Global Systems
What cycle involves the movement of water through the atmosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and lithosphere?
The water cycle
Which principle of natural selection states that there is variation within a population?
Variation
What is the force of attraction that pulls objects toward each other in the universe?
Gravity
What diagram is used to classify stars based on their temperature and luminosity?
The Hertzsprung-Russell diagram
What is the most abundant gas in Earth’s atmosphere?
Nitrogen
What is the impact of a major cyclonic event on the natural environment?
Destruction of habitats, flooding, and soil erosion
How does the theory of evolution by natural selection explain the survival of peppered moths?
The darker moths were better camouflaged during the industrial revolution.
What does the term "light year" refer to?
The distance light travels in one year
What is the main difference between absolute and apparent magnitude?
Apparent magnitude is how bright a star appears from Earth, while absolute magnitude is its actual brightness at a standard distance.
Which planet is known as the "Red Planet"?
Mars
What occurs when a volcano erupts, cooling the atmosphere?
Volcanic eruptions release particles that cool the Earth’s atmosphere.
What is speciation?
The process by which new species form over time.
What can parallax help astronomers measure?
Astronomical distances
What happens to a star like the Sun at the end of its life cycle?
It becomes a red giant, then sheds its outer layers, leaving a white dwarf.
What element is the primary building block of all living organisms?
Carbon
Name one natural factor that influences Earth's climate.
Ocean currents, atmospheric gases, Earth's orientation
What kind of evidence for evolution comes from studying the similarities in the DNA of different species?
Biochemical evidence, such as DNA comparisons, supports evolutionary links.
What type of galaxy has a central bulge and spiral arms?
Spiral galaxy
What is a supernova?
The explosion of a star, leading to the formation of elements and possibly a black hole or neutron star.
What is the name of the process by which plants make their own food using sunlight?
Photosynthesis
What evidence supports human activity enhancing the greenhouse effect?
Increased CO₂ emissions from burning fossil fuels
What is the difference between relative and absolute dating?
Relative dating compares the age of rocks, while absolute dating gives the exact age.
What does the Doppler effect explain in terms of red and blue shifts?
The shift in light waves, with red shift indicating movement away and blue shift indicating movement toward Earth
What is the life cycle of a large star?
It expands into a red supergiant, then explodes as a supernova, potentially forming a black hole.
Which scientist is famous for developing the theory of general relativity?
Albert Einstein