Study Questions for Unit 10 Test
Chemistry
● What is a physical change, and what are some examples of physical changes? A physical change
occurs when only the appearance of the substance changes. The substance DOES NOT change
identity. Examples are state changes, change in color, change in shape, etc.
● What is a chemical change, and what are some examples of chemical changes? A chemical change
occurs when the substance DOES change identity. Chemical changes include baking, burning,
rotting, rusting, and reacting with acid.
Earth History
● In what ways has the surface of the Earth changed throughout history, and in what ways does it
continue to change every day? the rock cycle (erosion, sedimentation, deposition), movement of
tectonic plates that cause volcanoes, earthquakes, faults, rift valleys, and mountains.
Evolution
● What is some evidence that two different species may have had a common ancestor? Two different
species with a common ancestor will have similar body structures that may have evolved to have
different functions (homologous structures)
● Why do species become extinct? Species become extinct when they are unable to adapt to changing
environmental conditions. These species usually have low genetic variation.
Biotechnology
● What is the definition of biotechnology? What is its purpose? What organisms are often
genetically-modified? Biotechnology is the manipulation of organisms to create products that affect
human health and the environment. Bacteria, agricultural products, and livestock are often
genetically-modified.
Energy Transfer and Transformation
● What does energy transfer mean? the movement of the same type of energy from one location to
another
● What does energy transformation mean? energy is transformed when it changes from one form to
another
● What are some different types of energy? light, heat, sound, electrical, motion, chemical
Energy Resources (general)
● What are the 8 types of electricity-generating energy resources we discussed in class? coal, oil,
natural gas, nuclear power, hydroelectric power, biomass, solar, wind
● What is the difference between a renewable and nonrenewable resource? a nonrenewable
resource is used up faster than nature can replace it; a renewable resource is used up at the rate
that nature can replace it.
● Which of the 8 resources are nonrenewable, and which are renewable? Nonrenewable--coal, oil,
natural gas, nuclear. Renewable--hydroelectric, solar, wind, biomass.
● What is the relationship between the availability of a resource and its cost? The easier it is to get a
resource, the cheaper it is. If it is hard to get, it will be expensive.
Coal
● How is electricity generated from it? Coal is burned, which boils water, which produces steam,
which turns a turbine, which turns a generator where electricity is produced.
● What are coal’s advantages? cheap, plentiful, easy to mine, provides jobs to coal miners
● What are coal’s disadvantages? dirty and produces a lot of carbon dioxide when burned (climate
change and air pollution result), nonrenewable
Oil
● How is electricity generated from it? Oil is burned, which boils water, which produces steam, which
turns a turbine, which turns a generator where electricity is produced.
● What are its advantages? relatively cheap, plentiful, efficient
● What are its disadvantages? produces air pollution and a lot of carbon dioxide when burned (leads
to climate change), can harm environment when drilled for and spilled, nonrenewable
Natural Gas
● How is electricity generated from it? Gas is burned, which boils water, which produces steam, which
turns a turbine, which turns a generator where electricity is produced.
● What are its advantages? less polluting and produces less carbon dioxide than other fossil fuels,
cheap
● What are its disadvantages? nonrenewable, hard to access underground
Uranium/nuclear
● How is electricity generated from it? Uranium atoms are split, which releases heat, which boils
water, which produces steam, which turns a turbine, which turns a generator where electricity is
produced
● What are its advantages? does not produce air pollution, good for countries that lack other energy
resources, relatively cheap
● What are its disadvantages? useful uranium is nonrenewable, potential for accident and release of
radiation, waste (leftovers from reactor) must be stored long-term and may release radiation
Biomass
● How is electricity generated from it? Biomass is burned, which boils water, which produces steam,
which turns a turbine, which turns a generator where electricity is produced.
● What are its advantages? renewable, costs less than fossil fuels, abundant
● What are its disadvantages? burning may add carbon dioxide to the atmosphere, takes a lot of
space
Wind
● How is electricity generated from it? Wind turns blades, which turn a shaft that turns a generator,
where electricity is produced.
● What are its advantages? renewable, does not produce pollution or carbon dioxide, land can also be
used for agriculture
● What are its disadvantages? noisy, kills birds, ugly, must have a windy location
Water/hydroelectric
● How is electricity generated from it? water passes through a dam and turns turbines ,which turn
generators that produce electricity
● What are its advantages? renewable, does not produce pollution or carbon dioxide
● What are its disadvantages? costs a lot to build a dam, ecosystem destruction upstream (land is
flooded), ecosystem destruction downstream (periods of very high water and very low water)
Solar
● How is electricity generated from it? in a solar cell, particles of light knock electrons free from
atoms, which produces electricity.
● What are its advantages? renewable, consistent, does not produce pollution or carbon dioxide
● What are its disadvantages? expensive to manufacture and install, not efficient
Conservation
● What is energy/resource conservation? conservation aims to reduce the waste of energy resources
so they last longer
● What are some ways to conserve energy and resources? cut down on electricity use!