Core Test Review Earth Systems

1 How old is the solar system (including Earth)? What evidence supports this age? The Earth is 4.6 billion years old. This is based on radioactive dating

2 Describe the big bang theory. The Universe started very hot and dense. It was pure energy. It started to expand, cool down, and the energy turned into matter (protons, neutrons and then hydrogen, helium, lithium).

3 There are three evidences that support the big bang theory. What are they? Describe each. Cosmic background radiation – leftover heat from the big bang. Redshift of galaxies – the light coming from all galaxies is shifted to the red. This means that the universe is expanding. Abundance of elements – most of the universe is made up of hydrogen and helium.

4 What is the nebular theory? Describe it. It is the theory of how the solar system formed. A large nebula contracted and started to spin. It flattened out in a disk. The sun formed at the center and the planets formed as matter clumped together.

5 What evidence supports the nebular theory? All planets are on the same plane and orbit in the same direction.

6 Where did light elements form (hydrogen, helium, and lithium)? They formed in the big bang

7 Where did heavy elements form? In stars while they are “living” and also while they are “dying”.

8 What is a technology that has helped us to better investigate the Universe? Advanced telescopes Computer modeling Rockets and satellites

9 What are two differences between the 4 inner planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) and the 4 outer planets (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)? Inner planets are smaller and rocky. Outer planets are bigger and gaseous.

10 How big is our solar system compared to the Milky Way galaxy? It is really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really, more smaller.

11 Match the following with the object in the solar system they would represent: Soccer ball Apple Grain of sand Airsoft pellet Earth Sun Mercury Jupiter

12 If the soccer ball were in the front of the room, about how far away would the Earth be? It would be on the far end of the school.

13 What are the 5 conditions necessary for life on Earth? Warm enough temperature Liquid water Energy Atmosphere Nutrients

14 What are the two sources of the heat on the inside of the Earth? How does that energy reach the surface of the Earth? Heat from friction when Earth formed and radioactive decay It reaches the surface through Earthquakes and Volcanoes

15 What three evidences did Alfred Wegener have to support his theory of continental drift? The shape of the continents Matching fossils on different continents Matching rock structures on different continents

16 What are the 7 major plates that make up the Earth’s crust? North American Antarctic Pacific African Eurasian South American Australian

17 Draw a model of the interior layers of the Earth based on both composition (chemical properties) and physical properties (solid, liquid, semi-solid).

18 What evidence is used to infer that Earth has layers? Seismic waves bend as they go through the Earth

19 On your model above, show how convection currents in the mantle help move plates around. Indicate where the magma is hotter and where it is cooler.

20 How does gravity and density help to cause the plates to move? More dense plates will sink into the mantle because of the force of gravity.

21 Three important discoveries led to the theory of plate tectonics. They were mid-ocean ridges, oceanic trenches, and magnetic striping. Describe each of these. Mid-ocean ridges – long mountain ranges down the middle of oceans. New crust is forming there Oceanic trenches – Long deep trenches. Deepest part of the ocean Magnetic striping – Alternating strips of magnetic minerals that line up with the Earth’s changing magnetic field

22 What is a mantle plume (hot spot)? How is it used to figure out how fast plates are moving? It is where hot magma from the mantle breaks through the crust and forms volcanoes. Using the distance between islands and the age of the islands, you can figure out the speed of the plates.

23 What happens to the age of the sea floor as you move away from a mid-ocean ridge? They get older as you move away from the ridge

24 Where on the plates are the large majority of earthquakes and volcanoes? On the edges

25. Convergent boundary

25. Divergent boundary

25. Transform

26 Draw a picture that shows how the greenhouse effect works.

27 What are four greenhouse gasses? Carbon dioxide Water Nitrous oxide Methane

28 Draw a picture that shows how the tilt of the Earth causes the seasons.

29 What two factors cause the global circulation of air currents? Unequal heating of Earth’s surface Coriolis effect

30. Draw a diagram showing these air currents.

31 Where is the troposphere and the stratosphere? In which of these is ozone helpful and in which is it harmful? It is helpful in the stratosphere because it block UV light It is harmful in the troposphere because it harms our lungs

32 What are the elements of weather and what instruments are used to measure them? Thermometer – Temperature Rain gauge – Precipitation Hygrometer – humidity Barometer – air pressure Anemometer – wind speed Satellite imaging – cloud cover

33 What conditions give rise to each of the following severe weather events? Thunderstorms – warm, moist, rising air Tornados – cool air from north collide with warm, moist air from the south Hurricanes – very warm ocean water rises and creates very low pressures

34 How are climate and weather different? Weather is short term, current conditions Climate is long term, average conditions

35 How can we study the climate thousands of years ago when no humans were around to record it? Ice that has been frozen for thousands of years contains evidence of climate

36 What are humans doing that is significantly altering the carbon cycle and possibly affecting the climate? Burning fossil fuels

37 What are two negative impacts of humans burning fossil fuels? Greenhouse gasses are produced and warm Earth Pollution

38 What are three predicted consequences of global climate change? More severe hurricanes, floods Rising sea levels Ocean acidification More sever droughts

39 What are the 7 reservoirs where water is stored on the Earth? What percentage of Earth’s water is in each? Reservoir Amount of water in Reservior Oceans 97% Glaciers 2% Groundwater: 0.7% Lakes 0.3% Rivers 0.001% Atmosphere 0.01% Saline Lakes

40. Draw the water cycle and label the following: evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, infiltration, transpiration.

41 What are two ways that water is purified by nature? It is filtered by rocks and soil When it evaporates, any impurities are left behind

42 What are 4 special properties that water has that make it helpful to life on Earth? Adhesion/cohesion Less dense as a solid so ice floats High heat capacity – it takes a lot of energy to change temperature of water It is a good solvent – a lot of things dissolve in water

43 What are abiotic factors? Name 5 that affect freshwater ecosystems. Non-living things in an ecosystem Name 5 that affect freshwater ecosystems. Amount of water Temperature Rocks and soil Wind Air (carbon dioxide, oxygen) Nutrients Sunlight

44 What are biotic factors? Name 3 that affect freshwater ecosystems. Living things in an ecosystem Name 3 that affect freshwater ecosystems. Plants Bacteria in water Animals

45 What are 3 main uses for water by humans? Farming Watering lawns Drinking and washing stuff

46 What are two theories about how oceans formed on Earth? Outgassing by volcanoes Comets hitting the Earth

47 How do salinity, temperature and pressure change as you go deeper in the ocean? Salinity increases Temperature decreases Pressure increases

48 Why are most living things near the surface of oceans? Warmer temperatures, more sunlight, and less pressure

49 Compare the following properties of salt water to freshwater. Density – salt water is more dense Freezing point – salt water has a lower freezing point Boiling point – salt water has a higher boiling point

50 What causes surface ocean currents? Wind

51 What causes deep ocean currents? Changes in density because of salt concentration and temperature

52 What are ways that humans affect oceans negatively? Pollution Overfishing Algal blooms