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GEOSCIENCE CPC
FINAL EXAM REVIEW SHEET
2012
Chapters on final exam: 1, 22, 23; 24; 25, and parts of 26
Chapter 1: Science Skills
Vocabulary:
Science
Geology
Astronomy
Biology
Manipulated / Independent Variable
Controlled
Scientific Theory
Experiment
Scientific Notation
Density
Line graph
Bar graph
Chemistry
Physics
Scientific Method
Hypothesis
Responding / Dependent Variable
Scientific Law
Scientific Model
Precision
Pie /Circle graph
Accuracy
Concepts / Skills:
 What are the three main branches of science and how what does each branch focus on?
 How can you construct an experiment to answer a question using the scientific method?
 Critique and analyze controlled experiments
 Identify the independent (manipulated) and (dependent) variable
 Accuracy vs. Precision
 Which number is more precise: 5; 5.2; 5.25
 How to interpret line, bar, or circle graphs
 Convert large and small numbers into scientific notation
 Convert numbers in scientific notation into their expanded form.
 Identify the S.I. units for mass, length, volume, and density
 Convert between prefixes of the metric system (mm  cm; kg  g).
Chapter 22: Earth’s Interior
Vocabulary
Crust (Oceanic &
Mantle (Lithosphere,
Continental)
Asthenosphere,
Mesosphere)
Core (Inner vs. Outer)
Rock Cycle
Igneous Rock
(Intrusive vs.
Extrusive)
Sedimentary Rock
(Clastic, Chemical, &
Organic)
Metamorphic
(Foliated)
Plate tectonics
Continental Drift
Pangaea
Mid-ocean ridge
Earthquake
Convergent plate
boundary
(Subduction & Mt.
Building)
Divergent Plate
Boundary (Sea-floor
spreading & Rifting)
Transform Plate
Boundary
Epicenter
P wave, S wave, &
Surface Waves
Focus
Silicates
Seismic Waves
Seismograph
Hot spots & mantle
plumes
Volcanic sill, dike, &
batholiths (or pluton)
Richter & Moment
Magnitude Scales vs.
Mercalli Scale
Shield volcano
Volcano
& Seamount
Caldera
Cinder cone
Composite
Faults
Dip-slip (vertical)
Strike-slip
(horizontal)
Folds
Trench
Concepts/Skills:
 Compare the three main layers in terms of composition and density.
 Compare the subdivisions of each layer (Inner vs. Outer core; Meso vs. Astheno. vs.
Lithosphere; ocean vs. continental crust)
 What evidence supported Alfred Wegener’s theory of Continental Drift?
 How is the ocean floor recycled by sea-floor spreading (@ mid-ocean ridge) & (@
subduction (@ trenches)?
 Compare divergent, convergent, & transform plate boundaries in terms of plate motion,
location, & results (Trenches?; Mts.?; Rift valleys?; Mid-ocean ridges; Earthquakes;
Etc.)
 Why & where do EQs happen?
 Compare seismic waves and the scales that are used to evaluate EQs.
 Why & where do volcanoes erupt?
 How were the volcanoes in Hawaii formed compared to volcanoes along the “Ring of
Fire” or at the Mid-ocean ridge?
 What is the Ring of Fire? Where is it? What type of volcanoes are found there?
 Quiet vs. Explosive eruptions (silica content, water content, and temperature)
 Three volcano types – shape and typical type of eruption
Chapter 23: Earth’s Surface
Vocabulary
Water cycle
Groundwater
Transpiration
Glacier
Watershed &
Tributary
Permeable vs.
Impermeable and
Water Table
Weathering
(Mechanical vs.
Chemical)
Erosion
V shaped valleys
Meanders
Oxbow lakes
Mass Movement
(Landslides,
mudslides, creep, &
slump)
Law of Superposition
Deposition
Deltas & Fans
Sinkholes & Caves
Law of Cross Cutting
Index Fossil
Relative Dating
Absolute dating
(radioactive dating)
Half-life
Till, moraine, Ushaped valley, and
horn
Eras & periods
Concepts/Skills:
 Trace movement of water through atmosphere and Earth’s surface with the water cycle
(Evaporation, condensation, precipitation, transpiration, ground water)
 Identify % of fresh and salt water and where most fresh water is found.
 How does weathering and erosion change the surface of Earth?
 Identify examples of mechanical weathering (frost wedging, abrasion, plant roots).
 Give examples of chemical weathering (cave formation by limestone decay, oxidation of
rocks with iron).
 How does stream erosion change the landscape (V shaped valleys, meanders, oxbow
lakes)? How do streams change over time?
 How do glaciers change the landscape (signature signs of glaciers: U shaped valleys,
horns, glacial lakes, erratic boulders, till, moraine)?
 Interpret diagrams using the law of superposition, cross-cutting, index fossils, intrusions,
and erosion to sequence rock layers. Be able to write a geologic history of an area based
on a picture of a cross section.
 Give examples of landforms formed by weathering, erosion, and deposition. (Deltas &
Alluvial fans; meandering streams; caves; etc)
 Know the Eras that Earth’s history is divided up into and the major developments that
happened during each. What was the climate and atmospheric/general environmental
conditions of each era? Know that periods make up eras.
Chapter 24: Weather & Climate
Vocabulary
Atmosphere
Air pressure
Barometer
Troposphere
Weather
Stratosphere
Ozone layer
Mesosphere
Thermosphere
Ionosphere
Aurora
Polar, temperate, &
tropic zones
Wind (Local vs.
Global)
Jet Stream
Solstice
Equinox
Rotation vs.
Revolution
Greenhouse effect
Sea & Land Breeze
Coriolis Effect
Monsoon
Dew point
Cloud
Air mass
Front
Cold front
Humidity & Relative
humidity
Stratus, Cumulus,
Cirrus (alto and
nimbus varieties)
Warm front
Stationary front
Occluded front
Hurricane
Meteorologists
Tornado
Climate
El Nino
Greenhouse Gas
Snowball Earth
Global warming
Fog
Concepts/Skills:
 What is the composition of our atmosphere? (gases & percents)
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What protection does our atmosphere provide for us?
Compare the layers of the atmosphere in terms of altitude, temperature changes, or
special features?
How does air pressure change with increasing altitude?
What causes the seasons? Compare equinoxes to solstices (location of the sun’s direct
rays, length of day, etc.)
Earth’s Energy Balance: Energy In vs. Energy Out vs. Energy Trapped
What really heats our atmosphere? (The sun directly? Infrared radiated off of surfaces?)
Energy Transfer in the Atmosphere: Radiation, Conduction, & Convection
What causes winds? What direction does wind always blow?
How can temperature influence air pressure? Warm air has ____ pressure; Cold air has
____ pressure.
Compare warm air to cool air in terms of pressure, direction of movement, capacity to
hold water.
Identify sea & land breezes.
Identify the global winds & describe/illustrate how they are influenced by the Coriolis
effect.
What happens when air temps. dip below the dew point?
Why do clouds form? What conditions are necessary?
Compare cloud types in terms of shape, altitude, associated weather.
Compare types of precipitation (rain, snow, hail, sleet, & freezing rain).
Characteristics of different air masses and fronts.
Compare cold, warm, stationary, & occluded fronts (how they form, duration, &
associated weather).
Low Pressure vs. High Pressure in terms of density, wind direction, moisture, and
associated weather.
How to hurricanes, t-storms, & tornadoes form?
Interpret weather maps and make forecasts.
What factors determine a region’s climate? (Latitude, altitude, proximity to water, ocean
currents, global wind patterns, pressure systems, Mt. barriers, etc)
El Nino: What is it? What causes it? How long does it last? What are some effects?
What are possible causes of ice ages? When was the last ice age? What is “Snowball
Earth” and what evidence supports this theory?
How do greenhouse gases influence global temperatures (global warming and the
greenhouse effect)? List greenhouse gases & explain how they work.
What human activities can affect Earth’s climate?
Chapter 25: The Solar System
Vocabulary
Geocentric
Heliocentric
Asteroids
Gas Giants
Comet
Nebular Theory
Dwarf planet
Ecliptic
Kuiper Belt
Accretion
Astronomical Unit
Oort Cloud
Planetissimals
Concepts/Skills:
 Compare geocentric and heliocentric models of the solar system (who proposed each and
where is the sun / earth in each model)
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Describe shape of orbits and how inertia and the sun’s gravity keep them moving in their
orbits.
Identify how many AU Earth is from the sun and be able to convert AUs to kms
(conversion factor given)
Map out the organization and order of planets, asteroids, comets, etc. in our solar system.
What do inner/terrestrial planets have in common, and how do they differ from gas giants?
What do most outer planets (gas giants) have in common (5 things)?
Why was Pluto declassified as a planet? What is it classified as now?
Compare asteroids, comets, and kuiper belt objects (location & composition)
Identify planets based on defining characteristics (extreme temp. changes, red spot, etc.)
How can atmospheres influence temperatures?
How did the solar system form from a spinning cloud of dust & gas (Nebular Theory)?
What evidence supports this theory?
Chapter 26: Exploring the Universe
Vocabulary
Sun’s core
Solar Flares
Main sequence stars
Red Giants
(red, yellow, & blue)
(&supergiants)
Neutron star & pulsars Black hole
Star System (Binary
Clusters
Stars)
Red shift vs. Blue
shift
Big bang theory
SunSpots
White dwarf
Light Year
Black dwarf
Nebula
Galaxy
(spiral, elliptical,
irregular)
Quasars
Star spectrums
Nuclear Fusion
Hubble’s Law
Concepts/Skills:
 What is the sun’s source of energy?
 Describe what happens in nuclear fusion. Where does it take place? How does fusion
change as the star / sun ages?
 How do the forces of gravity and pressure keep the sun / star stable?
 Compare layers of the sun.
 What is the source of solar wind?
 Light years: How many miles/kms in each? If a star is 10 ly away, how far is that in
miles and how long does it take for the light to reach us?
 How does a star’s color influence its temperature?
 Map out the stages of average and high mass stars (How does the star change in terms of
size, density, fusion, brightness, etc.)
 Compare low, average, & high mass stars (main sequence) in terms of temp., brightness,
& length of stage)
 Compare star systems, clusters, & galaxies in terms of star number.
 Compare types of galaxies (shape)
 What does Hubble’s Law tell us about the motion of galaxies and the boundary of the
universe?
 What can star spectrum tell us (Red shift vs Blue shift; age of star or galaxy)?
 What evidence supports Big Bang?