Science Exam Flashcards
1
Q
What is evaporation?
A
Liquid water turning into gaseous water
2
Q
What is transpiration?
A
Water evaporating from leaves of plants
3
Q
What is condensation?
A
Water vapor rising into the cooler upper atmosphere where it condenses back into liquid water
4
Q
What is precipitation?
A
Liquid or frozen water falling from clouds
5
Q
What is run-off?
A
Liquid water flowing downhill towards a collection area
6
Q
What is infiltration?
A
Liquid water soaking into the ground
7
Q
What is a watershed?
A
An area of land through which water all drains to the same spot
8
Q
How does water move through a watershed?
A
Water moves downhill in a watershed
9
Q
Why do we consider watersheds to be like nesting dolls?
A
All waterways eventually meet with one another, starting small and going big
10
Q
How does soil compaction affect the rate of infiltration?
A
The greater the soil compaction, the lower the rate of infiltration
11
Q
How does vegetation affect the rate of run-off?
A
The greater the amount of vegetation, the lower the amount of run-off
12
Q
How does vegetation affect the humidity of a region?
A
The greater the amount of vegetation, the greater the amount of transpiration and water vapor in the air
13
Q
Using waters polairty why does it evaporate slower than slower than rubbing alcohol
A
Because of water polairty, the water molecules stick together so it requires a lot more energy for them to break apart.
14
Q
If lines are closer together on a topographical map what does it mean
A
The land there is steeper
15
Q
Where would you find the lowest elevation on a topographic map?
A
Probaly near a body of water
16
Q
What is an aquifer?
A
Underground water that is held in porous rock
17
Q
How do septic systems affect aquifers?
A
Septic systems can contaminate aquifers if proper filters are not used
18
Q
What affects water density?
A
Temperature and salinity
19
Q
True or False: Frozen water is less dense than liquid water.
A
True
20
Q
What is the difference between cohesion and adhesion?
A
- Cohesion: Water molecules stick together
- Adhesion: Water molecules sticking to something other than water
21
Q
What is point source pollution?
A
Pollution that can be traced to a specific source
22
Q
Give an example of point source pollution.
A
A straight pipe discharging waste into a river
23
Q
What is non-point source pollution?
A
Pollution that cannot be traced to a specific source
24
Q
Give an example of non-point source pollution.
A
Oil found in Lake Michigan, likely from boating activity
25
Would a dog park on top of a hill be non-point source pollution or point source pollution.
It would be non-point source pollution
26
How do topographic maps help us learn about watersheds?
They show where water will move and where floods are likely to happen
27
What is mechanical weathering?
Breaking big rocks into small rocks without making a new substance
28
What are the benefits of green roofs?
They reduce run-off and prevent pollution in watersheds
29
What is the role of rain gardens?
They absorb excess fertilizers and pollution before stormwater reaches drains
30
How does permeable cement benefit water systems?
It allows water to soak into the ground, replenishing aquifers
31
What is a renewable resource?
A resource that is replenished naturally over a short period of time.
32
What is the main energy source for electricity in the United States?
Fossil Fuels
33
What is a non-renewable resource?
A resource that is not replenished or takes longer than 1000 years to replenish
34
How does the availability of resources affect human populations?
Humans settle where there are available resources
35
What are some impacts of mining operations?
* Lengthy land reclamation
* Unsafe working conditions
* Collecting natural resources
* Contaminated water disposal
36
What is Christian stewardship in terms of renewable energy?
Caring for God's Creation and using resources sustainably for future generations
37
What is point source pollution?
Pollution that cannot be traced to a single origin, often detected by testing the end body of water in a watershed
## Footnote
Example: Oil found in Lake Michigan may come from boating or roadways, but the exact source cannot be pinpointed.
38
What is the difference between weathering and erosion?
Weathering is the breaking down of rocks; erosion is the movement of rocks.
39
What is mechanical weathering?
The process of breaking big rocks into small rocks without creating a new substance.
40
What is chemical weathering?
The process of breaking big rocks into small rocks while creating a new substance.
41
What is sediment and how does it form?
Sediment consists of broken bits of rock, minerals, and organic matter formed through weathering.
42
What happens during root wedging?
Roots of plants grow through rock, breaking it into small pieces.
## Footnote
This is an example of mechanical weathering.
43
What is acid rain and how does it affect rocks?
Acidic precipitation that falls on rocks (mainly limestone), breaking them down.
## Footnote
This is an example of chemical weathering.
44
What occurs during frost wedging? Is it weathering or erosion and chemical or mechical?
Liquid water seeps into cracks in rocks, freezes, and expands, cracking the rock apart.
## Footnote
This is an example of mechanical weathering.
45
What is salt crystallization in the context of weathering?
Water with dissolved salts creeps into cracks; as water evaporates, crystals form and can break apart the rock.
## Footnote
This is an example of mechanical weathering.
46
How do wind and water affect shorelines?
They break apart rocks and move them away from the shoreline.
## Footnote
This is an example of mechanical weathering.
47
What is creeping in the context of erosion?
Slow movement of soil that leads to the leaning of posts and fences
Erosion
48
What is the effect of high-velocity water in a stream?
It erodes the cut bank while slower water deposits sediment on the point bar.
## Footnote
This process involves both erosion and sediment deposition.
49
What happens when glaciers melt?
Glaciers carry rocks and scrape the land underneath as they grow and melt.
## Footnote
This is an example of mechanical weathering.
50
What is exfoliation?
Rocks expand and contract due to the temperature changes between day and night, causing huge sheets of rock to slough off
Both
Mechanical
51
What occurs at a waterfall?
Erosion is significant under the waterfall, but minimal at the top.
## Footnote
This involves both erosion and sediment movement.
52
What is rusting in the context of weathering?
The reaction of oxygen with metal in rocks, causing rust.
## Footnote
This is an example of chemical weathering.
53
What is a slump in erosion?
Movement of soil layers cause a whole section of soil on a hill to ‘slump’ downward
Erosion
N/A
54
What is abrasion
Wind or water picks up small bits of rock or sand and throws them against rock formations, sanding them down.
## Footnote
This is an example of mechanical weathering.
55
What factors affect the rate of rock weathering?
* Softer rock leads to greater weathering
* More time increases weathering
* Faster wind and water enhance weathering
* More weathering forces at play increase weathering
56
Where are sediments deposited in a curving river?
Sediments are deposited on the point bar or the inside of the meander due to slower water flow.
57
What is the smallest size of sediment in a river called
solution
58
What is the biggest size of sediment called in a river
Bedload
59
Which bank of a meandering river is eroded away and why?
The cut bank or outer curve is eroded because it experiences the highest velocity of water.
60
What is differential erosion?
When two areas close together experience different rates of erosion.
## Footnote
Example: The rock under a waterfall erodes faster than the rock at the top.
61
What are some ways to prevent erosion on a stream bank
Planting riparian vegetation - The roots of the plants will help to hold the sediment in place and the roots will disperse the force of the water.
Use a retaining wall or hardscape - The wall or stones will take the brunt of the movement of water, leaving the sediment in place.
62
What is channelization?
The deepening and paving of a stream or river channel.
63
What are the pros of channelization?
* Minimizes flooding
* Manipulates river/stream paths around buildings
64
What are the cons of channelization?
* Increases water speed, leading to more erosion
* Artificial banks are unsuitable for native species
* Faster water makes it difficult for fish to swim and spawn
65
What is soil made of
A loose mixture of broken up rocks, minerals and organic matter
66
What is the difference between topsoil and bedrock?
Topsoil consists of broken-up rock and organic matter, while bedrock is mainly composed of solid rock.
67
What type of soil is good for drainage
sand and silt
68
What type of soil is good for holding water
clay
69
What are the benefits of coal as an energy source
Benefits: Cheap
Found almost everywhere
Easy to get out of the ground
70
costs of coal as an energy source
Costs: Produces carbon emission
Can sometimes be unsafe to mine
Must be transported to an
electrical plant
71
What are benefits of Hydroelectric as an energy source
Benefits:Clean green energy
Produces electricity at the source
72
costs of Hydroelectric as an energy source
Costs: Most rivers are already in use by people and can’t build there
Animals have homes in the river
73
What are benefits of Natural Gas as energy source
Benefits: Relatively low cost
No advance technology needed to collect it
Can be found almost anywhere
74
costs of Natural Gas as energy source
Costs: Gives off carbon emissions
Must be mined from deep
underground
Only found in shale rock
There is the chance of fracking
occurring (explosions in rock)
75
What are the benefits of Nuclear Energy
Benefits: A little bit of material creates a lot of energy
Clean, green energy (no carbon emissions)
76
costs of Nuclear Energy
Costs: Dangerous materials!
Must get rid of nuclear waster
Chance of having a nuclear
meltdown
Expensive to build and operate
77
What are benefits of Solar energy
Benefits: Clean, green energy (does not produce carbon
emissions)
A little bit of energy goes a long way
78
costs of Solar energy
Costs: Only works when the sun is
shining
Only works well in places that get very
strong sunlight
79
What are the benefits of wind energy source
Benefits:Clean, green form of energy (no carbon
emissions)
Produces a lot of energy if placed in the
proper location
Produces energy as long as the wind is blowing
Can be positioned on the ocean, which does
not use up farmland or housing land
80
What are costs of wind as an energy source
Costs:The wind doesn’t always blow
Can harm living things (like bats
and birds)
Costly to build and maintain
Materials to build the turbine
cannot be recycled and are hard to dispose of
81
What are the costs petroleum as an energy source
Costs: Cannot be located domestically
(not much in the U.S.)
Produces a lot of carbon emissions
Danger of spills (environmental hazard)
82
benefits petroleum as an energy source
Benefits: Fairly low cost to drill for and collect
Very easy to turn into electricity or power
83
Why do different areas of the world use different types of energy sources?
Different types of energy sources need different types of environments (rivers, oceans, flat plains, rocky
mountains, etc.)
Resources are not evenly distributed across the earth.
Different societies may not have the technology, infrastructure, manpower, or economic resources to
build the support structures needed to cultivate different natural resources.
