Earth Science Basics
What is the Creation Mandate, and where is it found in the Bible?
God’s command in Genesis 1:28 to manage the Earth wisely and use it for His glory and man’s benefit.
What is the term for the change from solid to liquid?
Melting.
What is the formula for force according to Newton's Second Law of Motion?
Force = Mass × Acceleration.
What is the term for the boundary between the Earth's crust and the mantle?
The Moho.
What instrument measures and records earthquake waves?
A seismograph.
This term refers to the overall perspective based on presuppositions that a person uses to view and interpret the world.
Worldview.
Name the four states of matter.
Solid, liquid, gas, plasma.
Identify two noncontact forces.
Gravity and magnetism.
Compare renewable and nonrenewable resources with examples.
Renewable resources, like timber, replenish easily; nonrenewable resources, like oil, are limited and difficult to replace.
Name the point where an earthquake originates beneath the Earth's surface.
The focus.
What is the key difference between operational and historical science?
Operational science studies presently occurring events, while historical science investigates past events by observing present evidence.
What is the difference between a physical change and a chemical change?
A physical change does not alter chemical identity, while a chemical change creates a new substance.
What are the seven types of energy?
Light, thermal, nuclear, sound, chemical, electrical, and magnetic energy.
Explain the principle of superposition
In undisturbed layers of rock, the oldest layers are at the bottom, and the youngest are at the top.
What are the three types of tectonic plate boundaries?
Divergent, convergent, and transform boundaries.
This scientific model explains why something happens, while this one describes what happens.
A theory explains why; a law describes what.
This phase change occurs when a gas turns directly into a solid.
Deposition.
This law states that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed.
The First Law of Thermodynamics (Law of Conservation of Energy).
What is uniformitarianism, and how does it differ from catastrophism?
Uniformitarianism states Earth’s processes occur at a constant rate; catastrophism involves rapid, catastrophic events shaping the Earth.
Describe the difference between P waves and S waves.
P waves are faster and travel through solids, liquids, and gases; S waves are slower and only travel through solids.
How does a scientist's worldview affect their interpretation of evidence?
A scientist's worldview determines their presuppositions, influencing how they interpret data (e.g., secular vs. Biblical interpretations of Earth’s history).
What is the formula for density, and how do you calculate it?
Density = Mass ÷ Volume.
Give an example of an energy transformation.
In a campfire, chemical energy from wood transforms into light, heat, and sound energy.
What evidence supports the idea that Earth is uniquely designed for life?
Examples include Earth’s atmosphere, magnetic field, liquid water, and perfect distance from the Sun.
For each increase in magnitude on the Richter scale, how much stronger is an earthquake?
31.6 times stronger.