1. Earth Science Basketball Smack Down

2. What are the two types of crust that make up tectonic plates. Which is the most dense?

3. What are the two types of crust that make up tectonic plates. Which is the most dense? A: Continental crust oceanic crust (more dense)

4. List these Earth layers in order from the hottest to the coolest. Outer core Inner core Crust Mantle

5. List these Earth layers in order from the hottest to the coolest. A: inner core Outer core Mantle Crust

6. What are 3 major geological events that can result from movement of lithospheric (or tectonic) plates?

7. What are 3 major geological events that can result from movement of lithospheric (or tectonic) plates? A: volcanoes mountain building earthquakes

8. Tectonic plates are in constant slow motion. What causes them to move?

9. Tectonic plates are in constant slow motion. What causes them to move? A: Convection currents inside the mantle

10. What type of boundary is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge? What is being created there?

11. What type of boundary is the Mid-Atlantic Ridge? What is being created there? A: divergent boundary/ new ocean crust

12. Free Shot!

13. Only one of Earth’s layer is considered to be molten. Name the molten layer.

14. Only one of Earth’s layer is considered to be molten. Name the molten layer. A: outer core

15. Why has salt become concentrated in the Earth’s oceans?

16. Why has salt become concentrated in the Earth’s oceans? A: The sun evaporates the oceans’ water leaving salt behind.

17. What name is used to describe a long mountain ridge in the ocean? What name describes a single submerged mountain?

18. What name is used to describe a long mountain ridge in the ocean? What name describes a single submerged mountain? A: mid-ocean ridge/ seamount

19. Which two factors are responsible for causes tides on Earth?

20. Which two factors are responsible for causes tides on Earth? A: gravity and Earth’s rotation

21. List the 3 main processes that occur in the water cycle.

22. List the 3 main processes that occur in the water cycle. A: evaporation condensation precipitation

23. Free Shot!

24. What percentage of Earth’s water is salt water?

25. What percentage of Earth’s water is salt water? A: 97%

26. What percentage of Earth’s water is considered fresh water? Where is most of our fresh water located?

27. What percentage of Earth’s water is considered fresh water? Where is most of our fresh water located? A: 3% --- frozen in glaciers and polar icecaps

28. What is a lunar cycle? How long is a lunar cycle?

29. What is a lunar cycle? How long is a lunar cycle? A: the time it takes the moon to make a complete revolution around Earth/29.5 days

30. Draw a solar eclipse on the board. What is being eclipsed?

31. Draw a solar eclipse on the board. What is being eclipsed? A: sun S M E

32. What are the two factors that cause Earth to experience seasons?

33. What are the two factors that cause Earth to experience seasons? A: the tilt of Earth’s axis and Earth’s revolution around the Sun

34. Free Shot!

35. When the moon is directly between the Earth and Sun, we have a solar eclipse. How is this possible considering the moon is much smaller that the sun?

36. When the moon is directly between the Earth and Sun, we have a solar eclipse. How is this possible considering the moon is much smaller that the sun? A: the Sun is much farther away from Earth than the moon

37. Why does the moon appear to change shape and size from our perspective? What are the different shapes called?

38. Why does the moon appear to change shape and size from our perspective? What are the different shapes called? A: the Sun, Earth, and Moon change positions in relation to each other/phases

39. Where does the moon’s light come from?

40. Where does the moon’s light come from? A: The moon reflects the Sun’s light.

41. How is revolution different from rotation?

42. How is revolution different from rotation? A: revolution -one object moving in a closed path around another object rotation -spinning

43. What term describes the moon’s phases as it changes from a new moon to a full moon?

44. What term describes the moon’s phases as it changes from a new moon to a full moon? A: waxing

45. Free Shot!

46. Waves carry energy from one place to another. What is the primary cause of waves in lakes and oceans?

47. Waves carry energy from one place to another. What is the primary cause of waves in lakes and oceans? A: wind blowing across the surface of the water

48. Wind is the primary cause of waves in lakes and oceans. What causes wind?

49. Wind is the primary cause of waves in lakes and oceans. What causes wind? A: The Earth’s tilt on its axis causes the sun to heat the Earth unevenly. Uneven heating of the atmosphere causes wind.

50. Where do geologists believe the deepest parts of the oceans are? Which type of boundary creates these geological features?

51. Where do geologists believe the deepest parts of the oceans are? Which type of boundary creates these geological features? A: ocean trenches/ convergent boundaries

52. In which layer of the atmosphere does weather take place?

53. In which layer of the atmosphere does weather take place? A: troposphere

54. What is the main source of energy for waves, wind, and ocean currents?

55. What is the main source of energy for waves, wind, and ocean currents? A: the Sun

56. Wind is created by changes in air pressure. Complete this statement… Air always moves from an area of _____ pressure to an area of _____ pressure.

57. Wind is created by changes in air pressure. Complete this statement… Air always moves from an area of _____ pressure to an area of _____ pressure. A: high…low

58. Explain how changes in temperature cause air, water, and magma to move in convection currents.

59. Explain how changes in temperature cause air, water, and magma to move in convection currents. A: Warmer molecules rise as cooler molecules sink.

60. Explain why there is a breeze flowing from the water to the land during the day in coastal areas.

61. Explain why there is a breeze flowing from the water to the land during the day in coastal areas. A: High pressure air above the water moves to fill in the space left by low pressure air over the land.

62. Large wind systems and surface currents are caused by the Corilois Effect. Explain the Coriolis Effect.

63. Large wind systems and surface currents are caused by the Corilois Effect. Explain the Coriolis Effect. A: The Earth’s rotation on its axis causes wind and surface water to move clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and counterclockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

64. What can happen when a fast- moving cold air mass meets a slow-moving warm air mass, and causes a sudden change is air pressure?

65. What can happen when a fast- moving cold air mass meets a slow-moving warm air mass, and causes a sudden change is air pressure? A: thunderstorm or tornado

66. Free Shot!

67. Why do most thunderstorms and tornados occur in the spring and summer?

68. Why do most thunderstorms and tornados occur in the spring and summer? A: There is more warm, low pressure air over the land.

69. What are the 3 main types of rocks? How do geologists determine which group a rock belongs in?

70. What are the 3 main types of rocks? How do geologists determine which group a rock belongs in? A: igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary/how they are formed

71. Minerals are classified by their physical properties. What are 4 of these physical properties?

72. Minerals are classified by their physical properties. What are 4 of these physical properties? A: density, luster, color, cleavage or fracture, hardness, streak

73. What do these letters stand for: W- E- D- Describe these processes.

74. What do these letters stand for: W- E- D- Describe these processes. A: W-weathering(breakdown of rock into sediment) E- erosion (transport of sediment) D- deposition (sediment laid down in a new location)

75. What are the 4 main causes of erosion?

76. What are the 4 main causes of erosion? A: water wind ice (glaciers) gravity

77. Free Shot!

78. Give an example of physical/mechanical weathering. Give an example of chemical weathering.

79. Give an example of physical/mechanical weathering. Give an example of chemical weathering. A: mechanical: ice wedging, burrowing animals chemical: acid rain, dissolving

80. Give 2 examples of renewable resources and 2 examples of non-renewable

81. Give 2 examples of renewable resources and 2 examples of non-renewable resources. A: answers will vary

82. What are 3 greenhouse gases and how are they released into the atmosphere?

83. What are 3 greenhouse gases and how are they released into the atmosphere? A: carbon dioxide- burning fossil fuels methane- waste products of cows and other livestock CFC’s- aerosol cans, air conditioners, and refrigerators

84. How is an increase of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere contributing to global warming?

85. How is an increase of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere contributing to global warming? A:Greenhouse gasses trap heat in the atmosphere.

86. Why must we conserve soil? What are 2 ways to protect our soil?

87. Why must we conserve soil? What are 2 ways to protect our soil? A: Soil is an nonrenewable resource. Protection methods will vary.

88. Free Shot!

89. How do most scientists believe the universe began? Explain this theory.

90. How do most scientists believe the universe began? Explain this theory. A: Big Bang Theory/All matter and energy was in a single ball that exploded, sending matter expanding in all directions.

91. List the inner (terrestrial) planets in order from the Sun. List the outer planets (gas giants) in order from the Sun.

92. List the inner (terrestrial) planets in order from the Sun. List the outer planets (gas giants) in order from the Sun. A: Inner: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars Outer: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune