Earth Science Midterm Study Guide.
Know the major Earth spheres:
asthenosphere
lithosphere
geosphere
biosphere
hydrosphere
atmosphere
What are the 3 main parts of the geosphere?
What is the nebular hypothesis- what is it and what does it say the solar system
derived from
Know the 4 main areas of Earth science and the topics they cover
What are the 2 types of geology and what so each cover?
What and where are the Prime meridian and the equator? Which measures
latitude/longitude?
Define latitude and longitude
Know what a topographic map is and how to read one, what contour lines are
Identify Earth Systems
Identify renewable and non-renewable resources
Define hypothesis; theory; law
Label the layers of the earth and key points about each later-composition, thickness,
temperature, and pressure
Define and give examples of
Element
Atom
Compound
Mineral
Give ways minerals can form
Give ways minerals can be classified
Identify ways you can tell if something is a mineral
Identify several mineral groups
How can we tell the difference between minerals-one from another - physical
characteristics
Identifying characteristics of rocks
3 major groups of rocks and examples of how each group is formed
Characteristics of each of the 3 types of rocks
Understand the processes in the rock cycle and the driving energy source in it
Understand how to read this chart
Define
Chemical weathering
Physical weathering
Exfoliation
Erosion
Unloading
Frost wedging
What does the increase of surface area and temperature do to the rate of
weathering?
Major characteristics of soil
Source of organic matter
3 horizons and what the composition is of each layer
Types of mass movements and their triggers
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Steps to the Scientific method and what each entails in a lab
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Metric System
o Prefixes; labels; converting
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Lab equipment
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Lab Safety rules