EARTH SCIENCE MIDTERM TOPICS
NAME: ______________________________________
1. Introduction to Earth Science
a. Geology, meteorology, astronomy, engineering
b. Measurements
c. Observations
d. senses
e. Inferences
f. Instruments (tools)
g. Exponential notation
h. Percent deviation
2. Types of Graphs
a. Line graphs
b. Bar graphs
c. Pie charts
d. Lines of best fit
e. Slope
f. Interpolation
g. Extrapolation
h. Direct relationship
i. Inverse relationship
j. Linear relationship
k. Cyclic relationship
3. Density
a. Mass
b. Volume
i. LxWxH
ii. Water displacement
c. Mass/volume units g/cm3 or g/ml
d. Does not change at STP
e. Temperature increases, volume increase, density decreases
f. Pressure increase, volume decreases, density increases
g. Floating , suspension, sinking
h. States of matter and density
i. Water’s density behavior
j. Each layer of the Earth has a specific density range
i. Crust
ii. Mantle
iii. Outer core
iv. Inner core
4. Models
a. Globe
b. Map
c. Scale
5. Shape of the Earth
a. Oblate spheroid
6.
7.
8.
9.
b. Small out of roundness makes it look perfectly spherical
c. Evidence the earth is round
i. North star Polaris seen at different angles at different latitudes
ii. Ships seem to sink below the horizon
iii. Force of gravity nearly the same every where
iv. Different positions see stars in space in different positions
v. Earth’s shadow on the moon during lunar eclipse is round
vi. Photographs from space
d. Diameter and Circumference (in kms)
i. Polar diameter is 12,714 Equatorial is 12,756
ii. Polar Circumference is 40.008 Equatorial Circumference
40,076
iii. Very little differences- very slightly out of round shape
Structure of the Earth
a. Lithosphere
b. Hydrosphere
c. Atmosphere (troposphere)
d. Reference table chart on page 1 shows compositions
Positions on the Earth
a. Equator
b. Latitude
c. Parallels
d. Prime meridian
e. Longitude
f. Meridians
Navigation
a. Finding latitude
b. Locating polaris
c. Finding longitude
d. Using time differences
Time Zones
10. Maps
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
g.
h.
i.
j.
Scales
Fields
Isolines
Isotherms
Isobars
Contour lines
Contour intervals
Gradients
Direction of stream flow
Steepest locations
11. Rate of Change
12. Minerals
a. Inorganic
b. Composition
i. Elements
ii. Silicates
iii. Chemical composition
c. Properties
i. Color
ii. Luster
iii. Streak
iv. Crystal structure
v. Hardness
vi. Cleavage and fracture
vii. Density
viii. Specific gravity
d. Unusual Properties
i. Double refraction
ii. Reaction with acid
iii. Magnetism
iv. Radioactivity
13. Rocks
a. Made of minerals
b. Classified into groups by how they form (origin)
c. Texture- the look and feel of surface patterns is useful in determining
its origin
14. Igneous rocks
a. Melting
b. Magma or Lave
c. Cools and solidification
d. Crystallization
i. Intrusive rocks – larger crystals – slow cooling
ii. Extrusive rocks – smaller crystals or no crystals – quick cooling
e. Felsic – rich is feldspar and silica (light) low density
f. Mafic- rick in magnesium and iron (dark) higher density
g. Vesicular- gas pockets indicate quick cooling
h. Mineral content using igneous rock chart
15. Sedimentary Rocks
a. Most made of weathered remains of other rocks
b. Compressed and Cemented
c. Most common rock found on Earth’s surface
d. May be layered
e. May contain fossils
f. Natural cements- silica, clay, and calcite
g. Fragmental sedimentary rocks
i. Inorganic Land Derived
ii. Clastic
iii. Conglomerates, breccia, sandstone,siltstone, shale
iv. Different grain sizes
v. Mostly made of same composition quartz feldspar and clay
h. Chemically and/or Organically Formed
i. Precipitates
1. From evaporation or saturation of water
2. Crystal fall out
3. Rock salt, rock gypsum, dolostone, limestone
ii. Organically derived
1. (fossiliferous) limestone
2. bituminous coal (bioclastic)
16. Metamorphic Rocks
a. Formed from pre existing rocks
b. Heat and pressure
c. Never quite melt but change in composition
i. Foliated metamorphic rocks
1. Minerals align
2. Minerals form bands
3. Regional origin – under mountain ranges
4. Increase in temp and pressure changes rocks in order
a. Slate- phyllite-schist-gneiss
ii. NonFoliated metamorphic rocks
1. Minerals not aligned
2. Regional or contact metamorphism
a. Contact metamorphic zones
3. Types – anthracite coal (regional only)
- hornfels (contact only)
- quartzite, marble, metaconglomerate
(both)
d. Contact metamorphic zones
17. Rocks that bubble with acid
a. Limestone and marble
-contain calcite
18. Clues for classifying rocks
a. Igneous rocks
i. Interlocking Crystals, gas pockets, glassy, hard and dense
b. Sedimentary rocks
i. Layers, pieces cemented together, soft crystals, fossils
c. Metamorphic rocks
i. Banding, distortion, very dense crystals
19. Rock Cycle
a. Diagram to show rocks recycling into new forms
20. Natural Resources
a. Metals- gold copper, iron ore, aluminum
b. Non metals- halite, graphite, garnet, feldspar
c. Fossil Fuels- coal, petroleum
21. Renewable resources
22. Nonrenewable resources
23. Pollution and Population
24. Earthquake locations
a. Plate boundaries
b. Volcanoes
c. Mountain building areas
25. Earthquake studies
a. Faults
b. Seismic waves
c. Focus
d. Epicenter
26. Measuring earthquakes
a. Intensity
b. Mercalli scale
c. Seismographs
d. Seismologists
e. Seismometers
f. Richter Scale
g. Magnitude
27. Earthquake waves
a. P waves
i. Fastest
ii. Push pull
iii. Compression
iv. Solids and liquids
b. S waves
i. Slowest
ii. shake
iii. Stronger
iv. Shear waves
v. Solids only
vi. Evidence of the earth’s liquid outer core
28. Finding earthquake location
a. Arrival Time difference and slide and glide
b. Create circle around seismic station
c. Use information from 3 total seismic stations
d. Circles will cross at one point indicating epicenter
29. Finding origin times
a. Know P wave arrival time and distance
b. Calculate time of travel for P wave
c. Subtract
30. Other earthquake skills
a. Reading seismographs
b. Interpreting distance relationships
31. Earth’s Interior
a. Study of seismic waves
i. Shadow zones
ii. Bending of waves
b. The crust
i. Continental crust – thick, low density, granitic
ii. Oceanic crust- thin, higher density, basaltic
c. The Mantle
i. Top part called rigid mantle
1. Combines with crust to form lithosphere
2. Contains moho boundary
ii. Second layer of the mantle- asthenosphere
1. Plastic mantle
2. Heat creates density differences
3. Movement of less dense rocks creates convection cells
4. Movement of plates due to convection cells
iii. Stiffer Mantle
d. Outer Core
i. Liquid
ii. Temperature above melting point
iii. Does not allow S waves to pass
iv. Made of iron and nickel (meteorite theory)
e. Inner Core
i. Solid
ii. Made of iron and Nickel (meteorite theory)
32. Property trends
a. As depth increases- density, pressure, and temperature increase
33. Earthquakes and volcanoes
a. Distributed near plate boundaries
i. Ring of Fire
b. Earthquake damage
i. Subsidence
ii. Tsunamis
c. Volcanic hazards
i. Lava, gases, ash
34. Continental Drift
a. Pangeae
b. Evidence
35. Mid-Ocean Ridges
a. Age differences
b. Temperature differences
c. Magnetic striping
d. Sea floor spreading
e. Rift Valleys
f. Divergence
36. Tectonics
a. Plate collisions
b. Less dense plate is subducted
i. Trenches and volcanic moutains
c. Two continental plates collide
i. Mountain building
ii. Rock folding
37. Transform Faults
38. Convection Cells
39. Hot Spots
40. Weathering
a. Physical weathering
i. Frost action
ii. Abrasion
1. Streams
2. Winds- blow sand
3. glaciers
iii. Plant roots
b. Chemical Weathering
i. Oxidation
ii. Hydrolosis
iii. Carbonation
iv. Acid Formation
c. Climates
i. Alternate freezing and thawing- physical weathering
ii. Warm and Humid- chemical weathering
d. Types of minerals
i. Feldspar- resist physical weathering not chemical weathering
ii. Calcite- chemical weathering wears it away
41. Soils
a. Mixture of organic remains with weathered rock
b. Humus- dark colored organic matter
c. Leaching – the removal of minerals from the top soil
d. Bedrock- rock layer below
e. Soil horizons
42. Residual soil
a. Forms from bedrock at the location
43. Transported soil
a. Transported by glaciers and deposited in area
b. Does not match with bedrock below
c. NYS State soil
REFERENCE TABLE PAGES