U3 Space Science
What causes the moon’s appearance to change each month even though half of the moon is always lit?
The sun always lights half the moon; the portion we see changes because of the relative positions (Earth–moon–sun) so different amounts of the lit half face Earth.
100: What is a fossil record used to show about Earth’s past life?
Records of past life / evolution over time
100: What is the name for human-directed breeding to emphasize desired traits?
Selective breeding (artificial selection)
100: What type of wave is a sound wave (transverse or compressional)?
compressional (longitudinal)
100: What term describes moving into a non-native region to live?
Immigration
During a solar eclipse, which object casts the shadow and on which object does it fall? Name the two shadow regions.
Moon casts its shadow on Earth; umbra (dark, inner) and penumbra (lighter, outer).
200: What process causes continents to move and has shaped Earth’s surface over long time scales?
Plate Tectonics
200: What are the two versions of a gene called?
Alleles
200: Write the formula that relates wave speed, wavelength, and frequency. (Provide formula)
wave speed=wavelength×frequency
200: What is a limiting factor in population ecology? Give one example.
Anything that limits population growth (e.g., food, water, space)
Explain qualitatively how gravitational force between the sun and Mercury compares to that between the sun and Jupiter (consider mass and distance).
Gravitational force depends on masses and distance; Jupiter is more massive so its pull is large, but Mercury is much closer so the sun pulls more strongly on Mercury than on more distant planets — net force depends on both factors.
300: If two different rock layers contain the same fossil species, what can that suggest about their ages or past geography? (Short answer)
They may be similar in age or indicate connected geography (fossil correlation)
300: A breeder crosses two Hh dogs (H = long hair dominant). What percent of puppies are expected to show long hair?
(Multiple choice: 25%, 50%, 75%, 100%)
75%
300: What is the difference between refraction and diffraction? (Short answer)
Refraction = bending as wave passes between media; diffraction = bending around obstacles or through openings
300: Name one human activity that can be a density-independent limiting factor.
Natural disasters, droughts, seasonal cycles, clear-cutting
Relate impact craters and the “clearing the neighborhood” criterion when classifying a planet.
Craters show many collisions; “clearing the neighborhood” requires gravitationally sweeping or accreting smaller objects—collisions help combine or remove those bodies.
400: What evidence from fossils supports the idea that species have changed over time (give one example)?
Examples: transitional fossils, changes in trait distributions, fossil succession
400: Define genetic engineering in one sentence.
Directly changing an organism’s DNA to give it new traits
400: The Doppler effect changes which property of a sound when the source moves relative to the observer?
Frequency (perceived as pitch)
400: How does increasing human population and per-capita consumption typically affect Earth’s systems? (Short answer)
Typically increases resource depletion, pollution, habitat loss, and strain on Earth systems unless mitigated
Compare and contrast total, partial, and annular solar eclipses, including why an annular eclipse occurs.
Total: moon fully blocks sun from a spot in umbra; Partial: only part blocked for observers in penumbra; Annular: moon farther away so it appears smaller and leaves a ring of sun visible because umbra doesn't reach Earth.
500: Describe how changes in Earth's climate over millions of years can affect which species survive in a region. (Short answer)
Climate shifts change habitats and resource availability, favoring some traits/species and causing others to decline
500: Explain how artificial selection could help corals survive warmer oceans. (Short answer — include gene sourcing or selective breeding)
Breed warm-tolerant corals (e.g., from warm regions) with local corals to increase frequency of heat-tolerance genes
500: Describe constructive vs. destructive interference and give one real-world example of each. (Short answer)
Constructive: waves add (louder sound, e.g., speakers in phase); Destructive: waves cancel (noise-cancelling headphones)
500: Propose one engineering or management strategy to reduce negative human impact on coral reefs (include a brief rationale)
Examples: establish marine protected areas, reduce local runoff, selective breeding/resilience programs for corals — each reduces stressors or increases resilience