Earth Science

Question 1

The Earth gets denser and hotter toward the ____.

Answer 1

Center

Question 2

The outermost solid layer of Earth

Answer 2

Crust

Question 3

Layer of Earth that is under the crust and is not liquid but ductile/plastic. Considered solid.

Answer 3

Mantle

Question 4

The innermost layers of Earth.

Answer 4

Core

Question 5

The outermost and most rigid mechanical layer of Earth. Includes the crust and the top of the mantle.

Answer 5

Lithosphere

Question 6

the denser, weaker layer beneath the lithospheric mantle

Answer 6

Asthenosphere

Question 7

Beneath the asthenosphere. It encompasses the lower mantle, where material still flows but at a much slower rate than in the asthenosphere.

Answer 7

Mesosphere

Question 8

A layer of liquid iron and nickel beneath the mesosphere. This is the only layer of Earth that is a true liquid.

Answer 8

Outer Core

Question 9

The very center of the Earth. Usually considered solid (Its outer shell and its innermost sphere both are hot enough to be molten but are a solid iron-nickel alloy because the incredible pressure at the center of the Earth renders it a solid state.)

Answer 9

Inner Core

Question 10

All the water on Earth in liquid form.

Answer 10

Hydrosphere

Question 11

The global sum of all ecosystems and living organisms

Answer 11

Biosphere

Question 12

The masses of frozen water on Earth.

Answer 12

Cryosphere

Question 13

What are Earth’s 5 spheres?

Answer 13

Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Cryosphere, and Atmosphere

Question 14

The layer of gasses that surround Earth.

Answer 14

Atmosphere

Question 15

What are the two gases that make up 99% of Earth’s atmosphere? Of those two which one is more prevalent?

Answer 15

Nitrogen and Oxygen, Nitrogen being more prevalent

Question 16

Formations made from rocks that exist on the lithosphere

Answer 16

Geological Formations

Question 17

Geological formation formed as a result of Earth’s tectonic plates smashing together

Answer 17

Mountains

Question 18

Geological formation formed when magma from within Earth’s upper mantle erupts through the surface

Answer 18

Volcanoes

Question 19

Geological formation formed by weathering and erosion caused by the movement of rivers. Also formed by tectonic activity.

Answer 19

Canyons

Question 20

the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s lithosphere that creates seismic waves

Answer 20

Earthquakes

Question 21

A ring of volcanoes around the outer edge of the Pacific Ocean. Most of Earth’s volcanoes and earthquakes happen along this ring.

Answer 21

Ring of Fire

Question 22

An elastic wave caused by an earthquake

Answer 22

seismic wave

Question 23

The fastest of the three types of seismic waves. Can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

Answer 23

Primary (P waves)

Question 24

Type of seismic wave that travel through Earth’s interior at about half the speed of primary waves. They can travel through rock but not liquids or gases.

Answer 24

Secondary (S waves)

Question 25

Seismic waves that move along Earth's surface, not through its interior. They are the slowest of the three types of seismic waves.

Answer 25

Surface waves (seismic wave)

Question 26

Giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. As the waves travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as the depth of the ocean decreases.

Answer 26

Tsunami

Question 27

The theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle. The plates move and separate, causing Earth to separate and change.

Answer 27

Plate tectonics

Question 28

pulling apart

Answer 28

divergent

Question 29

coming together

Answer 29

convergent

Question 30

sideways and downward movement of the edge of a plate into the mantle beneath another plate

Answer 30

subduction

Question 31

A mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and many organisms that together support life on Earth

Answer 31

Soil

Question 32

What are the three different layers of soil in order from top to bottom?

Answer 32

Topsoil Subsoil Bedrock

Question 33

A continuous circulation of water throughout Earth and Earth's atmosphere

Answer 33

The Water Cycle (or hydrologic cycle)

Question 34

What are the main stages of the water cycle?

Answer 34

Evaporation Condensation Precipitation Transpiration

Question 35

Rain and snow

Answer 35

Precipitation

Question 36

When water turns from a liquid to a gas

Answer 36

Evaporation

Question 37

When water vapor turns back into a liquid (collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it)

Answer 37

Condensation

Question 38

When plants suck water from roots to the small pores in leaves, releasing the water vapor into the atmosphere

Answer 38

Transpiration

Question 39

When do scientists believe Earth formed?

Answer 39

4.5 billion years ago

Question 40

When do scientists believe life began on Earth?

Answer 40

3.8 billion years ago

Question 41

the longest portions of geologic time, about a billion years

Answer 41

Eon

Question 42

Any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter

Answer 42

Rock

Question 43

Rocks formed from lava/magma; with a glassy smooth surface, gass bubble holes, and random arrangement of minerals

Answer 43

Igneous

Question 44

Rocks formed from heat pressure; with sparkly crystals and ribbon-like layers

Answer 44

Metamorphic

Question 45

Rocks formed from deposition/cementation; have sand grains or visible pebbles and fossils may be visible

Answer 45

Sedimentary

Question 46

The third planet from the sun, the densest planet in the solar system, and the largest of the solar system's four terrestrial planets. The only astronomical object known to support life.

Answer 46

The Earth

Question 47

The star at the center of the solar system, and the closest star to Earth. The most important source of energy for life on Earth.

Answer 47

The Sun

Question 48

The Earth's only natural satellite. Thought to have formed soon after Earth.

Answer 48

The Moon

Question 49

A planetary system that orbits the sun. It consists of the sun and everything that orbits around it. This includes the eight planets and their natural satellites, dwarf planets and their satellites, as well as asteroids, comets, and countless particles of smaller debris.

Answer 49

The Solar System

Question 50

Which planet and Earth are most similar in size, density, and mass.

Answer 50

Venus

Question 51

Which planet is like Earth in terms of rotation and tilt on its axis?

Answer 51

Mars

Question 52

A chunk of ice and rock originating outside of the solar system

Answer 52

Comet

Question 53

A chunk of rock and metal in orbit in between Mars and Jupiter

Answer 53

Asteroid

Question 54

A small asteroid

Answer 54

Meteorite

Question 55

A unit of astronomical distance equal to the distance light travels in one Earth year

Answer 55

Light Year

Question 56

The speed of light in a vacuum is approx. ____ km/sec

Answer 56

300,000

Question 57

Seasons are a result of Earth's tilt on its ____

Answer 57

Axis

Question 58

Date in the fall when Earth experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. Occurs around Sept 23.

Answer 58

Fall-Autumn Equinox

Question 59

Earth's maximum tilt is toward the sun, causing the longest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. This occurs around Jun 22.

Answer 59

Summer-Solstice

Question 60

Date in the spring when Earth experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. This occurs around Mar 21.

Answer 60

Spring-Vernal Equinox

Question 61

The North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun, causing the shortest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. This occurs around Dec 21.

Answer 61

Winter-Solstice

Question 62

Theory introduced by Nicolaus Copernicus that positioned the sun at the center of the universe

Answer 62

The Heliocentric Theory

Question 63

Theory held before Copernicus, that positioned Earth at the center of the universe

Answer 63

The Geocentric Theory

Question 64

When the part of the moon that is illuminated is increasing, the moon phase is ______

Answer 64

Waxing

Question 65

When the part of the moon that is illuminated is decreasing, the moon phase is ______

Answer 65

Waning

Question 66

A ____ moon is illuminated on the right side; a ____ moon is illuminated on the left side

Answer 66

waxing; waning

Question 67

A luminous ball of gas, mostly hydrogen and helium, held together by its own gravity. Its color depends on its temperature.

Answer 67

Star

Question 68

Hotter stars emit ___ light; cooler stars emit ___ light

Answer 68

blue; red

Question 69

Occurs when the moon passes directly behind Earth into its umbra (shadow)

Answer 69

Lunar Eclipse

Question 70

Happens when the moon moves in front of the sun

Answer 70

Solar Eclipse

Question 71

Idea first proposed by Alfred Wegener; suggests the Earth's continents were once one big landmass that separated or drifted apart over time because of plate tectonics

Answer 71

Continental Drift

Question 72

Earth spins on its ___. It makes one full rotation on its axis every ___ hours. Earth also revolves around the sun. It takes ___ days for Earth to make one full revolution around the sun.

Answer 72

axis; 24; 365

Question 73

Earth has a ____ field that extends from its interior to outer space

Answer 73

magnetic

Question 74

aspect of science education that involves student exploration of a subject/topic through hands-on activities, investigation and posing of questions

Answer 74

Inquiry