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Earth Science Final Exam Study Guide
1. The crust and upper mantle make up Earth’s lithosphere.
2. The presence of the same fossils and rocks on several continents supports the
hypothesis of continental drift.
3. Plates move apart at divergent boundaries.
4. The alignment of iron minerals in rocks when they are formed reflects the fact
that Earth’s magnetic field has reversed itself several times in the past.
5. A lack of explanation for continental drift prevented many scientists from
accepting that a single supercontinent called Pangaea once existed.
6. Scientists believe that differences in density cause hot, plastic like rock in the
asthenosphere to rise toward Earth’s surface.
7. In order to complete a convection current, the rising material must eventually
sink back into Earth.
8. Mountain ranges are formed when two continental plates collide.
9. When the force on rocks is great enough, they break, producing vibrations
called earthquakes.
10. Standing next to a window will improve safety factors during an earthquake.
11. Most earthquakes happen without warning, in areas where earthquakes have
occurred in the past, and along plate boundaries.
12. Scientists discovered changes in Earth’s interior by studying changes in
seismic waves.
13. Tension is the force that pulls rocks apart.
14. Reverse faults are caused by compressional forces.
15. The magnitude of an earthquake is measured by the Richter scale.
16. Primary waves slow down when they hit the liquid outer core.
17. Dikes are formed when magma enters a vertical crack between rock layers
and hardens.
18. A batholith is created when magma cools underground before reaching the
surface.
19. Magma that squeezes into a horizontal crack between rock layers and hardens
is called a sill.
20. Basaltic magma produces nonexplosive eruptions such as those at Kilauea.
21. Paricutin, in Mexico, is a cinder cone volcano.
22. A limestone bed containing fossils that are 550 million years old is older than
a bed of sandstone containing fossils that are 400 million years old.
23. In a series of undisturbed rock layers where shale lies between sandstone
below and limestone above, the limestone is youngest.
24. With absolute dating, a rock’s exact age can be determined, whereas with
relative dating, a rock’s age is compared to the ages of other rocks.
25. A life form in the Precambrian time was cyanobacteria.
26. A life form that evolved during the Mesozoic Era was the dinosaur.
27. Changes in the trilobite exoskeleton can be attributed to changing
environments and competition for survival.
28. Angiosperms are the dominant land plant today because they developed hard
seed coats.
29. Sea and land breezes are caused because the land heats and cools more
quickly than the water.
30. In general, atmospheric pressure is greatest near Earth’s surface and decreases
as you move upward away from sea level.
31. The exosphere blends into outer space.
32. The troposphere is the layer of the atmosphere nearest to Earth’s surface.
33. The air above the equator rises because it has low density and low pressure.
34. Cold air has more molecules occupying a cubic centimeter of space than warm
air; therefore, it has higher pressure.
35. Not all areas on Earth’s surface receive the same amount of radiation because
Earth’s surface is curved.
36. A meteorologist studies and forecasts the weather using data gathered from
many sources.
37. What does NASA stand for National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
38. The Moon produces no light, and yet it shines at night. The reason for this is
the Moon reflects light from the Sun.
39. The main source of energy for the Earth is the sun’s radiation.
40. Earth’s orbit is an ellipse.
41. The inner planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.
42. The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
43. The layer of the atmosphere that we live, eat, sleep, and play is the
troposphere.
44. Objects in our solar system revolve around the Sun.
45. The solar system includes the Sun, planets, moons/other objects.
46. Under what conditions will the vortex of a tornado form?
When air masses of very different temperature and humidity conditions meet.
47. These statements describe parts of the water cycle and how clouds form.
1. Water evaporates from the earth’s surface as it changes from a liquid to
a gas.
2. Water vapor rises with rising, warm air.
3. At higher altitudes, where temperatures are cool, vapor (along with
dust particles) condenses into drops of water that form clouds.
4. Low pressure conditions also help clouds form.
48. S-waves do not travel through liquid so this is one way that scientists know the
outer core of Earth is liquid.
49. Viscosity is principally dependent on the composition and temperature of the
liquid. It is a property of liquid and its tendency to resist flow.
50. Scientists classify volcanoes by shape and size.