Earth Science Regents Review

THESE CARDS ARE IN THEMATIC ORDER

the unit will be in capital letters

INTRO TO EARTH SCIENCE

4 Main Branches of Earth Science

Geology, Astronomy, Meteorology, Oceanography

Geology

The study of the materials that make up the earth's surface (Rocks, Minerals, Etc.)

Astronomy

The study of objects beyond the earth (Space, planets, stars, meteors)

Meteorology

the study of the weather, climate and the atmosphere

Oceanography

the study of the nearly 75% of the earth that is covered by water

3 Main Earth Systems

Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere

Lithosphere

the rigid outer shell of the earth (Crust)

Types: Oceanic/Continental

Continental Crust

-Less Dense (2.7 g/cm^3)

-Thicker

-Made of mostly granite

Oceanic Crust

-More Dense (3.0 g/cm^3)

-Thinner

-Made of mostly basalt

Hydrosphere

Water on in and around earth

-97% is saltwater; 3% freshwater

Atmosphere

Layer of the gasses that surround the earth

4 Layers

1. Troposphere

2. Stratosphere

3. Mesosphere

4. Thermosphere

(R/T Pg. 1)

Observation

The use of 1 or more of the 5 senses to learn something about the environment

-Problems: Accuracy- senses are limited

-Solutions: Use instruments to extend out senses

Classification

Group objects based on similar characteristics

-helps to organize

-makes studying and understanding easier

Inference

Logical conclusion/educated guess based on observations

-More observations=Better _____________

Frame of Reference

Something to compare to; the starting point

What are the 2 most common Frame of References?

Time and Space

Measurement

a comparison to a known standard

-2 parts to every measurement: Quantity and Unit

Metric System

SI= Systeme International

Quantities

Length, Mass, Volume

Units

Meter (m); Grams (g); Liters (l)

Scientific Notation

Way of simplifying large numbers (Values) so they are easier to work with

EX:

4,600,000= 4.6 x 10^9

4.09 x 10^-2 = .0409

.00432 = 4.32 x 10^-3

Cyclic

continually repeated in the same way

-predictable

-best predicted when data is collected over a long period of time

EX:

-Water cycle

-Earths Rotation

-revolution of earth

-moon phases

Non-Cyclic

does not repeat

-not predictable

-no pattern

EX:

-Weather

-Volcanos

-Earthquakes

-Tsunamis

Interface

Boundary where 2 different materials/ systems meet of interact

-Change happens here

-energy is exchanged

Equilibrium

a balance between 2 of more systems

Static Equilibrium

No Movement but overall balance

Dynamic Equilibrium

Movement but overall balance

(Earth is mostly in a state of static equillibrium)

Mass

the amount of matter in an object

-doesnt change from place to place

Weight

The affect of gravity acting on an object

-Can change from place to place

Volume

The amount of space an object takes up

-Regular Solid = lwh

-Irregular solid= water displacement

Direct Relationship

When the independant variable goes up, the direct variable goes up

Inverse/ Indirect Relationship

When independant variable goes up the dependent variable goes down and vice versa

Constant Relationship

The DV stays the same while the independent variable changes

Rate of Change

Change in Value/ Time

-Rate can decrease

- If the line is straight it's a constant rate

Pollution

When the concentration of any substance reaches a level that adversely (Negatively) affects plants, animals, humans, or the environment

Natural Sources of Pollutants

Volcanic Ash

Pollen

Forest Fires

Manmade Pollutants

(Anthropogenic)

-nuclear waste

-CO2 Emissions

Toxins

Hazardous waste materials

-Carcinogenic (Cancer causing)

Density

mass/volume

Density vs. Temperature

-as temperature increases the density decreases (Object rises)

-INDIRECT

-As temperature decreases, density increases (Object sinks)

In what phase is an object most dense (Exception of Water)

Solid Phase (Then liquid then gas)

In what phase is water most dense?

Liquid (4 degrees C)

Density vs. Pressure

When Pressure increases, density increases

EARTH'S SHAPE AND COMPOSITION

Earth's Shape

Oblate Spheroid- Slightly flattened at the poles and slightly bulging around the equator (ALWAYS CHOOSE THE MOST PERFECT CIRCLE)

Proof of Earth's Shape

Tall Masted Ships- mass slowly sinks below the horizon when viewed from a distance

Satellite Photos- Best Evidence

Luner Eclipse- Sun casts a shadow of the earth onto the moon (Shows curvature of the earth)

Gravity difference- the closer you get to earth's core the greater the gravitational attraction (Greater attraction at the poles vs. the equator

Angle to Polaris- (See next Card)

Angle to Polaris

Evidence of earths shape

-Astrolabe: measures the angle to polaris (Between the earths surface and polaris

THE ANGLE TO POLARIS IS EQUAL TO YOUR LATITUDE ONLY IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE

-Light from polaris travels to us in perfect parallel lines

*As you travel from the equator (0) to the north pole (90), the angle increases (and vice versa)

4 Major Earth Zones

Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core

(REFERENCE TABLE PAGE 10)

Lithosphere (Crust)

the rigid outer shell of the earth (Crust)

Types: Oceanic/Continental

Continental

-Less Dense (2.7 g/cm^3)

-Thicker

-Made of mostly granite

Oceanic

-More Dense (3.0 g/cm^3)

-Thinner

-Made of mostly basalt

moho

Mohorouicic

-discontinuity line

-interface between the crust and the upper mantle

Mantle

-Not a rigid solid but not a liquid

Asthenosphere

Upper portion of the mantle

Outer Core

Liquid

-Iron and Nickel

Inner Core

Solid

-Iron and Nickel

What happens to density, pressure and temperature as you go deeper into the earth?

THEY ALL INCREASE

Coordinate Systems

Need at least 2 coordinates to locate position (GRID)

Latitude and Longitude

Used to locate positions on Earth's Curved surface

Latitude

-Parallel to the Equator

-Ranges from -0 degrees- 90 degrees North

-0 degrees- 90 degrees South

-In northern hemisphere latitude is = to angle of polaris

Longitude

-Not Parallel; All meet at poles

-0 degrees = Prime Meridian (Greenwich, England)

-Ranges from- 0 degrees - 180 E

- 0 degrees- 180 W

International date line: 180

LONGITUDE TELLS TIME

Minutes

1 degree of latitude/ longitude can be broken down into smaller units called minutes (')

(60 Minutes between each line)

EXAMPLE:

43°N-------------------------------43°N

------- 42° 45' N

------- 42° 30' N

------- 42° 15' N

42°N--------------------------------42°N

Latitude and Time

LATITUDE TELLS TIME

One Complete Rotation:

-360°

-24 Hours

15° PER HOUR

-Locations west of the Prime Meridian are earlier and locations east of the Prime Meridian are later

What direction does the earth rotate?

West to the East

Solar Noon

The time when the sun is most overhead for your location. This time is not the same for everyone.

Timezones

24 Different Time Zones

-4 continental timezones in the US

*Eastern= 75° W

*Central= 90° W

*Mountain= 105° W

*Pacific= 120° W

-2 Others

*Alaskan- 150° W

*Hawaiian-Aluetian= 165° W

FIELD MAPS

Field

A field is a given region that has definite boarders/boundaries and every location has a measurable quantity

2 General Classes of Fields

Scaler and Vector

Scaler Field

Decreases completely in terms of amount

ex: 20°C

Vector Field

Involves an amount and a direction

ex: wind (17mph/east)

Field Map

Isolines

Lines connecting points of equal value

EX: isobars- air pressure

isotherms- temperature

Rules For Connecting Isolines

1. Check Interval

2. Connect all points of equal value

3. ISOLINES NEVER CROSS

4. Isolines must run through the boarders of the field (with the exception of circles)

Source

Region where value is the highest

Sink

Region where value is the lowest

Movement of Energy

Source to Sink (High concentration -> low concentration)

Gradient

Change in field value/ Distance

WHEN LINES ARE CLOSER TOGETHER THEY HAVE A HIGHER GRADIENT

Topographic/ Contour Maps

-Shows elevation on earths surface

-Isolines on a contour map are called Contour Lines

-Space between the lines is called the contour interval (CI)

Depressions

*Anytime a regular contour line is next to a a hactured contour line, the value of both lines is the same

Hactured lines indicate a depression

Streams in Contour Maps

Flow the opposite way the lines are pointing; Flow towards ocean; Flow from high to low

ROCKS AND MINERALS

Minerals

Elements-> Minerals-> Rocks

1. Naturally Occurring

2. Inorganic-> Not from once living material

3. Crystalline Solid

(Water when frozen is a mineral)

Exception- Coal-> It is organic

What is the Most common rock forming mineral in NYS?

Quartz

Monomineralic

Made up of only 1 mineral

Polymineralic

Made up of more than 1 mineral

2 Most Abundant rock forming elements in the crust by % Mass

R/T pg. 1

-Oxygen= 46.1%

-Silicon= 28.2%

2 Most Abundant rock forming elements in the crust by % Volume

R/T pg. 1

-Oxygen= 94.04%

-Silicon= 1.42%

Silicates

When Oxygen and Silicon come together they form a Silicate

ex: O2 + Si = SiO2

Form a Tetrahedron Shape (3 sided pyramid w a base)

Properties of Minerals

Used to help identify a mineral

Color

Worst property to use

Problems

-1 mineral can have many different colors

-Many minerals can have the same colors

Streak

The color of the mineral in powdered form when streaked across a streak plate

-Problems- Same as color

Luster

The way in which light reflects off of the surface of a mineral

-Metalic vs. Non-Metalic

Hardness

"Scratch of be scratched"

MOH'S SCALE

1 (Softest)-> 10 (Hardest)

EX: Soft= Talc

Hard= Diamond

Cleavage vs. Fracture

The way an object breaks

Cleavage

Tendency of a mineral to break along definite planes of weaknesses

Breaks the same way every time

Fracture

Random Breakage

No definite angles

Chemical Test

When acid is placed on a mineral and checked for bubbling

*Indicates if a mineral is a carbonate

ex: Calcite

Specific Gravity

Density of a mineral compared to the density of water

What causes the properties of Minerals?

INTERNAL ARRANGEMENT OF ATOMS