Earth Science Cset Test Prep - Ulv

Front 1

List the three types of evidence that support plate tectonics

Back 1

1. Fit of the continents
2. Location of earthquakes, volcanoes, and midocean ridges
3. Distribution of fossils, rock types and ancient climatic zones.

Front 2

What are the 3 primary layers of the Earth?

Back 2

1. The cold, brittle lithosphere
2. A hot, convecting mantle
3. A dense, metallic core

Front 3

How large and how fast do lithospheric plates move and why do they move?

Back 3

Lithosphere plates move cm/year in response to the movements in the mantle.

Front 4

earthquakes?

Back 4

sudden motions along breaks in the crusts called faults

Front 5

volcanoes and fissures ?

Back 5

locations where magma reaches the surface

Front 6

What 3 geological features do plate motions cause? and list a geological representation in California.

Back 6

1. Mountains – Sierra Nevada Mountain Range
2. Faults – San Andreas Fault
3. Volcanoes – Mount Shasta

Front 7

Describe how scientists determine the epicenter of an earthquake

Back 7

By triangulating info from three separate seismographs that determine the strength and focus of the quake.

Front 8

What 4 factors determine the severity of an earthquake?

Back 8

1. the size of the quake
2. the distance from the epicenter
3. the local geology
4. the type of construction

Front 9

What two creatures habitats’ are mostly affected by earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides and floods?

Back 9

1. humans
2. wildlife

Front 10

What is rock composed of?

Back 10

Different combinations of minerals

Front 11

What four “natural” things provide many resources, including food, fuel, and building materials, that humans use?

Back 11

1. rocks
2. water
3. plants
4. soil

Front 12

What two things do fossils provide to the scientific community?

Back 12

1. Evidence about plants and animals from long ago
2. The past history of Earth.

Front 13

What is soil made of?

Back 13

Weathered rock and organic materials

Front 14

List 4 ways that soils differ:

Back 14

1. color
2. texture
3. capacity to retain water
4. ability to support the growth of many kinds of plants.

Front 15

What are the 3 types of rocks, and how are they formed?

Back 15

Igneous – Rock formed when molten magma cools and solidifies.
Sedimentary- Rocks that form when fragments of rocks and other debris are cemented together.
Metamorphic – Rocks that form when a rock is chemically changed by heat or pressure to form a new rock.

Front 16

What is the rock cycle?

Back 16

The Earth’s crust is made of recycled rocks. These are formed by external factors, such as heat, pressure, and weathering. These factors are continually breaking up and rebuilding sedimentary, igneous, and metamorphic rocks ina process known as the rock cycle.

Front 17

What are characteristics of mountains, rivers, oceans, valleys, deserts, and local landforms?

Back 17

Mountains are usually above sea level. Rivers tend to run in one direction, oceans are big bodies of saltwater and some freshwater. Valleys lie at sea level and tend to be between mountains. Deserts are dry and far from the ocean. They are created by forces of nature such as wind, water and ice.

Front 18

How does weather change from day to day and between seasons?

Back 18

Seasonal weather change is the result of the tilt of the Earth’s axis causing more direct sunlight to face the various hemispheres. Daily weather changes are the result of temperature differences caused by differences in solar absorption and atmospheric changes resulting in wind and resulting moisture variations.

Front 19

Which of Earth’s resources are used in everyday life and how can they be conserved?

Back 19

Some of many of earth’s resources include energy, water, air, wood, oil and minerals. Most can be better preserved through developing new technologies for alternative fuels and energy resources, and by developing better habits for conservation of natural resources.

Front 20

What simple tools are used to measure weather conditions from day to day and across the seasons?

Back 20

Simple tools used for measuring weather conditions include anemometer (speed and direction of wind) thermometer (for measuring temperature) hygrometer (measures relative humidity) barometer (determines atmospheric pressure changes) and a rain guage (measures rainfall).

Front 21

How does weather change from day to day and what are seasonal trends?

Back 21

Wind direction moves air masses and brings weather with it. Air from the ocean brings humid air, air from the desert moves dry air, polar air is cold. These air masses contain various temperatures and moisture content which result in pressure systems and cause daily weather changes. Seasonal trends tend to be predictable based on the tilt of the Earth’s axis as the Earth travels around the sun on its yearly path.

Front 22

How do we know that the sun warms the land, air, and water?

Back 22

The sunlight warms the land, water, and air and in return the land, water and air give off heat, which rises up in the atmosphere causing pressure changes which create weather systems. The Earth’s atmospheric gases capture the heat and prevent it from escaping. The trapped heat keeps the ground, oceans and air at stable temperatures.

Front 23

What are some of the different properties of rocks?

Back 23

Properties of rocks include chemical composition, hardness, color, streak, specific gravity, fracture, and luster.

Front 24

Where do smaller rocks come from?

Back 24

Smaller rocks come from the erosion of larger rocks as the result of weather, running water, ice, etc.

Front 25

What is soil made of and how do soils differ?

Back 25

Soil is made up on weathered rock, water, air and organic materials and they differ due to their varying chemical and physical properties. These properties are affected by the nature of the parent rocks, human influences on the area, and the varying amounts of sand, clay and silt in the area

Front 26

Fossils provide evidence of what?

Back 26

Fossils provide evidence about plants and animals from long ago
and offer clues about the history of Earth.

Front 27

What resources (food, fuel and building materials) do rock, water, plants and soil provide?

Back 27

All of these resources promote and sustain food which humans need to survive. Organic materials provide fuel in the form of coal and both hydroelectric and biofuels provide alternative sources of energy. Both rocks and wood (especially in rich fertile soil) provide building materials for humans.