brrrrrrrr - science flash cards

Question 1

What is air pressure?

Answer 1

Air pressure is the amount of air pressing on an area

Question 2

What are two factors that keep the moon in orbit?

Answer 2

Gravity and inertia

Question 3

How do water and land heat and cool differently on Earth?

Answer 3

Water heats slowly during the day time and cools down slowly at night

Question 4

How does Newton’s First Law of Motion explain the Earth’s movement around the Sun?

Answer 4

According to Newton’s First Law of Motion, any object that is in motion ( eg. Earth) will stay in motion at constant speed and direction, unless acted upon by another force.

Question 5

How does the distance affect the strength of the force of gravity?

Answer 5

Objects that are closer together have greater gravitational pull and objects that are farther away from each other have a weaker gravitational pull.

Question 6

Does mass change from planet to planet?

Answer 6

No, mass does not change from planet to planet beacuse the amount of matter an object contains does not change- it always stays the same regardless of location.

Question 7

How is weight related to gravity?

Answer 7

Weight measures how strong gravity is pulling on an object.

Question 8

What drives the Global Ocean Conveyer Belt?

Answer 8

The Global Ocean Conveyor Belt moves water around the globe throughout the oceans. In general, cold, dense, and salty water moves from the poles to the equator and warm, less dense water moves from the equator to the poles.

Question 9

What is the importance of the Gulf Stream?

Answer 9

It brings warm water from the Atlantic up to Europe.

Question 10

During the water cycle, when is energy being released?
When is the energy absorbed?

Answer 10

Evaporation: During evaporation, water absorbs energy and changes to a gas (water vapor).
Condensation: During condensation water vapor releases energy and changes into liquid water.

Question 11

When is the air pressure high? When is the air pressure low?

Answer 11

High air pressure is created when the air column is tall or when the cold sinks. Low air pressure is created when the air column is short or when the warm air rises.

Question 12

What is the relationship between air pressure and air density?

Answer 12

When air density increases, then air pressure increases.

Question 13

What is the relationship between air pressure and air density?

Answer 13

When air density increases, then air pressure increases.

Question 14

How does warm and cold air/water move?

Answer 14

Warm air and warm water are fluids.
Fluids move by convection: Cold fluids are more dense and they sink. Warm fluids are less dense and they rise.

Question 15

What is a sea breeze? Explain. What is a land breeze? Explain

Answer 15

Daytime- a sea breeze:
Cold, dense air over the ocean sinks - creating high air pressure. Warm air over the land is less dense, it rises - creating low air pressure.
Wind always moves from High to Low pressure, so it moves from water to land, forming a sea breeze.
Night time - a land breeze
Cold, more dense air over the land sinks - creating high pressure. Warmer, less dense air above the water rises- creating low pressure.
Wind always moves from High to Low pressure so it moves from land to water, forming a land breeze.

Question 16

What are the ways heat is transferred? Give examples.

Answer 16

Radiation: Heat transfer through electromagnetic waves: e.g. The sun sends out energy (radiation) to Earth.
Conduction: Heat transfer by touching. e.g. When you touch the ice, heat is transferred from your hand to ice. You are losing energy and you feel cold, ice is gaining energy and it melts
Convection: Heat transfer in fluids (gasses and liquids) based on the differences in temperature: warm fluid rises, cold fluid sinks: e.g. Water gets warm in a kettle through convection.

Question 17

How do deep ocean currents move near the equator and the poles?

Answer 17

Near the Poles: Cold water currents are very dense, so they sink to the bottom of the ocean and move toward the Equator
Near the Equator: Warm water currents are less dense so they rise to the surface and move towards the poles.

Question 18

Which planets would have the most gravitational pull? Explain.

Answer 18

Planets that have more mass, have the greatest gravitational pull.

Question 19

During which season do the sun’s rays hit the earth at the most direct angle?

Answer 19

The sun’s rays hit the earth at the most direct angle in summer

Question 20

During which season do the sun’s rays hit the earth at the most indirect angle?

Answer 20

The sun’s rays hit the earth at the most indirect angle in winter

Question 21

What causes day and night?

Answer 21

Day and night is caused by Earth’s rotation on its axis

Question 22

Where do the sun’s rays hit the Earth at high angles?

Answer 22

Near the equator, the sun’s rays hit the Earth at high angles.

Question 23

When do the sun’s rays hit the Earth at low angles?

Answer 23

In winter the sun’s rays hit the Earth at low angles.

Question 24

Are the Earth’s seasons caused by the differences in the distance between the Sun and Earth or the tilt of the Earth’s axis? Explain and give evidence.

Answer 24

No, the seasons are NOT caused by the differences in the distance between the Sun and Earth.
The Earth’s seasons are caused by the tilt of the Earth’s axis. Evidence: The Earth is actually closest to the sun during the northern hemisphere’s winter so the distance between the earth and the sun does not affect the seasons on earth.

Question 25

Explain how three natural factors listed on the right, cause the sun’s rays to strike the Earth’s surface at different angles

Answer 25

1. Earth’s shape: Since the Earth is a sphere, the Equator gets the most direct sunlight all the time, at a very high angle, making the temperature high there. The poles get the least direct sunlight at a very low angle, making the temperature low there.
2. Earth’s Revolution: As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the sun’s rays to strike the Earth’s surface at different angles
3. Earth’s tilt: The Earth is tilted 23.5 °. AS the Earth revolves around the Sun, Earth’s axis always points in the same direction -at Polaris-the Northern Star. Different parts of Earth get the sun’s direct rays throughout the year. For example, when the NH tilts toward the Sun, it is summer on the NH. When the SH tilts toward the sun, it is summer on the SH.