Earth Science & Basic Astronomy Lecture Review

A comprehensive set of question-and-answer flashcards covering Earth’s internal structure, theories of formation, rock types, atmospheric layers, weather systems, climate factors, and foundational astronomy concepts.

What are the two types of Earth’s crust and their primary rock compositions?

continental crust (granite) oceanic crust (basalt)

When two air masses are at a standstill, leading to prolonged periods of cloudiness and precipitation.

stationary front

Which Earth layer generates the planet’s magnetic field ?

liquid outer core

What widely accepted theory explains the formation of the Solar System about 4.6 billion years ago?

nebular hypothesis.

Which hypothesis explains the Moon’s origin from debris after a collision with a Mars-sized body?

giant impact hypothesis.

Which theory accounts for the formation of gas giants such as Jupiter and Saturn?

core accretion theory

Give three common examples of igneous rocks.

granite, basalt, and obsidian.

Provide three examples of sedimentary rocks.

sandstone, limestone, and shale.

Name three examples of metamorphic rocks.

marble, slate, and schist.

Igneous Rock that form below the Earth’s surface, cooling slowly and forming large crystals.

intrusive igneous rock

Approximately what percentages of Earth’s atmosphere are nitrogen and oxygen?

Nitrogen ~78 %, oxygen ~21 %.

Which atmospheric layer contains virtually all weather phenomena?

troposphere

Which layer of the atmosphere houses the ozone layer?

stratosphere

In which atmospheric layer do meteors usually burn up?

mesosphere

Name two atmospheric layers where temperature increases with altitude.

stratosphere and thermosphere.

Igneous Rock that form at the Earth’s surface, cooling rapidly and forming fine-grained textures.

extrusive igneous rock

List the five primary elements meteorologists measure to describe weather.

temperature, humidity, precipitation, wind, and cloudiness

What weather is generally associated with a high-pressure system?

fair, clear skies.

A system of winds rotating inward to an area of low pressure, often resulting in storms.

cyclone

Name four types of severe weather discussed in the lecture.

thunderstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, and blizzards and heatwaves

Give five geographic or physical factors that influence climate.

latitude, elevation, ocean currents, topography and vegetation

Which planets are classified as terrestrial?

Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars

Which two planets are known as gas giants and what are they mostly made of?

Jupiter and Saturn composed of hydrogen and helium

Where is the asteroid belt located?

between Mars and Jupiter

The orbit of one celestial body around another.

revolution

Outline the main stages of stellar evolution for a Sun-like star.

Protostar → Main Sequence → Red Giant → Planetary Nebula → White Dwarf.

A dense stellar remnant left after a low- to medium-mass star exhausts its fuel and sheds its outer layers.

white dwarf

Which observation by Edwin Hubble supports the idea of an expanding universe?

galaxies are moving away from us

Invisible matter detected only through its gravitational effects; it neither emits nor absorbs light.

dark matter

Which astronomy instrument avoids atmospheric distortion by operating in orbit?

space telescope

Which type of optical telescope uses mirrors to gather and focus light?

reflecting telescope

Which part of the mantle is described as denser and semi-fluid?

lower mantle

The process by which fluid motions in Earth’s outer core generate the magnetic field.

dynamo effect

Approximately how thick is Earth’s liquid outer core?

2,300 km (1,400 miles)

What is the approximate radius of Earth’s solid inner core?

1,220 km (760 miles)

What layer of the atmosphere transitions into space and contains extremely thin air?

exosphere

What region beyond Neptune contains many icy bodies and dwarf planets?

kuiper belt

Name four basic telescope categories besides optical types.

radio telescopes, space telescopes, refracting and reflecting

A mysterious force driving the accelerated expansion of the universe.

dark energy

Have a flat, rotating disk with a central bulge and spiral arms.

spiral galaxies

Range from spherical to elongated shapes with little to no new star formation.

elliptical galaxies

Lack a distinct shape, often chaotic in appearance.

irregular galaxies

A spherical shell of icy objects surrounding the Solar System.

oort cloud

Caused by rapid upward movement of warm, most air.

thunderstorms

Violently rotating columns of air extending from a thunderstorms to the ground.

tornadoes

Large, powerful storms forming over warm ocean water with strong winds and heavy rain.

hurricanes

Severe snowstorms with strong winds and low visibility.

blizzards

Prolonged periods of excessively hot weather.

heatwaves