Name_______________________________
Date_________________
MID-TERM STUDY GUIDE – MIDTERM MARCH 26-27
ASTRONOMY
1. What causes seasons?
The tilt of the Earth’s axis while it rotates and revolves around the Sun.
2. Why are places near the equator warmer than places closer to the poles?
They receive more direct sunlight all year long than the poles do.
3. What causes tides?
The gravitational pull of the moon as it revolves around the Earth.
4. What would happen if the gravity between the Sun and Mars increased?
The Suns gravity would pull Mars closer and closer to it, eventually colliding Mars into the
Sun.
5. List the planets in order from the Sun.
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
6. What is the largest body in our solar system?
The Sun (body means any object)
7. Why does the temperature feel warmer in NJ during the summer months?
Because New Jersey is in the Northern Hemisphere and in the summer months the northern
hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun.
8. What shape does the Earth orbit around the Sun in?
An ellipse (NOT a perfect circle)
9. What is the period of revolution for Earth around the Sun?
365 days (1 year)
10. What is the period of rotation for the Earth?
About 24 hours (1 day)
11. Why does the appearance of the moon change during the month?
Because the moon is revolving around the Earth
12. What’s the time difference between high tide and low tide?
6 hours between high and low tide.
13. What’s happening to the Universe?
The universe is still expanding.
14. What does the terms waning and waxing mean?
Waxing = the moon is becoming more visible ; growing towards a full moon
Waning = the moon is becoming less visiable ; shrinking towards a new moon
15. Why is their night and day on Earth?
Because the Earth is rotating, so half of the Earth faces the Sun while the other half doesn’t.
16. What causes Earth’s magnetic field?
The spinning of the liquid metal in the outer core of the Earth.
PLATE TECTONICS STUDY GUIDE
1.
Explain the theory of plate tectonics. Explain the 3 pieces of evidence that support the theory.
The Earth’s lithosphere is broken into tectonic plates that are constantly moving.
Evidence:
1. The continents fit together like a puzzle.
2. Plant and animal fossils were found on the coast of different continents.
3. The same mountain ranges were found on different continents.
2.
Explain how convection currents move the plates apart. What 2 layers of the Earth are
responsible for this?
Convection currents in the asthenosphere move the magma around in a circle under the
lithosphere. Since the plates float on the asthenosphere, they move as the convection currents
move.
3. Describe what happens at divergent plate boundaries.
The plates divide (move away from each other)
4. Describe what happens at convergent plate boundaries.
The plates collide (move towards each other)
5.
Describe what happens at transform plate boundaries.
The plates slide past each other
6.
What happens when two oceanic plates diverge?
A ridge forms as magma rises and forms new crust.
7.
What happens when two continental plates diverge?
A rift forms as magma rises and forms new crust.
8.
What happens when two oceanic plates converge?
A subduction zone occurs and an island arc and trench forms.
9. What happens when two continental plates converge?
The plates push up to form a mountain range.
10. What happens when one oceanic plate and one continental plate converge?
A subduction zone occurs and a volcano forms.
11. What is subduction? Explain.
When a less dense plate sinks under a more dense plate. The subducted plate then melts to
form magma.
12. What is the Ring of Fire? Why is there a lot of volcanic activity in this area?
A chain of volcanoes around the Pacific plate due to subductions zones where oceanic crust
collides with continental crust.
13. What is a hot spot? What has it formed?
A weak spot in the middle of a tectonic plate where magma rises up to form volcanic islands.
Example: The Hawaiian Islands
14. Using the picture below. Explain why North America and Europe are getting farther apart.
Because there is a divergent boundary between them.
15. Draw a model of the 3 compositional layers of the Earth. Explain how they are arranged.
Crust
Mantle
Core
The most dense layer is in the center of the Earth.
16. What are the two types of crust? Which type is thicker?
Continental crust and Oceanic crust. Continental crust is thicker.
17. What is the lithosphere? What is it divided into?
The lithosphere is the outer most physical layer. It is divided into the plates (crust) and the
upper mantle.
18. What is the asthenosphere? Explain how it relates to the theory of plate tectonics.
The asthenosphere is the middle mantle. It has convection currents which move the tectonic
plates.
19. What causes Earth’s magnetic field? Which layer of the Earth is responsible?
The spinning liquid metal in the outer core.
20. Approximately how much do plates move in one year?
2 cm a year
ROCKS, WEATHERING AND EROSION
1. What is mechanical weathering?
2. What are some examples of mechanical weathering?
3. What is chemical weathering?
4. What are some examples of chemical weathering?
5. What could have caused the change in this mountain?
6. What is the most likely cause of this beach forming?
7. STUDY THIS