Tectonics & Internal Earth Processes
Earth Materials & Surface Processes
History of the Earth and its Life-Forms
Earth’s Atmosphere & Hydrosphere
Astronomy
100
List the three main types of earthquake waves.
P (primary waves); S (secondary waves); L (long/surface) waves
100
List three main sources of particles in sedimentary rock.
water and ice weathering of igneous rock water dissolving minerals in rock organic particles like shells and bone
100
List the five major ERAS of Earth's history.
Archeozoic Proterozoic Paleozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic
100
List five types of precipitation.
rain; sleet; hail; drizzle; snow
100
List the eight phases of the Moon.
new; waxing crescent; first quarter; waxing gibbous; full; waning gibbous; third quarter; waning crescent
200
Where do most of the volcanoes occur on Earth?
At tectonic plate boundaries - both divergent plate boundaries and subduction zones.
200
List two main types of glaciers.
alpine/mountain; continental
200
Replace the numbers with words: The age of the Earth is approximately (1) years. Scientists divide this geologic time scale into (2), each of which is further divided into (3), which are divided into (4).
1. 4.6 billion 2. eras 3. periods 4. epochs
200
List three factors that can change atmospheric pressure.
altitude; humidity; air temperature
200
Replace the numbers with words: The Earth's path around the Sun is called a(n) (1). The shape of the path is a(n) (2) of which the Sun is one of the (3). This resembles a flattened (4). The degree of flatness is called (5).
1. orbit 2. ellipse 3. foci 4. circle 5. eccentricity
300
Explain the difference(s) between shield volcanoes and cinder cone volcanoes.
shield volcano: broad mountain formed by slow, non-violent lava flows over a period of many years. cinder cone volcano: a steep mountain made of ashes from violent explosions
300
Replace the numbers with words: Rocks that have cooled slowly are (1) grained and have (2) crystals. Rocks that cooled quickly are (3) grained and have (4) crystals.
1. coarse 2. large 3. fine 4. small
300
Put the following in order of creation/evolution: mammals - amoeba - birds - fish - algae - amphibians - reptiles
amoeba algae fish amphibians reptiles birds mammals
300
How does convection take place in the atmosphere? What are convection currents?
land absorbs radiation from the Sun; air near the land heats, becomes less dense and rises; cooler air sinks and replaces the rising air. this motion is a convection current.
300
What is the composition of the Sun and why is it hot?
90% hydrogen + 10% helium; nuclear fusion of hydrogen into helium atoms
400
Where is the youngest oceanic crust found?
spreading centers (divergent plate boundaries), where crust is being formed
400
What is the difference between a plateau and a mountain?
plateau = flat rock layers mountain = tilted rock layers
400
Replace the numbers with words: A modern method of estimating the Earth's age is with (1) decay. Element (2) decays into (3) with a half-life of (4) years, and is used to date older rocks. The element use to date younger rocks is (5) with a half-life of (6) years.
1. radioactive 2. uranium-238 3. lead-206 4. 4.5 billion 5. carbon-14 6. 5700
400
List three major wind systems in Earth's atmosphere and their locations.
polar easterlies - north and south poles prevailing westerlies - between equator and poles trade winds - equator
400
Why does the Moon appear to have different phases? What is the period (in days) from one full moon to the next?
the Moon's appearance is caused by the Sun's position relative to Earth and the Moon; we see the portion lit up by the Sun. 29.5 days.
500
List three types of faults.
normal; reverse; thrust
500
What are the qualities of a mature river? (Try to list at least 4.)
eroded channel with few waterfalls; wide channel; slower water speed; carries fine-grained sediment; developing a flood plain
500
Since oxygen was not present in the atmosphere billions of years ago, how was it formed?
photosynthesizing algae produced oxygen from the carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
500
Why is the sky blue?
atmospheric particles are roughly the wavelength of blue light; this light is scattered and visible to human eyes.
500
What is aphelion? What time of year is it? What is the distance from the Earth to the Sun at this position?
the point in the Earth's orbit that is farthest from the Sun approximately July 4 152 million kilometers
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