Earth Science Regents review: Facts to Know

Same substance

equals same density

If you cut an object into pieces, you DO NOT change its density

as pressure increases

density increases

as temperature increases

density decreases (warm air rises)

Water expands when

it freezes

water is densest at

4 degrees Celsius as a liquid

Most changes in the environment are

cyclic

The true shape of the Earth is

an oblate spheroid. It is flatter at the poles and bulges at the equator

The best model of the Earth is

a sphere (ball) 

(Earth “appears” round)

Latitude

is based on the North Star (Polaris)

Latitude lines

go East to West (parallel)

Altitude of Polaris

equals your north latitude

The line of latitude found at 0 degrees is called 

The equator

Low altitude

equals small temperature range & warm temperatures

Longitude lines

go North to South (meridians)

Longitude

is based on observations of the Sun (time)

The line of longitude found at 0 degrees is called

The Prime Meridian

The closer the isolines are

the steeper the gradient (slope)

Contour “bends” point upstream

Close contour lines

equals a steep slope/gradient

The Earth rotates

on its axis from West to East

Earth’s Rotation

takes 24 hours (15 degrees per hour)

All celestial objects

appear to move from East to West

Evidence for rotation

Coriolis effect - deflects currents to the RIGHT in the Northern hemisphere

Foucault Pendulum - changes direction of swing

The Earth revolves around the Sun

counterclockwise

Earths Revolution

takes 365 1/4 days (1 year)

1 degree per day

When Earth is closer to the Sun

it revolves fastest

Evidence of revolution

Changing constellations each season

The moon has phases

because of the angle at which we view its surface (Half is always lit)

How long does the moons phases take?

The moon’s phases take 29 1/2 days (about 1 month)

Planets appear to go backwards (retrograde motion) as Earth passes them in space

Seasons are due to

the tilt of Earth’s axis (23.5 degrees)

Equator = no seasons = always has 12 hours of daylight

Hottest month - July/August

Hottest time of day - 3 PM/4 PM

Coldest month - January/February

Coldest time of day - around sunrise

Summer Solstice

\
* June 21st


* longest day of the year (Northern hemisphere)
* Sunrise north of east
* Sunsets north of west
* Vertical ray of light on the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees North)

Winter Solstice

\
* December 21st
* shortest day of the year (Northern hemisphere)
* Sunrises south of east
* Sunsets south of west
* Vertical ray of light on the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees South)

Equinoxes

\
* September 23rd (Autumn equinox)
* March 21st (Spring equinox)
* Equal day and night hours (12 hours)
* Sunrise is due east
* Sunset is due west
* Vertical ray of sunlight on the equator

The lower the altitude of the Sun

the longer the shadow.

At 12 noon in the Northern hemisphere

the shadow points north.

Earth is closer to the Sun

in the winter (perihelion)

The closer a planet is to the Sun

the faster it orbits

Geocentric

an Earth centered universe

Heliocentric

the Sun is at the center of the universe

Red shift

moving away from Earth

Universe is expanding

Closer to the color red

Blue shift

moving toward the Earth

Closer to the color blue/violet

Black/dark and rough

absorbs the most

A good ABSORBER of energy is a good RADIATOR of energy

White and smooth

reflects the most

Conduction

molecule to molecule or molecular collision (solids AND ground heats atmosphere)

Convection

circulating currents in liquids and gases due to differences in density (atmosphere - weather, oceans, liquid mantle - plates move)

Radiation

energy released from an object (Sun)

through space (vacuum) ex: light

Energy moves from

a source to a sink (high to low)

Kinetic energy

energy of motion

increases with speed

Potential energy

stored energy

increases with height

Temperature does NOT

change during a phase change

(energy is either gained or lost)

Condensation

water vapor changing into liquid water (remove heat)

Boiling/vaporization

liquid water changing to water vapor (add heat)

takes the most energy

Earth absorbs short waves

(visible light)

Earth reradiates long waves

(infrared)

Greenhouse effect

Carbon dioxide and water vapor absorb infrared

Maximum insolation

the hottest part of the year is after June 21

the hottest part of the day is after 12 noon

Air pressure decreases when

temperature increases

moisture (humidity) increases

altitude (height) increases

High Pressure

dry weather (arid)

cool and dry

Low Pressure

wet weather (humid)

warm and moist

air rises in the center of the low

rising air cools

condensation occurs when temp= dew point

Wind

horizontal movement of air

caused by uneven heating of Earth’s surface

Wind is due to

air pressure differences in a horizontal direction

Wind always from

high pressure to low pressure

Winds are named

for the direction it comes from

Isobars close together

fast wind

Highs (Northern Hemisphere)

winds blow outward

divergent

clockwise direction

anticyclones

Lows (Northern Hemisphere)

winds blow inward

convergent

counterclockwise direction

cyclones

The closer the air temperature is to the dew point

the greater the chance of precipitation

In the United States, weather

moves from West to East

Air mass

region of atmosphere with uniform temperature and humidity

Fronts

cause warm air to rise over cold air

boundary between two air masses

Passing of a front

equals precipitation and change in temperature and wind direction

Cold fronts move fastest

Topographic effect

Mountains force air up into the atmosphere

Windward side

cool/moist air

leeward side

hot/dry air

Air cools and expands as it

ascends (rises)

Air warms and compresses as it

descends (moves down)

Cool summers, warm winters

bodies of water moderate climate

Porosity

amount of holes/empty space

size doesn’t matter (when sorted)

does NOT depend on particle size

Permeability

holes connected/rate of flow

the bigger the particle size, the faster water goes through

Particle size increases when

permeability increases

Gravity

the force behind all erosion

(wind, running waters, glaciers, ocean waves)

Capillarity

movement upward

increases as particle size decreases

Particle size decreases when

capillarity increases

Streams (running water)

are the number one agent of erosion

Stream velocity depends on

slope and discharge (amount of water in stream) rate

In a meander, velocity is

greater on the outside of the curve

erosion occurs there and it it the deepest

Heavy- dense-round particles

settle out first in water

Graded Bedding

vertical sorting

biggest sediments on the bottom

Horizontal sorting

large particles settle out first

(stream slows down when entering a larger body of water)

Streams/rivers form

V shaped valleys (abrasion)

deposits are sorted, round, and smooth

Glaciers and gravity form

U shaped valleys

deposits are unsorted, scratched, and can carry boulders

Colloids (clay)

remain suspended

Sedimentary rock

(strata)

horizontal (flat) layers

contain fossils

Igneous Extrusive rock

cools fast

small crystals (fine)

no crystals (glassy)

Igneous Intrusive rock

cools slow

large crystals (coarse to very coarse)

Igneous rocks cause

contact metamorphism

Metamorphic rock

banding

distorted structure

more dense

Mineral properties depend on/are due to

internal arrangement of atoms

Silicon and oxygen

basic tetrahedron shape