Earth And Space Science

Question 1

Comet

Answer 1

Small solar system body that orbits the sun and when close enough to the sub exhibit a visible coma (atmosphere) or a tail.

Question 2

Asteroids

Answer 2

Bodies primarily of the inner solar system that are smaller than planets but larger than meteoroids.

Question 3

Moon phases

Answer 3

New moon 
Waxing crescent 
First moon 
Waxing gibbous 
Full moon 
Waning gibbous 
Last quarter 
Waning crescent

Question 4

Solar eclipse

Answer 4

When the moon passes between the earth and the sun.

Question 5

Lunar eclipse

Answer 5

When earth passes between the moon and the sun, casting a shadow.

Question 6

Sun

Answer 6

Huge ball of in candescent gases. Mass is more than 300,000 times that of earth. Suns atmosphere is divided into inner chromosphere with explosive prominences snd the outer corona. Constantly emitting particles as solar wind.

Question 7

Stars

Answer 7

Similar to the sun but very far

Question 8

Galaxies

Answer 8

Huge system of stars

Question 9

Seasons

Answer 9

Results from the earths axis being tilted to its orbital plane. Deviated by and angle of approximately 23.5 degrees. One part of earth is more directly exposed to the rays of the sun. Exposure alternates as the earth revolves in its orbit.

Question 10

Perihelion

Answer 10

The point in its orbit closest to the sun in January.

Question 11

Aphelion

Answer 11

Farthest point from the sun in July

Question 12

Equinoxes

Answer 12

Occurs twice a year, when the tilt of the earths axis is oriented neither from not to the sun, causing the sun to be located vertically above a point on the equator. Night and say are equally long.

Question 13

Winter solstice

Answer 13

Occurs at the instant when the suns position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane from the observers hemisphere. Occurs 12/20 and 12/23 northern hemp. 6/20 and 6/23 southern hemp.

Question 14

Sedimentary rocks

Answer 14

Formed by deposition and consolidation of mineral and organic mineral and from precipitation of minerals from solution. Occurs at the surface of earth and in bodies or water. Forms: limestone, chalk, dolostone, sandstone, conglomerate, shale. Produced by: fragments of parent rock, weathering/erosion, transportation of sediments to place of deposition.

Question 15

Igneous rocks

Answer 15

Formed by solidification of cools magma. Either below surface as intrusive (plutonic) rocks or on surface as extrusive (volcanic) rocks.

Plutonic: gabbro, granite
Volcanic: basalt, rhyolite

Question 16

Metamorphic rocks

Answer 16

Transformation of an existing rock type, the protolith. Subject to heat and pressure. Temp grater then 150-200C and pressure 1500 bars. Cause physical/chemical change. They can be formed by tectonic process such as continental collisions which cause horizontal pressure, friction, and distortion.

Ex: gneiss, schist, slate, marble, quartzite

Question 17

Minerals

Answer 17

Natural chemical compounds that are the crystals that make up rocks. Most abundant minerals in the crust are the two feldspars (orthoclase, plagioclase) quarts, olivine, augite. These 5 minerals are silicates built from interlocking silicon and oxygen atoms.

Question 18

Mountain

Answer 18

Is a landform that stretches above the surrounding land in a limited area, with a peak. Usually has an identifiable summit.

Question 19

River

Answer 19

Is a natural flow of water, freshwater, traveling toward an ocean, lake, or another stream.

Question 20

Deserts

Answer 20

Take up about 1/3 of the earths land surface. Many are formed by rain shadows: mountains blocking the path of precipitation to the desert.

Question 21

Weathering

Answer 21

Is the decomposition of earths rocks, soils, and their minerals through direct contact with the planets atmosphere.

Question 22

Mechanical or physical weathering

Answer 22

Involves the breakdown of rocks and soils through direct contact with atmospheric conditions such as heat, water, ice, and pressure.

Question 23

Chemical weathering

Answer 23

Involves direct effect of atmospheric chemicals or biologically produces chemicals in the breakdown of rocks, soils, and minerals.

Question 24

Erosion

Answer 24

Is the carrying away or displacement of solids (sediment, soil, rock, and other particles), usually by the agents of currents such as wind, water, or ice by downward movements from gravity.

Question 25

Strata

Answer 25

Layers of sediment deposited in a quiet environment. Common sites of deposition are lakes, deltas, at the mouths of rivers, beaches and sandbars along the coast, and marine environment.

Question 26

Geological time scale

Answer 26

Precambrian: 4.6bil yro no life except algae.
Paleozoic: 600k yro invertebrates
Mesozoic: 225k yro reptiles
Cenozoic: 70k yro mammals

Question 27

The earths structure

Answer 27

Crust, upper mantle, mantle, outer core, inner core.

Question 28

Planets

Answer 28

Divided up into two main types. Large, low density gas giants and smaller rocky terrestrials.