Earth Science Extra Credit 1st Nine Weeks

Unit 1: The Nature of Science

1.)What are three major branches of Earth science?

2.)A scientist was studying the effects of oil contamination on ocean seaweed. He thought that oil runoff from storm drains would keep seaweed from growing normally , so he decided to do an experiment. He filled two aquarium tanks of equal size with water and monitored the dissolved oxygen and temperature in each to be sure that they were equal. He introduced some motor oil into one tank and then measured the growth of seaweed in each tank. In the tank with no oil, the average growth was 2.57cm. The average growth of the seaweed in the tank with oil was 2.37cm. Based on this experiment:

  1. What was the question that the scientist started with?
  2. What was his hypothesis?
  3. Identify the independent variable, the dependent variable, and the experimental control(s).

Unit 2: Earth in Space

1.)Describe the geocentric model and the heliocentric model of the universe.

2.)Compare and contrast the inner planets and the outer planets.

3.)Use the nebular hypothesis to explain why the planets all orbit the Sun in the same direction.

4.)Describe the difference between Earth’s rotation and revolution.

5.)Explain how Earth’s tilt on its axis accounts for seasons on Earth.

6.)List the Kepler’s three laws.

Unit 3: Forces and Process of the Lithosphere

1.)What is a crystal?

2.)Describe the difference between a rock and a mineral.

3.)What are the three main types of rocks and how does each form?

4.)How do scientists know about the liquid outer core? How do scientists know that the outer core is liquid?

5.)What are the three types of plate boundaries and what type of geologic activity is found at each?

6.)Using elastic rebound theory, describe what triggers and earthquake.

7.)How are surface waves different from body waves? Which are more damaging?

8.)What is liquefaction and how does it cause damage during an earthquake?

9.)What are the two basic types of volcanic eruptions?

10.)What is pyroclastic material?

11.)Which type of volcano is most common?

12.)What is the major difference between hot springs and geysers?

13.)What are the four forces of erosion and which is responsible for the most erosion?

14.)What are the three soil horizons? Describe the characteristics of each.

15.)Describe three ways that gravity moves materials.

Unit 4: Human Impact on the Lithosphere

1.)What is needed by anything that moves or changes in any way.

2.)What is the original source of most energy used on Earth?

3.)Discuss five ways human activities has accelerated soil erosion.

4.)List five general things we get from natural resources.

5.)Define net energy.

6.)What are two ways that energy can be conserved.