Study Guide - Midterm Topics - HONORS Earth Science
The midterm is a comprehensive exam that covers all of the material that has been tested so far this school
year. To help guide you studying, the topics below should be studied in the greatest depth:
Scientific Method
1. Definitions of independent variable, dependent variable, constant variable, control group, experimental group,
hypothesis, quantitative variable, trials, and qualitative variable
2. Given a description of an experiment, determine the:
a. Independent, Dependent, and constant variable(s)
b. Hypothesis in If/Then form
c. Control and experimental groups
d. Type of variable (quantitative or qualitative)
e. Ways that the reliability and quality of the data collected could be improved
3. Given a set of data from an experiment, determine:
a. A logical conclusion based upon the data
b. Type of graph used to graph this data
c. Variables on the x-axis and y-axis
d. The units used for measurement
4. Convert between units in the metric system
Mapping
1. Latitude and Longitude
a. Locations of important lines of latitude and longitude on the globe (Equator, Prime Meridian, Tropic of
cancer, Tropic of Capricorn, Arctic Circle, Antarctic Circle)
b. Given a location on a map, give its location in latitude and longitude and vice versa
c. How degrees are divided into minutes and seconds and how to give a map location using degrees,
minutes, and seconds
2. Topographic Maps
a. Definition of contour lines, index lines, and contour interval
b. Difference between geographic north and magnetic north
i. Why the compass does not point to geographic north
ii. How to read the symbol on a topographic map that provides you with the magnetic declination
iii. The definition of magnetic declination
c. Interpreting Topographic maps
i. Finding an elevation using contour lines
ii. Determining the direction of a river’s flow using contour lines
iii. Recognizing symbols on a topographic map
iv. Interpret a map scale (a ratio such as 1:500 or a graphic scale)
v. Recognizing a topographic profile for a straight line between any 2 points on a topographic map
Earthquakes
1. Definition of an epicenter
2. Causes of earthquakes
3. Locating an earthquake
a. Seismic wave types needed
b. Number of seismograph stations needed
c. How to read an S-P diagram
d. Reading a seismograph
4. 3 Types of seismic waves released when an earthquake occurs – their relative speeds and what mediums (liquid,
solid, or both) they can travel through
a. How these waves can be used to infer the structure of the interior of the Earth
5. Location and definition of the MOHO boundary
6. Characteristics and relative locations of Earth’s layers when classified by:
a. chemical composition into 3 layers(mineral/rock make-up)
b. Physical properties into 5 layers (state of matter – solid, liquid, or plastic)
Plate Tectonics
1. Continental Drift
a. Who proposed it
b. Definition
c. Evidence for continental drift
d. What evidence it lacked that caused it to not be accepted by the scientific community
2. Plate Tectonic Theory
a. Description of the theory
b. Definition of a tectonic plate
c. Evidence that supports the theory
d. Difference between continental drift and plate tectonics theory
3. Seafloor spreading
a. Description of how seafloor is created and destroyed
b. Description of evidence (topography of the seafloor, magnetic polarity of the seafloor, and age of the
seafloor) and how it supports plate tectonic theory
4. Earth’s magnetic polarity
a. Cause of Earth’s magnetic field
b. Changes in Earth’s magnetic polarity over time (difference between normal and reverse polarity)
c. How igneous rocks on the ocean floor can preserve the Earth’s magnetic polarity at the time of cooling
and how they can be used to determine patterns of Earth’s magnetic polarity in the past
5. Plate Boundaries
a. Definition of convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries
b. Characteristics and explanation for the characteristics of convergent boundaries (between 2 Oceanic
plates, 2 continental plates, and an oceanic and continental plate)
i. Location of volcanoes, earthquakes, and trenches
ii. Relative age of seafloor closest to the trench
c. Characteristics and explanation for the characteristics of divergent boundaries (between 2 Oceanic
plates and 2 continental plates)
i. Location of volcanoes, earthquakes, mid-ocean ridges, and rift valleys
ii. Relative age of seafloor near the mid-ocean ridge and pattern on either side of the mid-ocean
d. Recognize and interpret diagrams of plate boundaries
Minerals
1. Definition of a mineral (know what each portion of the definition means)
2. Characteristics used to identify a mineral
a. Definitions of a mineral’s color, luster, hardness, texture, breakage, density, and streak
b. Special properties and which minerals read to them (for the acid test and double refraction)
c. How to interpret Moh’s scale and the scratch test to determine the relative hardness of a mineral
3. How minerals can form (3 ways discussed in the notes)
4. Definition of an ore and gem
5. Definition of a crystal system and what causes minerals to have a specific crystal system
6. Definitions of mineral groups
Igneous Rocks and Volcanoes
1.
2.
3.
4.
Definitions of magma and lava
Causes of magma formation at convergent boundaries, divergent boundaries, and hot spots
Definition of a hot spot
Magma types
a. How they are defined
b. What type of igneous rock (mafic, intermediate, or felsic) that each type forms
c. Relative viscosities of each and what affects the viscosity of molten rock
5. Igneous Rock Classification
a. Chemical Composition
i. How igneous rocks are classified into mafic, intermediate, felsic, and ultramafic
ii. How igneous rocks can visually be classified as mafic, intermediate, felsic, or ultramafic
iii. Using the igneous rock identification chart
1. Determine an igneous rock’s name given its characteristics or to determine the
characteristics of an igneous rock given its name
2. Determine which minerals are contained within each igneous rock
b. Texture
i. How igneous rocks are classified into intrusive or extrusive
ii. How igneous rocks can visually be classified as extrusive or intrusive
iii. How an igneous rock can become glassy or lack a crystal structure
iv. What determines the size of the crystals within the igneous rock
v. Definition of porpyrictic texture and how this can form
c. Igneous intrusions
i. Definition of pluton and what type of igneous rock forms it
ii. Definitions of batholiths, laccoliths, sills, and dikes
iii. Identifying an igneous intrusion on a diagram
d. Volcano types
i. Definitions of 3 major types including a description its appearance and how it forms
ii. Definitions of 2 types of lava flows discussed in the notes
e. Definition and description of a basalt plateau, how it forms, and one example in the United States
f. Definition of pyroclastic material and the 4 major types
g. Definition of a pyroclastic flow
h. Definition and cause of a lahar