Download Geology/Earth Science - Northern Michigan University

MICHIGAN
TEST OBJECTIVES
FIELD 620: GEOLOGY/EARTH SCIENCE
General Skills and Concepts
Geology
Meteorology
Astronomy
Marine Science
GENERAL SKILLS AND CONCEPTS
Recognize the role of key figures and events in the history of earth science.
Includes key events and individuals; and the work of key individuals in relation to contemporary
scientific understanding and applications.
Understand terminology relevant to scientific laboratory work.
Includes definitions and terminology associated with common laboratory equipment and
procedures.
Explore the applications of scientific skills and knowledge to daily living and social concerns.
Includes the application of scientific principles and knowledge to daily living; the application of
scientific skills and knowledge to various careers; and the application of scientific knowledge to
societal decisions concerning resource use and environmental hazards.
Understand the safe and proper use of laboratory equipment and supplies.
Includes the safe and proper use of common laboratory chemicals, scientific equipment, and
supplies; and principles for managing accidents in science laboratories and in the field.
Understand principles of data collection and techniques of observation.
Includes observational techniques and equipment; measurement parameters; and sources and
interpretation of scientific information.
Understand principles of experimental laboratory research and proper reporting techniques.
Includes principles of scientific methodology and experimental design; the variables held
constant, manipulated, or responding in scientific investigations; and techniques for analyzing and
reporting results.
Understand methods of quantification, computation, and measurement.
Includes units of quantification and measurement; types and applications of common measurement
equipment; and problem solving involving formulas, experimental data, conversions within the
metric system, and conversions between the metric system and the conventional system.
Understand principles of classification, inference, and sequencing.
Includes standard classification of various objects and events; inferences, interpolations, and
extrapolations from data sets; and sequencing and interpreting scientific data according to various
criteria.
GEOLOGY
Demonstrate knowledge of the lithosphere.
Includes the names, positions, composition, and characteristics of the earth’s main layers; and uses
of the seismograph in investigating the earth’s structure.
Analyze geological structures (e.g.. folds, faults).
Includes characteristics of the geological structures of the earth; mechanisms involved in the
formation of these structures; and the effects these structures have on their surroundings.
Understand the nature of rocks and minerals.
Includes the physical and chemical characteristics of minerals; and the formation and
characteristics of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
Understand the states and characteristics of matter.
Includes the definition of matter; the states of matter and their characteristics; the structure of
atoms; and the distinctions between elements and compounds.
Understand plate tectonics.
Includes the movement of tectonic plates; the theory of plate tectonics as it explains geological
phenomena; the earth’s geological history in terms of plate movement; and the present
arrangement of tectonic plates.
Understand weathering and erosion.
Includes the causes and effects of weathering; the agents and effects of erosion; and types,
characteristics, and methods of soil formation.
Understand freshwater systems.
Includes the origin, characteristics, and uses of ground and surface water; and the characteristics of
lakes, ponds, and streams.
Understand volcanism, earthquakes, and glaciation.
Includes the characteristics and formation of various types of volcanoes; and the processes
involved in volcanism, earthquakes, and glaciation.
Understand maps and landforms.
Includes map symbols, scales, legends, and coordinates; topographic information from
topographic and relief maps; and characteristics of the earth’s major landforms.
Understand fossils.
Includes the formation and preservation of fossils; and the uses of fossils in geology.
Demonstrate knowledge of geological clocks.
Includes sedimentation, radioactivity, and fossils as geological clocks.
Understand the geological time scale.
Includes the sequence and time scale of geological periods; major life forms present in geological
periods; basic principles of historical geology; and important events along the geological time line.
Understand patterns of plant and animal life.
Includes factors affecting changes in life forms; the development of organisms from simple to
complex forms through geological time; and the effects of plate tectonics on patterns of plant and
animal life through geological time.
Analyze geological resources of environmental and economic importance.
Includes the environmental and economic aspects of land use, land pollution, land conservation,
water pollution, water conservation, water purification, and air pollution.
Understand the economics of mineral and energy resources.
Includes the economics of fossil fuels, geothermal energy, wind, solar energy, hydroelectric
power, and nuclear power as energy sources; and the economics of mining and minerals.
METEOROLOGY
Understand the structure of the atmosphere.
Includes the names, relative positions, composition, characteristics, and importance of the
atmospheric layers.
Demonstrate knowledge of atmospheric conditions.
Includes causes and characteristics of air masses; atmospheric conditions in terms of global and
local wind patterns; and the processes of radiation, convection, and conduction in the earth’s
atmosphere.
Analyze atmospheric phenomena.
Includes characteristics, causes, and effects of atmospheric phenomena.
Identify characteristics of climate.
Includes climatic zones and their characteristics; the effects of various factors in climate; and
climates associated with specific locations.
Understand types and causes of weather.
Includes the characteristics of and relationship between wind and atmospheric pressure; the types
and characteristics of air masses and fronts; weather associated with various atmospheric
conditions; and global weather patterns.
Understand the hydrologic cycle.
Includes the movement of water in the hydrologic cycle, and the cycle’s relationship to weather.
Identify types and characteristics of clouds.
Includes the characteristics of and weather associated with various cloud types.
Understand forms of precipitation and condensation.
Includes forms of precipitation; the formation of various types of precipitation; and the forms and
causes of condensation.
Identify types and characteristics of storms and meteorological phenomena.
Includes characteristics of and factors involved in the formation of various types of storms and
meteorological phenomena; and the causes and characteristics of thunder and lightning.
Understand weather observation.
Includes instruments and symbols used in weather observation; procedures and principles of shortrange weather forecasting; and causes and characteristics of various weather trends.
ASTRONOMY
Demonstrate knowledge of the earth as part of the solar system.
Includes the position of the earth in relation to that of other astronomical bodies; the motions of
the earth; and the effects of the earth’s motions and tilt.
Demonstrate knowledge of the moon as part of the solar system.
Includes the movements of the moon and its effect on the earth’s tides; solar and lunar eclipses;
the causes of the moon’s phases; the moon’s physical characteristics; and theories of the formation
of the moon.
Demonstrate knowledge of the sun as part of the solar system.
Includes physical characteristics of the sun; the effects of solar radiation on the earth; the names
and characteristics of the sun’s layers; and the sun’s composition and chemical reactions.
Identify the planets and their characteristics.
Includes the positions of the planets in the solar system; the distinctive characteristics of the
planets; the motions of the planets in the solar system; and their apparent movements as seen from
earth.
Identify developments and benefits of space exploration programs.
Includes major events in the history of space exploration; major benefits of space exploration; and
instruments used in astronomical observation.
Analyze types, characteristics, and patterns of stars.
Includes types and characteristics of stars; stages in the life of a star; the absolute and apparent
magnitude of stars; and major constellations.
Demonstrate knowledge of galaxies.
Includes types and characteristics of galaxies; and the characteristics of the Milky Way.
Understand theories of the origin of the universe.
Includes the big bang theory, the steady-state theory, and the oscillating theory of the origin of the
universe; and various theories of the formation of solar systems.
Identify space phenomena.
Includes the characteristics of comets, meteors, meteorites, quasars, black holes, and pulsars.
MARINE SCIENCE
Analyze the composition and properties of ocean water.
Includes the salinity, chemical composition, and physical properties of ocean water; and factors
affecting its salinity.
Analyze the movements of ocean water.
Includes circulation of ocean water; ocean tides and waves; the effects of ocean movements; and
vertical movement of ocean water.
Analyze the structure and topography of the ocean floor.
Includes the main divisions, characteristics, structure, and composition of the ocean floor;
characteristics of major ocean floor features; and factors involved in creating and changing the
ocean floor.
Analyze marine resources in terms of economic use.
Includes marine resources as a source of food, petroleum, minerals, energy, and fresh water.
Understand marine processes.
Includes the water cycle, biological processes, physical processes, chemical processes, and
pollution; and their effects on marine environments.
Understand types and characteristics of marine plant life.
Includes the characteristics and zonation of marine plant life; and the effects of marine plants on
other organisms and on marine environments.
Identify types and characteristics of marine animal life.
Includes characteristics, major groups, and zonation of marine animals; and the effects of marine
animals on other organisms and on marine environments.