Download 1) What is the theory of plate tectonics? a. The lithosphere (top layer

1) What is the theory of plate tectonics? a. The lithosphere (top layer) floats on top of the partially molten layer under it (asthenosphere). Convection currents underneath are the main cause for the plates to move. 2) How does earthquakes, volcanoes, sea-­floor spreading and mountain building support the plate tectonic theory? a. The surface of the Earth is made of seven major plates, each with different boundaries. Divergent boundaries are where the sea floor is spreading and new plate is being created, transform boundaries are where plates slide past each other and convergent boundaries are where plates collide. Earthquakes, volcanic-­‐activity, mountain building and oceanic trench formation happen along these boundaries. 3) Describe the processes and interactions of the rock cycle. a. Sedimentary Rock – formed when small bits of matter (sediments) are eroded and deposited, compacted and cemented to form layered rock. b. Igneous Rock – is formed when molten rock (magma) cools and solidifies (the slower it cools, the larger the crystal is). c. Metamorphic Rock – formed under great heat and pressure which change the texture and composition of the rock. d. Earth’s rocks don’t stay the same forever. When they go through the different parts of the rock cycle, they are weathered, melted or squished and changed to different rocks over millions of years. This is called the rock cycle. 4) What is the relative age of each layer of rock when compared to the rock layers that sit above it? a. Older rock will always sit below younger rock (younger over older). 5) What are index fossils? a. A widespread fossil known to have lived in a short particular geologic age that can be used to date the rock layer where it is found. 6) Use the diagram to describe cross cutting. a. When there is an intrusion that cuts across other rock layers, it means that that rock layer occurred after the others were formed, meaning that it is younger than those it crossed. 7) What constructive and destructive Earth processes can affect the evidence of Earth’s history (changes in rock layers, land masses and shape/structure of the land)? a. Movement of tectonic plates, weathering, continental glaciation and volcanic activity. 8) What mineral properties are used to identify minerals and rocks and how are they used? a. Minerals i. Hardness – what it can scratch, what scratches it ii. Streak – the color left behind when rubbing against a streak plate iii. Luster – how the mineral looks in light iv. Density – mass per unit volume (how heavy it feels) b. Rocks i. Grain size – how quickly did it cool? Slowly = large grains, quickly = small grains ii. Mineral composition – what different minerals make it up iii. Texture – smooth, rough, glassy, etc. 9) Can you describe how humans have had both positive and negative environmental impacts on the Earth. a. Positive and negative environmental issues includes global climate change, water quality, energy use, acid rain, ozone, establishment of parks, agricultural practices and forestry. Earth and Space Science 10)
What is radiation? a. Transfer of energy through empty space via waves such as light waves, radiowaves and microwaves. 11)
What is conduction? a. Transfer of heat between objects that are in direct contact with each other. 12)
What is convection? a. Transfer of heat by movement of fluid, including air and water. 13)
How do radiation, conduction and convection work together to heat the atmosphere? a. It all has to do with the movement of heat from the sun to our atmosphere. From the sun the heat is transferred via waves since there is nothing for the heat to be in contact with. This is radiation. When it hits the atmosphere these waves encounter air which then transfers the heat (convection). The sun heats the ground and the ground transfers the heat back to the atmosphere (conduction and convection). 14)
What forces create currents in the ocean? a. Wind, temperature and salinity. 15)
What forces create currents and layers in the atmosphere? a. Unequal heating of surface air causes warm air to rise and cool air to fall. This creates convection currents in the troposphere (lower layer where weather happens). 16)
Describe the effect of Earth’s rotation on winds and ocean currents. a. The Earth’s rotation creates what is known as the Coriolis effect. Since the Earth is rotating beneath the wind, the path it follows becomes a curve. In the Northern Hemisphere, wind is deflected to the right. In the Southern Hemisphere, wind is deflected to the left. The Coriolis effect only influences the direction, not the speed. 17)
18)
19)
What weather predictions can you make with the following? a. Increase Barometric pressure? i. Warmer temps, skies clear, air dries b. Decreasing barometric pressure? i. Cooler temps, clouds increase, humidity increases c. High and Low Dew Points? i. The higher the dew point, the more water vapor there is for producing rain or snow. d. Wind direction/change to the following relative directions? i. North – colder, South – warmer, East – weather to get worse (rain/snow), West – fair and warmer. e. Temperature i. If it changes rapidly, there is a chance of precipitation f. Clouds i. Thicken/lower (Culumlus) – weather to get worse ii. Get higher and break up (Stratus) – weather to get fair and warm What evidence of climate change is there in Minnesota?’ a. In Minnesota there is evidence of past glaciers due to current topography, landforms and rock layering that can be seen. What are the different actions of the water cycle? a. Precipitation, evaporation, condensation, runoff, infiltration, transpiration and filtration 20)
What is the closest star to the Earth? a. Our sun 21)
About how many galaxies are there? a. Billions 22)
About how many stars are there in a galaxy? a. Billions 23)
24)
25)
Why do we use light years to measure distance in space? a. Due to the vast distances in space What evidence is there in favor of the Big Bang Theory? a. Expanding universe 27)
What is the central and largest body in our solar system? a. Out sun 28)
What is the principal energy source for a solar system? a. The sun 29)
Explain the process that causes day and night? a. Earth rotates on its axis once per day. 30)
What is the primary factor that contributes to the change of seasons? a. The tilt of Earth’s axis at a 23.5 degree angle. 31)
What three factors allow life to flourish on Earth? a. Distance from the sun, composition of the atmosphere, presence of liquid water. 32)
What is the name of our hemisphere? a. Northern 33)
How is energy from the sun transferred to the Earth? a. Radiation Describe our sun. a. It is a medium-­‐sized star. 26)
What is the name of our galaxy? a. The Milky Way 34)
Know what the different phases of the moon are. 35)
Be able to explain what the difference is between a solstice and the equinox.