. (Almost entirely solid, some upper portions are partially molten. It is composed of dense iron-rich and magnesium rich silicate rocks such as peridotite)
The core is the innermost part and is divided into the outer core and an inner core. (Composed largely of iron, outer core is liquid and inner is solid)
The Moho is the crust-mantle boundary.
Distinguish between magma and lava
magma is the molten rock inside the earth, while lava is molten rock flowing on the surface
What is the difference between solar and lunar eclipses?
Why are map projections necessary for making maps.
Earth is spherical, so true sizes and angles need to be distorted in order to make a flat map.
List and describe four types of faults.
A normal fault occurs if the hanging wall moves down relative to the footwall.
Reverse faults occur if the hanging wall moves up relative to the footwall, on the other hand
Thrust faults are reverse faults with a low angle relative to a horizontal plane.
A strike-slip fault is a fault where the movement along the fault is horizontal rather than vertical.
The full moon is on the opposite side of the earth from where the sun is, so the full moon rises roughly when the sun sets and sets roughly when the sun rises.
distinguish between elements, atoms, crystals and molecules
An element is a substance that can not be broken down into simpler substances. Atoms are the smallest individual particles of an element and a crystal is a solid in which atoms are arranged in orderly, repeating patterns. Molecules are identical clusters of atoms bonded together.
Explain the habitable zone and give an example
A habitable zone is a place where conditions are right for life. Just right distance from the sun so not to hot or cold.
Draw on the board the scientific enterprise and briefly explain
Hypothesis(educated prediction), experiment(test hypothesis), analysis(are results consistent with original theory), and theory(our best explanation)
Define continental drift theory and give evidence
States that all continents were once joined, called Pangea. Great flood split them apart and they drifted into the positions they are now in.
Evidences: The fit of the continents, fossil evidence, similarity of rock types, ice-age deposits
Its fairly easy to determine latitude by the north star. They did not have the tools to accurately determine longitude until the 1700's.