Sun, Earth, & Moon
What causes day and night?
Earth's rotation
What force keeps planets in orbit?
Gravity
How are planets and moons kept in orbit within the solar system?
Gravitational pull
Name the rock types.
Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
What are tectonic plates?
Pieces of Earth’s crust
What is the main energy source for Earth?
The Sun
What is pollution?
Harmful substances
What causes seasons?
Earth's tilt and orbit
What is the geocentric model?
Earth-centered
Compare the physical look of inner vs outer planets
Inner planets are rocky. Outer planets are made up of gas
What is weathering?
Breaking down rock
What happens at divergent boundaries?
Plates move apart
Types of heat transfer?
Conduction, convection, radiation
Example of renewable resource?
Solar, wind
Why do moon phases change?
Changing positions of Earth, moon, and sun
What are the components of our solar system?
The sun, planets, asteroids, stars
Why is Earth able to support life?
Water, atmosphere, right temperature
Weathering vs erosion?
Break vs move
What event is defined by the sudden release of stored energy within Earth?
Earthquake
What is a land breeze, and how is it related to a sea breeze?
A land breeze is a light, nightly wind that blows from the cool land toward the warmer sea, reversing the daytime sea breeze. Both are caused by differential heating/cooling of land and water, with land breezes being typically weaker than sea breezes.
What is land pollution and how can it be minimized?
Land pollution is the contamination of Earth’s soil and surface by harmful waste, chemicals, and litter, largely caused by human activity like mining, industrial waste, and farming. It ruins habitats, makes soil infertile, and harms health. It can be minimized by the 3 Rs—reducing waste, reusing items, and recycling
What is the difference between a solar and lunar eclipse?
Solar = moon blocks sun; Lunar = Earth blocks moon
What is an elliptical orbit?
a closed, oval-shaped path an object (like a planet, moon, or satellite) travels around another celestial body due to gravity
What is the difference between the heliocentric model of the solar system vs the geocentric model?
Heliocentric- the Earth is in the middle of the solar system
Geocentric- the planets revolve around the sun
How do rocks change in the rock cycle?
Heat, pressure, melting, cooling
Evidence for plate tectonics?
Fossils, continents, seafloor spreading
Weather vs climate?
Short-term vs long-term
How can air quality be measured?
Satellite imagining, Air Quality Index
What would happen if Earth’s rotation slowed down?
Longer days/nights, temperature changes, climate effects
Explain how gravity shapes the structure of the universe.
Forms stars, galaxies, and controls motion
How is gravitational pull between two objects affected by changes in mass or distance?
Objects with more mass have more gravity. Gravity also gets weaker with distance. So, the closer objects are to each other, the stronger their gravitational pull
Why are some resources limited and how does that impact humans?
Nonrenewable, leads to shortages and environmental impact
What is Pangea?
The supercontinent before seafloor spreading and plate tectonic movement (continental drift)
What symbols are commonly included on a weather map, and what do they represent?
Cold front, warm front, low pressure, high pressure
How can humans reduce water consumption and their effect on water supplies?
Turning off the tap, Fixing leaks, reduce shower time, etc.