Earth Science Final Exam Notes

Earth Science Final Exam Flashcards

How does heating affect density?

Density decreases when heated.

What is an observation based on?

Based on your five senses and a measurement.

What is an inference based on?

Based on an observation.

What is the angle of the Earth's axis?

23.5 degrees.

Which area on Earth gets the most direct sunlight on September 21 and March 21?

Equator.

Which area on Earth gets the most direct sunlight on December 21?

Tropic of Capricorn (23.5° South).

Which area on Earth gets the most direct sunlight on June 21?

Tropic of Cancer (23.5° North).

What causes the apparent daily path of the sun to change with the seasons?

The tilt of the Earth's axis.

What primarily causes ocean tides?

Gravitational attraction between the Moon and the Earth.

What two phenomena prove Earth's rotation?

Foucault pendulum and the Coriolis effect.

When does a planet move fastest in its orbit?

Closest to the sun/star.

What does the redshift of light from distant galaxies prove?

The universe is expanding.

What process is happening inside the sun's interior?

Nuclear fusion.

What is Polaris?

North Star.

Where cannot Polaris be seen?

Southern Hemisphere.

What coordinate affects the visibility of Polaris?

Latitude.

What is the relationship between the altitude of Polaris and latitude?

Direct relationship.

In which direction do lines of latitude run?

West to East.

What does latitude separate the Earth into?

North and South.

In which direction do lines of longitude run?

North to South.

What does longitude separate the Earth into?

West and East.

Where do lines of longitude meet?

North and South Poles.

What is solar time based on?

Longitude.

What is our climate based on?

Latitude.

At the North and South Poles, what apparent direction would a pendulum swing complete?

A 360° circular pattern in 24 hours.

What four processes create sedimentary rock?

Compaction, cementation, burial, and deposition.

What is deposition?

When sediments are dropped off or settle after being moved by wind, water, or ice.

What is burial in the context of sedimentary rock formation?

When layers of sediments build up, burying older layers deeper underground.

What is compaction?

When the weight from upper layers squishes sediments together.

What is cementation?

When minerals in water fill spaces between sediments and glue them together.