Review Guide Answers for MIDTERM
Topic 1: Scientific Method/Basic Science Skills
1. Identifying Variables: Given a scenario, you can identify the:
a. Independent variable (IV), dependent variable (DV), and constant variables.
Examples:


What type of fertilizer causes the plant to grow the tallest?
o IV: type of fertilizer, DV: plant height, Constants: amount of sunlight, amount of water
Do carrots really improve eyesight?
o IV: carrots eaten, DV: eyesight, Constants: age group, television watching
2. Writing a Hypothesis: Given a scenario, you can write an appropriate hypothesis in the If/Then form
a. If ________ __________________, then __________ will ________________.
(IV)
(how IV changes)
(DV)
(how DV may change)
Examples:


What type of fertilizer causes the plant to grow the tallest?
o If the fertilizer type is Scott’s, then the plant will grow the tallest.
Do carrots really improve eyesight?
o If the carrots eaten increases, then eyesight will improve.
3. Identifying Groups: Given a scenario, you can identify the:
a. Control Group
b. Experimental Group
Examples:


What type of fertilizer causes the plant to grow the tallest?
o Control Group: Group with no fertilizer, Experimental groups: Groups with different types of
fertilizer
Do carrots really improve eyesight?
o Control Group: Group that does not eat any carrots, Experimental Groups: Groups that eat carrots
4. Scientific Method Diagram: Describe what a scientist does in the following parts of the scientific method:
a. Observation, Ask a Question, Form a Hypothesis, Test the Hypothesis, Analyze Results, Draw
Conclusions, and Communicate Results
Example:

During what portion of the scientific method would a scientist create graphs and charts to organize and
display their data?
o Analyze Results
5. Quantitative and Qualtative Variables: Given a variable and its value, you can identify it as either quantitative or
qualitative.
Example:


The height of a student is tall
o Qualatative
The height of a student is 40cm
o Quantitative
6. Metric Units: You should be able to:
a. Given a measurement type, you can identify the basic metric unit
Example:
o
What is the basic metric unit for length?
 meter
b. Given a basic metric unit, you can identify the type of measurement that it is used for
Example:
o
What is the basic metric unit grams used to measure?
 mass
c. Complete metric conversions
Example:
o
100cm = ?m
 1m
d. Compare two metric measurements and choose which one is greater.
Example:
o
Which is greater, 10cm or 1 m?
 1m is greater
7. Graphing: Given a sample graph, you can pick out items that are missing or incorrect.
a. All graphs should include:
i. Labels for the X and Y axis with the IV on the X and DV on the Y. Units should also be include
ii. A title that is descriptive and includes the IV and DV
iii. An appropriate interval for the x and y axis that is constant throughout the graph.
Example:
o
What is wrong with this graph?
 No title, intervals are not
constant, missing units
TOPIC 2 - MAPPING
1. What is a map projection?
2. What are the 3 types of map projections that we discussed in class? Give a detailed description of each.
3. List the pro(s) and con(s) of each type of map projection.
4. Define latitude. Define longitude.
Use the map above for #5 and #6
5. Place a X on the location of 50 N 50 E. Place a star on the location of 10 S and 22 W. (You will need to be able
to locate any spot using lat/lon, not just the 2 listed here.)
6. On the map, what is the latitude and longitude coordinates for A? What are the latitude and longitude
coordinates for B? (Do not forget N/S and E/W! Points will be taken off if you forget this)
7. How many minutes are there in 1 degree of latitude or longitude? How many seconds are there in 1 minute of
latitude or longitude?
Use the map above for #8
8. Give the location of the star in latitude and longitude coordinates including degrees and minutes.
9. What is a topographic map? What information is on a topographic map?
10. What is a contour line on a topographic map?
11. What is a contour interval on a topographic map?
12. What is an index contour on a topographic map?
13. What is magnetic declination?
14. The 7 “rules” of contour lines are:
Use the map above for questions #15-20
15. What is the elevation at point Z? How did you know?
16. What side of the hill nearest to point X is the steepest? How did you know?
17. What is the contour interval of this map?
18. What is an index contour on this map?
19. What is a possible elevation at point R? How did you know?
20. In what direction is the river in this map flowing (Mill River)? (use N, S, E, W, NE, etc. NOT up, down , left,
right) How do you know?
21. In the diagram below, what is the magnetic declination for the area that this diagram represents? (need
degrees east/west of true (geographical) north
Key for Mapping Study Guide (Academic)
1. World maps drawn in different ways
2. Mercator – depicts Earth as if a large cylinder of paper had been wrapped around the planet, shows the entire
world with straight lines of latitude and longitude
Gnomonic – made as if a sheet of paper had been laid on one point, does not show entire globe
Polyconic – made as if a cone of paper had been wrapped around earth, curved lines of latitude and longitude
3.
Projection
Pro
Con
Mercator
-Shows true direction in straight lines
-useful to navigators at sea
-shows entire globe
-distorts the area near the poles
Gnomonic
-used to plot the shortest distance
between 2 points
-Useful in planning ocean and air voyages
-useful for depicting polar areas
-landmasses are distorted away
from the center point
-does not show entire globe
Polyconic
-Useful for mapping areas in the middle
latitudes
-most landforms have true shape and size
in relation to each other
-usually does not show entire
globe without serious distortion
4. Latitude – lines that run east to west around the globe, number of degrees above or below the equator (up to 90
for the poles)
Longitude – lines that run north to south around the globe pole to pole, number of degrees east or west of the
Prime Meridian (up to 180 degrees)
5. (see map below)
X
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
A – 30 degrees S, 90 degrees E, B – 40 degrees N, 75 degrees W
1 degree = 60 minutes, 1 minutes = 60 seconds
38 degrees 59’ N, 76 degrees 58’ W
Topographic map – detailed, scale model overhead representation of the Earth’s surface – Show locations of
many natural and man made objects, show the shape of the land
A line of equal elevation
The elevation difference between each contour line on the map
A labeled contour line on a map
The difference in degrees between magnetic north and true north
1. Every point on a contour line has the same elevation, 2. Contour lines never cross or divide, 3. Widely spread
lines = gentle slope 4. Closely spaced lines = steep slope, 5. Hills are shown with closed contours, 6. When
crossing a river or stream, contour lines form a V pointing upstream, 7. Depressions are shown with closed
contours with hatures
220 meters, 20 more meters than index contour of 200 using interval of 20
Southeastern side, contours are closest together
20 meters
100, 200, and 300 are all index contours
Between 79 and 61, the contours on either side are 80 and 60
It is flowing northeast. It is going in the opposite direction of the “V”s made by the contours crossing the stream
15 degrees west of true north
TOPIC 3 - MINERALS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
What are the 5 characteristics of all minerals?
Which of the following is NOT and mineral and why? (hint: 3 are not minerals)
a. Quartz
b. Granite
c. Gold
d. Sulfur
e. ice
f. Rubies
g. coal
h. synthetic diamonds
How many known minerals are there?
What eight elements make up 90% of the Earth’s crust?
What is an object that contains a mixture of minerals?
What are 3 ways that minerals can form? Describe each.
What is a crystal?
What determines the shape of the crystal?
What are the 6 basic crystal systems?
Using the diagram of the 6 crystal systems from your Crystals Lab, answer the following
questions:
a. Which crystal system has all equal sides?
b. Which is the only crystal system with 8 sides?
c. Which crystal systems have at least one 90 degree corner?
d. Which crystal systems have at least 2 axes that are equal?
e. Which crystal system has no 90 degree corners and no equal axes?
Complete the table below (Silicates is given for you)
Mineral Group
Silicates
Carbonates
Oxides
Sulfides
Sulfates
Halides
Native Elements
12.
Elements or Compounds Present
Si + O (Silicon and Oxygen)
What is the mineral group of the following minerals based upon their chemical formula?
a. Fluorite: CaF2
b. Anhydrite: CaSO4
c. Azurite: Cu3(CO3)2(OH)2
d. Zircon: ZrSiO4
e. Millerite: NiS
f.
Sulfur: S
g. Corundum: Al2O3
13.
What are the 7 characteristics of a mineral that can be used to identify it? Describe each.
14.
What are at least 2 special properties that some minerals have? Also name one mineral with this
property.
15.
What is an ore?
16.
How do we obtain valuable minerals?
17.
What are gems?
18.
Match the mineral with its best use(s). (Use Mineral Mania WS to help you)
19.
Using the mineral ID table on the next page, answer the following questions:
a. Which mineral has a metallic luster and a hardness less than 2.5?
b. Which mineral can be white and has a hardness of 1?
c. Which mineral has fracture and has a hardness less than 3?
d. Which minerals do not contain any oxygen?
Answers to Review Sheet for Minerals Test
1. Solid, Inorganic, Specific Chemical Composition, Crystalline (made of crystal), and Naturally Occurring
2. B – it is a rock which is made of minerals, but not a mineral itself
G – Not inorganic – made of previously living material
H – Not naturally occurring – man-made
3. At least 4000
4. Oxygen, Silicon, Aluminium, Iron, Calcium, Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium
5. A rock
6. From magma – magma solidifies and hardens
From solution – water cools or evaporates and layer of minerals is left behind
From pressure – high heat and pressure can cause new minerals to form in a rock (metamorphism)
7. When the atoms in a mineral are arranged in repeating geometric patterns
8. Arrangement of the atoms
9. Cubic, tetragonal, hexagonal, orthorhombic, monoclinic, and triclinic
10. A. Cubic,
b. hexagonal
c. cubic, tetragonal, hexagonal, orthorhombic, and monoclinic
d. cubic, tetragonal, hexagonal
e. triclinic
11.
Mineral Group
Elements or Compounds Present
Silicates
Si + O (Silicon and Oxygen)
Carbonates
CO3
Oxides
O + any metal
Sulfides
S + one other element (any)
Sulfates
SO4
Halides
Cl or F AND Ca or Na or K
Native Elements
Only one element (not a compound)
12. A. halide, b. sulfate, c. carbonate, d. silicate, e. sulfide, f. native element, g. oxide
13. The 7 are:
a. Color – color mineral appears, often more than one
b. Luster – the way a mineral reflects light, either metallic or non-metallic
c. Texture – how a mineral feels to the touch
d. Streak – color of the powder a mineral leaves when it is rubbed against a streak plate
e. Hardness – measure of how easily a mineral is scratched – uses moh’s scale of 10 minerals
f. Breakage – how a mineral breaks – either fracture (along jagged edges) or cleavage (along a flat plane)
g. Density – the mass/volume of the mineral
14. Magnetism – ability to be attacted by a magnet – Ex: Magnetite
Double Refraction – Creates a double image – Ex: Iceland Spar
Acid Test – Reacts to acid – Ex: Calcite
Smell – produces a scent when broken – Ex: Sulfur
15. A mineral that can be mined for profit
16. Minerals are removed by mining – either through underground or open-pit mining
17. Minerals that are valued for their beauty and appearance
18.
D
K
E
F
G
H
L
I
M
J
R
N
O
S
P
C
Q
T
B
A
19. Answers:
a. Graphite
b. Talc
c. Sulfur
d. Graphite, galena, pyrite, sulfur, halite, fluorite
Name:
Date:
Block:
Study Guide for Rock Test – Academic
COMPLETED STUDY GUIDE
Attached are the answers to the previous study guides. These should be studied.
In addition, the following material will also be on the test that is not on previous study guides:
1. What is stratification?
Visible layers caused by changes in the types of sediments laid down
2. What are fossils?
Remains or impressions of a plant or animal preserved in rock from remains buried in rock
3. What are nodules?
Hard lumps of fine-grained silica in limestones and chalk (Chert and Flint are examples)
4. What are geodes?
Spheres of Rock lines with crystals in Limestone
5. In the diagram above, which is the oldest layer? The youngest?
Layer E is the oldest. Layer A is the youngest
6. What is metamorphism?
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
When high temperature and/or pressure alter the crystal size, mineral content, or add new elements to rock
without melting it forming a metamorphic rock
What is a parent rock?
The original rock that undergoes metamorphism to become a metamorphic rock
Compare and contrast regional and local metamorphism.
Both could cause metamorphism by pressure and/or temperature
However, local is on a small scale while regional is on a large scale, such as during the collision of tectonic
plates
When does contact metamorphism occur? What is the pressure and temperature like in this type of
metamorphism?
From contact with hot magma
Pressure is low, temperature is high
When does hydrothermal metamorphism occur? What is the pressure and temperature like in this type of
metamorphism?
Occurs when hot water (from a geyser, for example) comes in contact with rock
Pressure is low, temperature is high
When does deformational metamorphism occur? What is the pressure and temperature like in this type of
metamorphism?
Occurs when rock on either side of a fault grind against one another
Pressure is high, temperature is low
When does regional metamorphism occur? What is the pressure and temperature like in this type of
metamorphism?
When a very large area is placed under high amounts of pressure as tectonic plates collide
Temperature is high, pressure is high
Describe what a foilated metamorphic rock looks like. What causes foliation?
Foilated – minerals are banded or layered perpendicular to the direction of pressure
Non-foilated – no banding or layering of minerals
What are porpyroblasts?
Minerals the grew large during Metamorphism
TOPIC 4: ROCKS
Rock Cycle Study Guide
1. Define the 3 basic rock types
Igneous – rocks formed from the crystallization of magma or lava
Sedimentary – rocks formed from the broken-off pieces of other rocks (sediments) – Sediments are
usually fused together by compaction and cementation
Metamorphic – rocks changed by heat and pressure but without melting
2. Given a diagram of the rock cycle, describe how one rock type can change into another rock type.
Ex: What are at least 2 different paths that a rock can take to change from a sedimentary rock to an
igneous rock? (Use the diagram at the end of the notes)
Path 1 – Sedimentary rock Melting Magma Solification Igneous rock
Path 2 – Sedimentary rock Uplift, Weathering and Erosion Sediments Deposition, Burial and
Compaction, Cementation Sedimentary Rock Heat and/or Pressure (metamorphism) 
Metamorphic Rock Melting Magma Solidification Igneous Rock
3. Describe and define the processes of the rock cycle. Also describe a way this could occur in reality
Solidification – when molten rock hardens into a solid rock
Weathering and Erosion – break down and movement of rock fragments (sediments)
Deposition, compaction, and cementation – Erosion stops, rock fragments become buried and
compacted together and then cemented together
Melting – change of solid rock into molten rock
Heat and/or Pressure without melting (metamorphism) – extreme heat and/or pressure below the
melting point causes new minerals to grow within a rock
Uplift – rocks that are beneath the surface are exposed
4. Definitions of the following words:
Magma – molten rock below the surface of the earth
Lava – molten rock on the surface of the earth
Sediments – rock fragments created by the process of weathering
Rock – a group of minerals bound together
Rock Cycle – the continuous changing and remaking of rocks
Igneous and Sedimentary Rock Study Guide
1. How is magma classified? What are the 3 types of magma and its percentage of silica?
By the amount of silica.
Types of magma: basaltic (50% silica), andesitic (60% silica), rhyolitic (60%)
2. Which type of magma flows the slowest?
Basaltic
3. How can you visually identify whether an igneous rock is mafic or felsic? What is different about the
chemical composition of mafic and felsic rocks?
By color – darker=mafic, lighter=felsic
Felsic has a higher silica content than mafic
4. What is an ultramafic igneous rock?
An igneous rock with a very low silica content and very high iron and magnesium content
5. How can you visually identify whether an igneous rock is intrusive or extrusive? What is different about
the cooling rate of an intrusive and extrusive igneous rock?
Crystal Size-intrusive have a coarse texture (large, visible crystals), extrusive has a fine texture (small,
non-visible crystals)
Intrusive rocks cool slowly over thousands of years, extrusive rocks cool quickly in hours to days
6. Where do intrusive igneous rocks cool? Where do extrusive igneous rocks cool?
Intrusive cool inside the Earth below the surface, extrusive cool on the surface of the Earth
7. How do glassy igneous rocks form?
When lava cools very quickly
8. What causes an igneous rock to be porous?
When the lava is very gassy
9. What is a porphyritic igneous rock? What causes it to become porphyritic?
A rock with both some large crystals and mostly small crystals
When it begins to cool slowly inside the Earth, but then erupts to the surface and the rest of the lava
cools quickly
10. What is an igneous intrusion?
A intrusive igneous mass inside the Earth
11. Define the following types of igneous intrusions:
Pluton- General name for an igneous intrusion
Dike- A sheet of igneous rock that cuts across rock layers
Sill- A sheet of igneous rock parallel to rock layers
Laccolith-A mushroom shaped pluton created when rock layers are pushed upward
Batholith- A very large pluton at the core of mountain ranges
12. Describe how clastic and organic sedimentary rocks form.
1. Weather creates sediments 2. Sediments are moved by erosion 3. Sediments are piled and
buried under other sediments 4. Sediments become very deeply buried, so much so that the
extreme pressure causes the sediments to bond together to form a rock (lithification)
13. How does burial cause lithification?
Extreme pressure from the sediments piled create pressure that fuses the sediments together
14. How are sedimentary rocks classified?
By what they are made of
15. What are clastic sedimentary rocks?
Rock made of broken pieces of other rocks
16. What are chemical sedimentary rocks?
Rocks created by layers of minerals left behind when water evaporates
17. What are organic sedimentary rocks?
Rocks made from things from previously living things
18. What does coal from?
Coal forms from the compression and lithification of vegetation
**The layers are labeled with the letters A-E inside the squares**
TOPIC 5: WEATHERING AND EROSION
Weathering – break-up of rock due to exposure to processes at Earth’s surface
-Mechanical Weathering (Physical) – disintegration; when rock wears down into smaller pieces without changing its
composition
1. frost wedging – from freezing and thawing of water that seeps into cracks in rock
2. splash erosion – from the impact of raindrops
3. abrasion – moving sand, pebbles, etc. in the wind or water grind against other rocks as they move
4. plants and animals – roots from plants wedge into cracks in the rock making them wider, burrowing animals can also
help break down rock
5. exfoliation – removal of rock from on top of other rock causes relief of pressure, upward expansion, and breakage
along curved joints
-Chemical Weathering – decomposition; when rock wears away by changing into different substances by changing
composition
1. hydrolysis – reaction of water with rocks; some minerals dissolve, some minerals react with the carbonic acid that
naturally occurs in water (acid rain – rainwater with unusually high amounts of carbonic and sulfuric acid due to
industry)
2. oxidation – chemical reaction of oxygen with other substances – very effective on iron containing minerals creating
rust
3. plants (such as lichens and mosses) – secrete an acid helping to dissolve rock
Erosion – Movement of weathered materials
1. Gravity
2. Glaciers (Ice)
3. Water (Liquid)
4. Wind
5. Animals (Humans)