earth science regents review

dynamic equilibrium

balance

The same substance always has the same

density at the same temperature, no matter how many pieces you break it into

as air pressure increases

density increases

The volume of an irregular object can be measured by

water

anything with a density more than 1 will

Sink in water

anything with a density less than 1 will

float in water

evidence the earth is round

1) ships appear to "sink" on the horizon because Earth's surface curves

2) photographs from space

3) Earth's shadow on the moon

latitude is expressed as

0-90 degrees north or south

Longitude is expressed as

0-180 degrees east or west

the altitude of Polaris equals

The latitude of the observer

*ex: if an observer is at 43* N then the altitude of Polaris is 43*

pointer stars in the big dipper

point to Polaris

earth rotates as

15*/hr

as you travel east

time does increase

as you travel west

time does get less

streams flow from

high to low elevation

contour lines

bend upstream when crossing a river

the maximum elevation is

one less than what the next contour line is

the minimum elevation is

one more than what the next lower contour line would be

the universe is about

14 billion years old

evidence for the big bang theory

cosmic background radiation, red shift

solar system age

4.6 billion years old

nuclear fusion

process of combining lighter elements into heavier elements inside a star

Terrestrial planets are

closer to earth, smaller, rocky, more dense, longer period of revolution

Jovian planets are

further from the earth, larger, gas giants, less dense, longer period of revolution

Terrestrial planets

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars

Jovian planets

Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

the orbits around the sun are

slightly elliptical

the closer the eccentricity is to 0

the more circular orbit

earth spinning on its axis

tilted 23.5 degrees

earth rotates

15 degrees per hour and causes day and night

1 full rotation

every 24 hours

evidence for rotation

Coriolis effect and Foucault pendulum

one full revolution takes

365 days

earths rotation and tilt combine to

cause seasons

evidence for revolution

Different constellations and seasons

when north hemisphere is tilted towards the sun we have

summer

when north hemisphere is tilted away the sun we have

winter

when south hemisphere is tilted towards the sun we have

winter

when south hemisphere is tilted away the sun we have

summer

shadows are longer when the sun is

low in the sky

shadows are shorter when the sun is

higher in the sky

Summer Solstice latitude where sun is directly overhead at noon

23.5* N (tropic of cancer)

fall equinox latitude where sun is directly overhead at noon

0* (equator)

winter solstice latitude where sun is directly overhead at noon

23.5*S (tropic on Capricorn)

spring equinox latitude where sun is directly overhead at noon

0* (equator)

June 21st

summer solstice

September 23rd

fall equinox

Dec 21st

winter solstice

March 21st

spring equinox

altitude of noon sun (June 21st)

72*

altitude of noon sun (Dec 21st)

48*

altitude of noon sun (September 23rd)

25*

altitude of noon sun (March 21st)

48*

length of daylight (june 21st)

15-16 hrs

length of daylight (september 23rd)

12 hrs

length of daylight (dec 21st)

8-9 hrs

length of daylight (march 21st)

12 hrs

june 21st

sun is furthest from earth (N. pole has 24hrs light, S. pole has 24hrs darkness)

september 23rd

all locations on earth have 12hrs daylight and 12hrs darkness

dec 21st

sun is closest to earth (N. pole has 24hrs darkness, S. pole has 24hrs light)

march 21st

all locations on earth have 12hrs daylight and 12hrs darkness

light to the right

its getting bright

high to low or low to high

6hrs and 13 mins

high to high or low to low

12hrs 25 mins

spring tides

extra high and extra low occur on full and new moon

neap tides

least extreme 1st and 3rd quarter

properties of minerals depend upon

their arrangement of atoms

luster

metallic or non-metallic

intrusive

cools slow, large crystals

extrusive

tiny/no crystals, glassy, gas pockets

oceanic crust

thinner, denser, mafic, basalt

continental crust

thicker, less dense, felsic, granite

outer core

liquid

inner core

solid

continental drift

continents moving apart

continental drift evidence

matching coastlines, fossils mountain ranges, glacial scars

Convection occurs in

the asthenosphere/ plastic mantle and is the cause for plate movement

convergent boundary

plates collide forming mountains

subduction causes

trenches

more dense oceanic plates subduct under

less dense continental plates

divergent boundaries

Places where plates are pulling apart forming mid-ocean ridges - leads to seafloor spreading

evidence of seafloor spreading

symmetrical pattern of seafloor age and symmetrical pattern of magnetic reversals on both sides of an ocean ridge

P waves travel through (faster)

solids, liquids, and gases

s waves travel through (slower)

solids only

shadow zone

Zone where NO seismic waves are detected

heat transfers through

conduction (direct contact), convection (density differences in gas and liquid due to unequal heating), radiation (waves)

low pressure

associated with wetter, warmer weather

high pressure

associated with drier, cooler weather

blow from

higher pressure to lower pressure

the closer the isobars are together

the faster the windspread

anemometer

measures wind speed

barometer

measures air pressure

Psychrometer

measures relative humidity

wind vane

measures wind direction

planetary winds (prevailing southwesterlies) push weather from

W to E across the USA