SCIE 3290 final

What is the difference between a waning and a waxing moon?

Waning means the lit side of the moon is decreasing in size, while waxing means it is growing.

Between which phases is the moon waxing?

The moon is waxing between the new moon and first quarter (waxing crescent) and between the first quarter and full moon (waxing gibbous).

Between which phases is the moon waning?

The moon is waning between the full moon and third quarter (waning gibbous) and between the third quarter and new moon (waning crescent).

What star is closest to Earth?

The sun.

Do stars' positions change in our sky?

Yes, due to the Earth's rotation and its orbit around the sun.

Are all stars equally far from Earth?

No, stars can be at different distances from Earth.

What is the Milky Way?

The galaxy that Earth is in.

What are constellations?

Clusters of stars that seem to form pictures in the sky.

How do the phases of the moon appear from different hemispheres?

Waxing phases are seen on opposite sides; NH sees waxing on the right, SH on the left.

What causes the seasons?

The orbiting of the Earth around the sun.

What are the vernal and autumnal equinox?

The vernal equinox is the first day of spring; the autumnal equinox is the first day of fall.

What is the summer solstice?

The first day of summer and the day with the most daylight hours.

What is the winter solstice?

The first day of winter and the day with the least daylight hours.

What causes a solar eclipse?

A solar eclipse occurs when the moon gets in between the Earth and the sun during a new moon.

What causes a lunar eclipse?

A lunar eclipse occurs when the Earth gets between the moon and the sun during a full moon.

What is the difference between rotation and revolution?

Rotation is the Earth spinning on its axis (24 hr. period), while revolution is the Earth orbiting the sun (1 year period).

What does 'Our Dynamic Earth' mean?

It means that the Earth is everchanging due to various processes and cycles.

What is the evidence of plate tectonics/continental drift?

The idea of Pangea, where continents were once interconnected and have since drifted apart.

Where do most earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur?

Along tectonic plates.

How are earthquake vibrations measured?

Using seismographs.

What happens when tectonic plates converge?

They create landforms like mountains.

What is relative dating?

Comparing two items' ages to estimate age, such as comparing one fossil to another.

What is absolute dating?

Finding out the exact age of an item, such as through carbon dating.

How can we estimate soil age?

By examining soil horizons; topsoil is the youngest, and soil gets older as you go deeper.

What is soil?

Soil is made up of broken-down natural materials, water, and air, and helps plants grow.

How do soil and dirt compare?

Soil is valuable for plant growth, while dirt is displaced soil without value.

When was Earth created in the cosmic time perspective?

Earth was created around 4 billion years ago, in August of a cosmic calendar year.

When do humans appear in the cosmic time perspective?

Humans appear at the very end of the cosmic calendar year.

What are the three types of rocks?

Igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic

How is igneous rock formed?

It is formed when magma or lava cools.

How is sedimentary rock formed?

It is formed by the pressing of different sediments together.

How is metamorphic rock formed?

It is formed when heat and pressure turn an existing rock into a new one.

What is the water cycle?

It is how Earth's water gets reused and repurposed.

What processes are involved in the water cycle?

Precipitation, evaporation, and condensation.

Where can we find water on Earth?

In oceans, lakes, rivers, glaciers, aquifers, and groundwater.

What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks into sediments; erosion is the movement of those sediments.

How do weathering and erosion affect Earth?

They form different landforms and can build or remove soil.

Where does beach sand come from?

It comes from the breakdown of rocks and shells carried downstream by rivers.

Does the sun heat everything equally on Earth?

No, it does not because the Earth is tilted on its axis.

How do air currents form?

Air currents form when warm air rises and cold air sinks.

What happens when warm air meets cold air?

Warm air rises above cold air due to density differences.

What are warm fronts?

Warm fronts occur when warmer air moves over a cooler air mass.

What are cold fronts?

Cold fronts occur when cooler air masses move in on warmer air masses.

What are fossil fuels?

Fossil fuels are natural fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas.

What are alternative fuels?

Alternative fuels are renewable resources like wind and solar energy.

What is the greenhouse effect?

It is the warming of the atmosphere due to greenhouse gases.

Is the greenhouse effect good or bad?

It is necessary but currently too strong, contributing to global warming.

What impacts global warming the most?

Human activities, including burning fossil fuels.

How does global climate change affect weather patterns?

It causes extremes in weather, like high temperatures and heavy snowfall.

What are the big ideas of Earth Science?

Seasons, Earth's age, soil, rock cycle, plate tectonics, water cycle, weather, and greenhouse effect.

How can seasons be taught?

Using a seasons simulator and a physical globe.

How can Earth's age be taught?

Using cosmic time videos and classroom timelines.

How can soil be taught?

By creating edible layers in a cup to represent soil layers.

How can the rock cycle be taught?

Through a dice game that illustrates rock transformations.

How can plate tectonics be taught?

Using graham crackers and icing to simulate land movement.

How can the water cycle be taught?

Using the 'water, water, everywhere' game.

How can weather be taught?

Through demonstrations of air pressure effects on weather.

How can the greenhouse effect be taught?

Using online simulators to illustrate greenhouse gas impacts.