Type of Rocks
True or False: Rocks stay the same forever.
False (they change through the rock cycle)
What layer of Earth do we live on?
The crust
What is the closest star to Earth?
The Sun
What is the primary source of energy for Earth?
The sun
What causes the seasons on Earth?
The tilt of Earths axis (23.5°) as it orbits the Sun.
What are the three main types of rocks?
Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic
What is the shape of the Earth?
An oblate spheroid (slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator).
What causes day and night on Earth?
Earths rotation on its axis
What are two examples of renewable energy sources?
Solar energy and wind energy
During which season is Earth closest to the Sun?
Winter (in early January)
What are small pieces of rock, sand, and minerals called?
Sediments
What is the imaginary line that divides the Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres?
The Equator
What force keeps planets in orbit around the Sun?
Gravity
How do fossil fuels form?
They form from the remains of ancient plants and animals that were buried and subjected to heat and pressure over millions of years.
When is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, and what happens on this day?
June 21st; it has the longest daylight hours of the year.
How do igneous rocks form?
They form from the cooling and solidification of magma or lava.
What force causes Earth to be slightly flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator?
Earths rotation
Why do we always see the same side of the Moon from Earth?
The Moons rotation period is equal to its revolution period around EarthÂ
What type of heat transfer occurs when the Sun heats Earths surface?
Radiations
Why is it summer in the Southern Hemisphere when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere?
Because the Southern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun while the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from it.
How can an igneous rock become a sedimentary rock?
It must first be weathered and broken into sediments, then compacted and cemented together over time.
What evidence do scientists use to determine Earths shape?
Satellite images, gravity measurements, and the way ships disappear over the horizon.
What is the Big Bang Theory?
The scientific theory that explains how the universe began from a single point and has been expanding ever since.
What is the difference between renewable and nonrenewable energy?
Renewable energy can be replaced naturally (like solar and wind), while nonrenewable energy (like coal and oil) takes millions of years to form and can run out.
What location on Earth experiences 24 hours of daylight in summer and 24 hours of darkness in winter?
The Arctic Circle (or Antarctic Circle, depending on the season).