Matter Basics
What is matter?
Anything that has mass and takes up space
What are atoms?
The basic units of all matter
Which of earth's spheres includes birds and sharks?
Biosphere
What form of energy drives the water cycle?
Heat energy from the sun
What is the coldest layer of the atmosphere?
Mesosphere
What is the difference between mass and volume?
Mass is the amount of matter in an object; volume is the amount of space the object occupies
What is an element? Give one example.
A substance made of one kind of atom; ex: hydrogen, oxygen, gold
Which sphere includes rivers, lakes, and oceans?
Hydrosphere
What is a watershed?
The land area that supplies water to a river system
When moving from the troposphere to the thermosphere, does air pressure increase or decrease?
Decrease - air pressure decreases with increasing altitude
What is the formula for density?
Density = mass รท volume
What is a compound? Give an example.
Two or more elements that are chemically combined; ex: CO2, H2O
Give one example of something found in the geosphere.
Rocks, soil, mountains
Where is most of earth's freshwater found?
Glaciers and ice caps
What happens when the temperature outside reaches the dew point?
The air is saturated with water vapor, so dew collects on objects like grass and cars
State the Law of Conservation of Mass.
Mass cannot be created not destroyed; only transferred or transformed.
What is the difference between a pure substance and a mixture?
Pure substance = one kind of matter; mixture = two or more substances not chemically bonded
How do the atmosphere and hydrosphere interact in the water cycle?
Evaporation moves water from liquid to water vapor
How are rivers and deltas related?
Rivers carry sediment; deltas form where sediment is deposited
Describe how hail forms in thunderstorms.
Ice pellets are lifted repeatedly into cold cloud areas, growing layers of ice
A closed container holds ice that melts into water. Does the mass change? Why?
No, mass is conserved.
You mix sand and salt together. Is this a homogeneous or heterogeneous mixture? Explain.
Heterogeneous, different parts are visible and can be separated
A tree releases water vapor from its leaves. Which sphere is involved, and what is this process called?
Biosphere; transpiration
Are mountains formed through constructive or destructive forces?
Constructive forces - tectonic plate collisions or volcanic eruptions
What two conditions are required for a hurricane to form, and what are conditions like in the eye?
Warm, humid air + low pressure; eye is calm and clear