Science SOL 4.8, 5.8, and 5.9 Review: Earth Resources

Flashcards covering Virginia's natural resources (SOL 4.8), Earth's geosystem and plate tectonics (SOL 5.8), and energy resource conservation (SOL 5.9).

What is a watershed?

An area of land over which surface water flows to a single collection place.

Which watershed covers approximately half of Virginia’s land area?

The Chesapeake Bay watershed.

What are the three major watershed systems in Virginia?

The Chesapeake Bay, the Gulf of Mexico, and the North Carolina sounds.

What is a lake and what is a specific example found in Virginia?

A large body of water surrounded by land; an example is Lake Anna.

What is a river and what is a specific example found in Virginia?

A large natural stream of water flowing in a channel to the sea or lake; an example is the James River.

What is a bay and which specific bay is noted as a Virginia resource?

A broad inlet of the sea where the land curves inward; an example is the Chesapeake Bay.

What roles do plants play in improving water quality and protecting land?

Plants hold soil in place to reduce erosion and add oxygen to the air.

What are the products of the chemical and physical weathering of rocks?

Clay, sand, and rock fragments.

What is the difference between erosion and deposition?

Erosion is the movement of materials by water and wind, while deposition is the placement of those materials in new locations as sediment.

Where do most earthquakes and volcanoes occur?

At the boundaries of plates.

What driving force causes large continent-size plates to move slowly about Earth’s surface?

Thermal energy.

What increases with depth beneath the Earth’s surface?

Pressure and temperature.

What are the four layers of the Earth?

The crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.

What materials primarily compose the two innermost layers of the Earth?

Iron and nickel.

How are igneous rocks formed according to the rock cycle?

They are formed from material that has melted and cooled.

How are sedimentary rocks formed according to the rock cycle?

They are formed from layers of sediment cemented together.

How are metamorphic rocks formed according to the rock cycle?

They are formed when rocks are changed by heat and pressure.

Why do archeologists study fossils?

They provide information about life and conditions in the past.

Why are some resources considered non-renewable?

They cannot be replaced after they are used because they take millions of years to form.

Why are some resources considered renewable?

They are replaced naturally and can be used again.

What are three examples of non-renwable resources?

Oil, coal, and natural gas.

What are three examples of renewable energy sources?

Wind energy, water behind dams, and sunlight (solar energy).

What are some harmful consequences of energy use on the environment?

Air and water pollution as well as wildlife and habitat loss.

What are three actions that can be taken at home to conserve energy?

Turning off lights and electronics when not in use, taking shorter hot showers, and adjusting the thermostat (higher in summer, lower in winter).

How have advances in technology affected energy use?

They improve our ability to use energy more efficiently.