Space Systems
Why do we experience seasons on Earth?
-Earth's tilt
-Earth's Revolution
When did Earth and our solar system form?
4.6 Billion years ago
What process moves tectonic plates?
Convection currents in the mantle
The greenhouse gas that humans have emitted that is causing climate change
What is carbon dioxide (CO2)
Which energy source is renewable: coal or solar?
Solar
A star's lifespan and life cycle is dependent on what factor?
A star's mass
Who is the scientist that created the Theory of Plate Tectonics?
Alfred Wegner
What layer of Earth is made of liquid iron and nickel?
Outer Core
What causes wind?
Differences in air pressure
What is one environmental impact of mining?
Habitat destruction, loss of biodiversity, pollution, or erosion
A sample contains 25% of its original radioactive parent isotope. How many half-lives have occured?
How are weathering and erosion different?
Weathering breaks down rock; erosion transports it.
Why do coastal areas generally have smaller temperature ranges than inland areas?
Water heats and cools more slowly than land.
This practice involves clearing large areas of forest land for agriculture or urban development, which destroys habitats and accelerates climate change.
Deforestation
Why do we see the same side of the moon from earth?
The moons period of rotation is equal to its period of revolution.
What principle states that younger rock layers are usually found above older layers?
Law of Superposition
Explain two pieces of evidence that scientists use to show that tectonic plates have moved long distances over time.
What could be:
1. Continents fit together like puzzle pieces...
2. Fossils line up...
3. Rock types match up...
4. Glacial striations line up...
5. Mountain ranges line up...
6. Coal (made in tropical locations) found in Antarctica...
7. Age of sea-floor at mid ocean ridge
Which weather front causes large thunderstorms?
What is a cold front?
This term describes the reflectivity of a surface, a critical factor in climate change because melting Arctic ice lowers it, causing the ocean to absorb more heat.
Albedo
What evidence supports the Big Bang Theory?
-Redshift of galaxies
-Cosmic microwave background radiation
-Abundance of hydrogen and helium
What can the study of meteorites tell us about the early solar system?
The study of meteorites can tell us about the early solar system by revealing the composition and structure of the materials that formed the planets.
Explain the difference between physical (mechanical) and chemical weathering?
physical (mechanical) weathering breaks rocks into smaller pieces, but they remain the same kind of rock
chemical weathering rearranges the atoms and creates a new type of rock or substance
What factors most strongly influence climate? Give at least two.
Latitude, elevation, proximity to water, ocean currents, and prevailing winds
What is urban heat island effect?
Cities experience higher temperatures than surrounding rural areas caused by heat-absorbing surfaces (like asphalt and dark roofs), the lack of vegetation for cooling, and waste heat from buildings and vehicles