Study Guide: 1st
Semester Final Exam
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5 properties used to identify minerals
Luster, Hardness, Specific Gravity, Streak,
Cleavage/Fracture
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Define:
o Luster – the way a mineral reflects light
o Streak – the color of a mineral in its
powdered form
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What must all silicates contain? Silicon and Oxygen
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What are the 2 most abundant elements in Earth’s
crust? Silicon and Oxygen
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What are the hardest and softest minerals on
Moh’s Scale? Hardest = Diamond; Softest = Talc
Scientific Method:
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What are the 7 steps in the scientific method?
1. Question/Problem
2. Background Research
3. Form Hypothesis
4. Test Hypothesis
5. Analyze Data
6. Draw Conclusions
7. Communicate Results
Define:
o Constant – The factor in an experiment that
stays the same through every step
o Independent Variable – the variable that
stands alone; can be changed by
experimenter
o Dependent Variable – the variable that is
measured and depends on something else
o Observation – using your senses to gather
information
o Law – predicts or describes what will
happen in a given situation, doesn’t always
explain why it happens
o Analyze – to study or examine something
carefully
Rocks:
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Define:
o Rock – mixture of minerals, rock fragments,
volcanic glass, organic matter, or other
natural materials.
o Volcanic Glass – rocks that cool so fast that
there are very few, if any mineral grains;
examples are pumice, obsidian, and scoria
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How each form:
o Metamorphic rocks – form when heat and
pressure are applied to pre-existing rocks
o Sedimentary rocks – form when weathering
and erosion break up rocks into sediments
and sediments are compacted or cemented
together
o Igneous rocks – form when rocks melt into
magma and magma/lava cools
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What are some examples of background research
tools? Internet, science journal, book, library,
interview
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What are examples of communicating results?
Speech, printing findings, posting data for others to
see, sharing data with fellow scientist
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Percentage of rocks on Earth’s surface that are
sedimentary. 75%
What should an experimenter do after analyzing
data? Repeat process & communicate results
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Definition and examples of each:
o Foliated Metamorphic – rocks whose
mineral grains have lined up in layers;
example = Gneiss
o Non-foliated Metamorphic – rocks whose
mineral grains have grown and rearranged
but did not form layers; example = marble
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Define:
o Detrital Sedimentary – made from pieces of
other rocks
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Minerals:
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What does Moh’s scale measure? Mineral Hardness
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5 Characteristics of Minerals
Inorganic, Natural, Solids, Atoms arranged in special
order, has definite chemical composition
o
o
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Earth’s Layers / Processes:
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What does Pangaea mean? All Earth
How long ago was Pangaea whole? 245 MYA
Order of Earth’s 5 structural layers:
Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, Mesosphere, Outer
Core, Inner Core
What composition layers make up structural layers:
Lithosphere is made up of crust and upper mantle;
Asthenosphere is soft layer of mantle; mesosphere is
the strong lower part of the mantle; Outer core is
liquid layer of the core; Inner core is solid, dense
layer
Define:
o Convection Currents – process of hot
material rising, cooling, and sinking, over
and over again
o Continental Drift – theory that states that
all of Earth’s continents were once a giant
landmass and they all spread apart over
time
How far do tectonic plates move each year?
1 – 12 cm per year
What are inner core and outer core made of?
Outer core = molten iron and nickel
Inner core = solid iron and nickel
What are mid-ocean ridges? Underwater mountains
Where are young/old rocks located at mid-ocean
ridges? Old rocks = farther away; young rocks =
closer to ridge
Atmosphere:
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Organic Sedimentary – made from remains
of once living things
Chemical Sedimentary – made from
minerals that have been left behind when
water evaporates
Order of 5 atmospheric layers:
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere,
Thermosphere, Exospher
Where is ozone layer located? In stratosphere
Where is the ionosphere located? Between
mesosphere and thermosphere
Define:
o Conduction - transfer of heat when
molecules come in contact with each other
o
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Convection – transfer of heat by flow of
materials
Radiation – transfer of heat by rays or
waves
Polar Easterlies – winds that blow in the
north and south pole regions
Where does weather occur? In the troposphere
How are CFC’s destroying the ozone layer? They
destroy O3 molecules
What happens in the water cycle? Water
evaporates from earth’s surface, condenses into
clouds, and precipitates back to earth
Percentages of Nitrogen and Oxygen in our
atmosphere: 78% Nitrogen & 21% Oxygen
Space:
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Draw diagrams of full, new, gibbous, crescent, and
quarter moon phases:
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Correct order of 8 planets:
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune
Earth’s revolution vs. rotation time
o Revolution – time to go around the Sun = I
year
o Rotation – time to spin once on axis = 1 day
What order Earth, Moon, and Sun must be in for
each type of eclipse:
o Solar = Moon is between Sun and Earth
o Lunar = Earth is between Sun and Moon
Difference between solstice and equinox
o Solstice = when sun reaches the farthest
north and south of the Equator
o Equinox = earth’s tilt is not toward or away
from the Sun; equal night and day hours
What is an AU? Astronomical Unit = 150,000,000 km
= distance from earth to the Sun
Differences between Earth and Venus: Earth as
water, moderate temperatures, and life; Venus has
toxic atmosphere, sulfuric acid clouds, and extreme
heat
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