Mr. Baccile
Mr. Carpenter
Mr. Gordon
Mr. Grotenthaller
Mr. Saks
Directions:

Simply attempt to answer the following questions on the student copy of this activity (handouts)

If you require more assistance click on the
hyperlinks which will take you to a site that will help you answer the questions

This is a self-directed activity, therefore attempt to do your best to answer the questions without the help of your teacher

Unit 1: Earth Dimensions Key Concept Review
Key Concepts:
1.
What is Earth Science?
2.
Formulas: Density, Rate of Change, & Percent Deviation
3.
The Earth
4.
Mapping
Part 1: What is Earth Science?
1.
List the four branches of Earth Science and identify a professional job present in each branch.
2.
Briefly explain one example of how at least 2 different branches of Earth Science are connected or interrelated.
Part 2: Formulas: Density, Rate of Change, & Percent Deviation
3.
Calculate the density of a rock sample that has a volume of 22.3 cm 3 and a mass of 144.95 grams.

4.
Calculate the gradient (rate) of the slope shown in the diagram below using the data given.
Distance Between Peak & Bottom = 1.8 miles
Elevation of Peak = 5,240 ft Bottom Elevation = 3,800 ft
5.
Two students measure the specific gravity of a Mineral X to be 8.76 g/ml. Their teacher gives the students the absolute specific gravity for Mineral X; 9.01 g/ml. Calculate the
Percent Deviation (% Error ) the students answer was off from the correct answer. Round to the nearest tenth .
Part 3: The Earth
6.
Briefly explain the Protoplanet Hypothesis :

7.
Label the 4 layers of the
Earth’s structure
in the diagram below. Write the name of each layer in the space provided on the right and draw a line from the word to the appropriate layer. (Inner Core, Outer Core, Mantle, Crust)
8.
The Earth’s shape is described as an oblate spheroid . Describe what this means. What process causes it to exhibit this shape?
Part 4: Mapping
9. What is a map ? What information can maps give you?
10.
Draw 5 lines of latitude on the globe on the left. Draw appropriately and label one line the equator. Draw 5 lines of longitude on the globe on the right and label the Prime Meridian.
Lines of latitude are parallel. Why does the distance between 2 lines of longitude change as you move north or south?

20 N
0
20
40
11.
Identify the coordinates of the following places on the map shown in the hyperlink: All numbers given below are in degrees.
A
B
C
D
60 S
200
180
120
40 50 60 E
Longitude = _______________
20 E 30
A. Latitude = _______________
B. Latitude = _______________
C. Latitude = _______________
Longitude = _______________
Longitude = _______________
D. Latitude = _______________ Longitude = _______________
12.
Explain the relationship between contour lines and contour interval .
13.
Use the directions explained in the hyperlink to complete a profile from line A to B on the map shown below.
160
A
140
B
180

240
200
160
120
A B
14.
Read the attached hyperlink concerning making simple contour maps.
Then complete the contour lines on the map given below. Use a contour interval of 10, starting with 40.

Unit 2 Rocks and Minerals Review
Key Concepts:
1.
Minerals
2.
Rocks
MINERALS:
1.
What are minerals ?
2.
Using the Earth Science Reference Tables link below:
Average Chemical Composition of...
(scroll down to get what you need)
What 2 minerals compose most of the Earths crust ?
% by mass: _______________, ______________
% by volume: _____________, _______________
3.
Using % mass from # 2 above, what is the main element in the Oxide Mineral group? __________
4.
What is the main element in the Silicate Mineral group? ___________
5.
Read this link on Mineral characteristics and answer the following: a.) What are minerals made from? ______________ b.) What is the structural unit of the silicate minerals? ___________________________ c.) Write the chemical formula for this unit. ______ d.) Draw a simple sketch (middle picture—triangular) of this unit.
6. List and describe the mineral characteristics (tests) that allow us to identify minerals?
7. What is the name for the HARDNESS SCALE (scroll down)?
Name the softest mineral ____________ hardest mineral __________
What are some comparison items and their hardness numbers?
Ex. Glass= hardness # _________

ROCKS:
Finish this saying: ‘Minerals are the building blocks of ___________!’ (Thanks Mr. Baccile!)
8.
Name the The 3 basic rock types (scroll down!)



9.
Which rock type forms from magma (or lava)? ________________________
View this animation for How Igneous Rocks Are Formed
10.
When magma cools slowly (usually underground ) the rock is said to be ___________or
_____________
Describe this rock’s texture (crystal/ grain size). ** click on the MAGMA in the diagram!!
What causes this texture?
Using the Reference Tables ( scroll down ), what name is given to this type of texture?
_____________
11.
When magma or lava cools quickly (usually above ground from volcanic activity ) the rock is said to be
________________ or __________________
12. Describe this rock’s texture (crystal/grain size). ** click on the lava flow!
13. What causes this type of texture?
14. Using the reference tables, what is the mineral composition of granite?
List the minerals:
15. The holes/gas pockets in this rock are called:______________

16. This coarse grained igneous rock is made up of interlocking ________________.
17. This rock cooled so quickly that NO crystals formed. According to the reference tables , what is the name for this type of texture?

18. Based on the pictures of these igneous rocks…what 3 texture-related ways can we identify a rock as being IGNEOUS?



19.
Rocks formed from sediments and dissolved minerals are called __________________.
20. Read the article and briefly describe the 3 ways sedimentary rocks form. a.
b.
c.
 Study these pictures of sedimentary rock and answer the questions that follow:
21. What do you notice in the above rock? (imprints) _____________

22. This rock is made up of a series of __________________
23. What is another name for ‘rock layers’? ____________
24. This rock is made of different sized, rounded sediments . Name this rock: __________
25. The texture of sedimentary rock made from various sediments is called :
________________ or ______________
26 . From all the SEDIMENTARY rock pictures above, what are the 3 things that help identify a sedimentary rock?




27. The third type of rock is ___________________________
28.
Briefly describe the process that forms this rock.
29. These rocks form from ____________ and /or _____________. They DO NOT ______
30. The lining up of minerals (read carefully!) is called _________________________
31. The bending of rock layers is called: _____________________

Answer the following questions based on the rock cycle diagram :

32. List the processes involved in forming igneous rock:
33. What processes form sediments?
34. True or False: Metamorphic rocks undergo melting during formation. _________
35. True or False: Metamorphic rocks can form from any kind of rock (even metamorphic). ___________
36. The final process in forming an igneous rock is ___________
37. What are the 3 processes that form metamorphic rock?
38. Essentially, the rock cycle shows us that all rocks can form from:
_____________ ____________ (2 words).
Key Concepts:
1.
Continental Drift
2.
Plate Boundaries
3.
Earthquakes

4.
Crustal Deformation
Part 1:
Continental Drift-Seafloor Spreading
1.
List three pieces of evidence that helped prove the theory of continental drift, that all continents were one landmass called Pangea:
2.
What is the lithosphere and the asthenosphere ?
3.
What causes the lithospheric plates to move ?
Part 2:
Types of Plate boundaries
4.
Label the types of plate boundaries at each line below.
5.
What is the name of this action is illustrated below:
(a) What type of plate boundary does this happen on?

(b) Why does the oceanic crust slide under the continental crust?
(c) Name two lithospheric plates that are creating subduction zones ?
6. What type of landscape feature occurs at divergent plate boundaries ?
Part 3:
Earthquakes
7. What are the arrival times of the p-wave and s-wave ?
8. What is the time difference ?
9. What is the epicenter distance ?
10. P-waves - also called primary or compressional waves. Four Important things to remember about P-waves:
11.
S-waves - also called secondary or shear waves. Four important things to remember about Swaves:
12. So which wave is which in the diagram below:
13.
How many seismograph stations do you need to locate an epicenter?
(a) Where is the epicenter in this map?
Part 4:
Crustal Deformation

14.
What is strata ( Stratum )? Pick which one you think applies to this topic the best!
15.
How do we know when no tectonic activity has occurred in a region? (First Green Title under
“Relative Dating Methods”
(a) Therefore, what are the three ways in which tectonic activity can disrupt this principal?
( 1)
(2)
(3)
Unit 4: Weathering, Erosion, Deposition and Landscapes Key Concept Review
Key Concepts:
1. Weathering
2. Soil Formation
3. Erosion
4. Deposition
5. NY & Ice Ages
6. Landscapes
===============================================================
Part 1: Weathering
1. How is weathering defined?
2. Weathering can be divided into two distinct categories .
A. _______________ weathering takes place when rock is split or broken into smaller
pieces of the same material without changing its composition.
Examples : a.
Frost action/Ice wedging b.
c.
B. _______________ weathering, also known as decomposition, is when a rock's
minerals are changed into different substances. c.
Examples : a.
Oxidation b.
3. Explain how physical weathering helps chemical weathering.
(scroll down to Different Weathering Modes Help Each Other )

4. In general, _____________________ weathering dominates in warm moist climates,
while cooler climates favor _______________ weathering. (See Rates of Weathering )
________________________________________________________________________
Part 2: Soil Formation
5. Of what are soils composed?
6. Use the terms bedrock, weathered parent material, topsoil and subsoil to identify
the parts of the soil profile.
Leaf Litter
____________
____________
____________
____________
**It takes from 100-400 yrs to form 1 cm of topsoil**
________________________________________________________________________

Part 3: Erosion
7. Rocks broken into fragments, regardless of their size, are called sediments.
Transporting sediments and depositing them elsewhere is called _______________.
8. The main driving force behind all agents of erosion is ____________ .
9. Erosion by _____________ is the primary agent of erosion.
10. Use the terms solution, suspension, and bed load to describe how a stream can carry
sediments.
11. Label the features of the streams below by using the following terms: erosion,
deposition, oxbow lake .
B.
A.
C.

12. Meanders are characteristic of what age streams? __________________
(scroll down to stream development)
13. Why is stream speed greatest in the center of this stream just below the surface?
(use link below)
14. Stream velocity is controlled by (scroll down to velocity)
a._______________ b. ______________ c. ______________
15. Other agents of erosion include wind, ice (glaciers), and waves. Identify the
following as being eroded by running water, wind, or glacial ice .
Rounded Rocks _________________ Ventifact ________________

Next Page
V-shaped Valleys _____________ Striations _______________
________________________________________________________________________
Part 4: Deposition
16. Deposition is the final step in the erosional-depositional system and usually occurs at
the mouth of a stream. What are the factors that control deposition rate ?
a. ________________ b. ________________ c. ________________
17. How do density and particle shape affect settling rate? (Use above link)
18. List the particles that would settle from largest to smallest as a stream enters a lake .
19. Glacial deposits are unlike water or wind deposits which are sorted because glacial
till is unsorted. Why is glacial till unsorted ?
________________________________________________________________________
Part 5: NY & Ice Ages
20. As recently as 20,000 years ago, most of New York State was covered by glacial ice.
Evidence of the glacial activity includes the 11 long, narrow, roughly parallel lakes of
Central New York called The _________ Lakes . Terminal moraines as well as
outwash from glacial meltwater streams deposited gravel and sand to create part of
__________________, the easternmost part of New York State.
21. Use the terms drumlins, eskers, kettle lakes, glacial till, and terminal moraine to
identify the features of the glacier pictured.

______ a.B_________
C ____________
._
D _________
E ____________
_______________________________________________________________________
Part 6: Landscapes
22. Valleys shaped by glaciers tend to be what shape ? _______________
23. Landscape regions can usually be identified by elevation of the region. Mountains,
plateaus , and plains identify landscape regions. Mountains have high elevation and
deformed rock structures. Plateaus have medium to high elevation. Plains are low in
elevation and usually have horizontal rock layers. Landscape regions tend to be
separated by mountains, large bodies of water, and other natural boundaries. The
image below is from page 2 of the Earth Science Reference Tables and explains
where the three different landscape regions can be found in New York State. What is
the generalized landscape for Syracuse, NY? ________________

24.
Stream drainage patterns are influenced by the rock beneath them. There are 4 main types of stream drainage patterns : dendritic, parallel, radial, and trellis . Identify each below.
____________ ____________ _____________ _____________
Unit 6: Meteorology Key Concept Review
Key Concepts:
1.
Electromagnetic Energy
2.
Transfer Energy & Interaction at the surface/atmosphere interface
3.
Latent heat
4.
Moisture in the atmosphere
5.
Air Pressure & Wind
6.
Weather Fronts & Air Masses
7.
Climate
8.
Hurricanes
Part 1: Electromagnetic Energy
1.
List the common names of the electromagnetic spectrum in order of increasing wavelength
(
λ
):
2.
How does wavelength affect the frequency of a wave? (scroll to bottom for frequency)

Part 2:
Transfer Energy & Interaction at the surface/atmosphere interface
3.
How is heat energy shared and transferred ?
4.
How does the energy transfer in each method? Give a brief description :
5.
Radiation interacts by reflection, refraction, absorption and (diffuse) scattering in the Earth’s atmosphere and at the ground. Write the word under each picture below:
6.
What makes reflection different from scattering?
7.
What surfaces absorb the most amount of electromagnetic energy? How about reflect it?
(scroll to bottom
Heating Water and Land )
Part 3: Latent Heat
8.
What does latent heat mean?
9.
Use these terms and place them on the “ properties of water ” picture below: evaporation, condensation, melting, freezing, solid, liquid, vapor, 540, 80, released and gained . Where ever there is a “?” you need to place a word/number.

?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
?
Part 4: Moisture in the Atmosphere
10.
What is the dew point ?
11.
What is relative humidity ?
12.
How are these two related? Refer to the same web-page.
13.
When is relative humidity the highest? Read first paragraph
…
Part 6: Air Pressure and Wind
14.
In the picture below, label which area is a high-pressure system and which area is a low pressure system.

Also label which one is an anti-cyclone and cyclone .

Finally draw in the wind vectors

15. Wind blows from regions of _____________ pressure to _____________ pressure.
And wind speeds are always greatest where the isobars are
____________________________.
16.
Draw and label the four types of fronts below:
17. How does air lift differently at cold fronts compared to warm fronts ?
18. Where do the warm front, occluded front and cold front belong on the blank fronts already drawn? Sketch them in.

19. On this blank map of North America, write in where the mT, mP, cT, cP, and cA air masses belong:
20.
Mountain ranges affect climate. a.
Why does the air cool and rain on the windward side of a mountain?
21.
The Coriolis Effect deflects the planetary (prevailing) winds and ocean currents of the world from traveling in straight lines. Therefore, all of the ocean currents in the northern hemisphere move in clockwise motions and, winds are deflected to the right in the northern hemisphere. It is the opposite for the southern hemisphere. Play this game , and then explain, what causes this effect to happen.
22.
Label where the air of the region is warm and cool. Then label where the high pressure is and where the low pressure is, in order to create the sea-breeze . (watch animation)

23.
Draw in the possible path of the hurricane in the next 48 hours after this image was taken using a dotted line arrow.
24.
Using the same picture, using multiple solid arrows, draw in the direction the planetary
(prevailing) winds in North America.
(a) Therefore: what causes hurricanes to move (deflect) in that direction