Plate Tectonics
Space Science
Weather & Atmosphere
Rocks!
Miscellaneous
100
The names of the four layers of the earth.
What are the inner core, outer core, mantle and crust?
100
The reason that Earth's seasonal changes are much more drastic as you move toward the North and South Poles.
What is the tilt of the Earth and the amount of sunlight the Earth receives?
100
The layer of the atmosphere where humans spend most of our time. Temperature decreases as altitude increases here.
Where is the troposphere?
100
The 3 types of rock
What are igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary
100
Name of the landmass before the continents drifted apart.
What is pangaea?
200
The driving force behind continental drift (tectonic plate movement).
What are convection currents?
200
The phases of the moon (full, gibbous, quarter and crescent moon) seen from Earth are due to this.
What is the amount of sunlight reflecting off of the moon as it is visible from Earth?
200
This material cools as it rises and condenses to form clouds.
What is water?
200
Sediment that becomes buried under intense heat and pressure will likely turn into this type of rock.
What is metamorphic?
200
The main reason why some areas on Earth have greater night/day temperature fluctuations than others, regardless of the season.
What is relative humidity (how much water is in the air)?
300
The Appalachian and Himalayan Mountains were formed by this type of boundary.
What is convergent?
300
The idea that space is expanding in all directions, such that every object in space is moving away from every other object in space. Double Jeopardy Bonus: The rate at which this is happening.
What is universal expansion? Bonus: What is ~67 km/sec
300
A material in the atmosphere which prevents harmful UV radiation from reaching Earth's surface. Double Jeopardy Bonus: Name the layer of the atmosphere this material can be found in.
What is ozone (O3)? Bonus: Where is the stratosphere?
300
You would be most likely to find intrusive igneous rocks in this location.
Where is the inside of a volcano?
300
This particle is created when an atom or molecule gains or loses an electron in its outer shell.
What is an ion? (cation or anion)
400
This is created when a oceanic plate collides with a continental plate. Double Jeopardy Bonus: What causes this phenomenon to occur at these boundary types?
What is a subduction zone. Bonus: The difference in density causes oceanic plates (more dense) to subduct underneath the less dense continental plates.
400
Our current theory for the origin of Earth's only moon.
A Mars-sized object impacted the Earth during the formation of our solar system (~5 bya). The debris from this collision formed together while orbiting Earth, becoming roughly spherical in shape due to gravity.
400
This type of cloud is typically low in altitude, and forms layers that blanket the sky over long distances.
What are stratus clouds?
400
Briefly explain why "cycle" is the best term to describe how rocks change their type.
Because they are able to move freely from any type of rock to any other. There is no true start or end point.
400
These elements are produced predominantly by humans, and trap heat within the atmosphere causing global climate to increase.
What are greenhouse gases. ex) carbon dioxide, methane, ozone, CFC's, sulfur dioxide
500
Explain what the "ring of fire" is and what driving forces contribute to the events that we see along it.
A large system of active volcanoes and earthquakes that result from intense tectonic plate interactions.
500
The origin of all space and matter in the universe, from which we hypothesize everything we know came to be.
What is the big bang?
500
Three reasons that Earth has the atmosphere that it does.
Various correct answers: What are gravity, oxygen produced through photosynthesis, various gases produced by volcanoes, elements that existed during the formation of our planet and solar system, Earth's magnetic field, the water cycle, human pollution
500
The most common rock type in which we find fossils of dead organisms and extinct species. (explain why)
What is sedimentary? Because igneous and metamorphic form under very high levels of pressure and heat which distort rock and fossil integrity.
500
The most dangerous material that is produced by explosive volcanoes. Travels quickly and maintains very high temperatures.
What is pyroclastic material.
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