Name: ____________________
TOPIC 2: Measuring Earth (p.14 – 32)
p.14
Size and Shape of Earth
1. Is the Earth a perfect sphere? Explain? NO! IT IS AN OBLATE SPHEROID. Slightly
bulging at the equator and flattened at the poles.
2. List 3 pieces of evidence for the Earth’s spherical shape:
a. Photos from space.
d. Changing altitude of Polaris.
b. Ships appear to rise/sink over the horizon.
c. Earth’s shadow during a lunar eclipse.
3. Earth’s surface is very ___SMOOTH_____ compared to its diameter.
p.15
Spheres of Earth
4. The spheres of the Earth are arranged from lowest to highest ___DENSITY______ moving
toward Earth’s center.
5. List all the spheres of the Earth illustrated in Fig 2-2 from lowest to highest density:
Atmosphere (thermosphere, mesosphere, stratosphere, troposphere), Hydrosphere, Crust
(Lithosphere), Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core
Outer Spheres of the Earth
6. Define Atmosphere: LAYER OF GASES THAT SURROUNDS EARTH
7. What two gases is the atmosphere mostly composed of? NITROGEN & OXYGEN
8. Name the strata or layers of the atmosphere: TROPOSPEHER, STRATOSPHERE,
MESOSPHERE, & THERMOSPHERE.
9. What are the boundaries or interfaces between the layers of the atmosphere called?
TROPOPAUSE, STRATOPAUSE, & MESOPAUSE
10. Define Hydrosphere: LAYER OF LIQUID WATER THAT LIES BETWEEN THE
ATMOSPEHRE AND THE LITHOSPHERE (UPPER LAYER OF EARTHS
INTERIOR).
11. Define Lithosphere: THE LAYER OF ROCK THAT FORMS THE SOLID OUTER
SHELL AT THE TOP OF EARTH’S INTERIOR.
12. Are the lithosphere and the crust the same thing? Explain. THE CRUST IS PART OF
THE LITHOSPHERE.
1
Name: ____________________
TOPIC 2: Measuring Earth (p.14 – 32)
Answer questions 1-17 on pp.16 & 17.
p.17
Locating Positions on Earth
13. The _LATITUDE - LONGITUDE____ coordinate system is the one most commonly used
to locate points on Earth’s surface.
14. What are the angular units that latitude and longitude are measured in? __DEGREES___
Latitude
15. Define Latitude: ANGULAR DISTANCE NORTH OR SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR.
16. All points that have the same latitude lie on a circle that is __PARALLEL_________ to the
equator.
p.19
Measuring Latitude
17. The altitude of Polaris (the North Star) is equal to _THE DEGREE OF LATITUDE IN
THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE__.
18. Define Altitude (as intended in question 17 above): ANGULAR DISTANCE ABOVE
THE HORIZON.
19. What is the altitude of Polaris at the equator? ___ZERO DEGREES (0º)______
20. What is the altitude of Polaris at the North Pole? _NINETY DEGREES (90º)__
21. Use figure 2-3 to find out what the altitude of Polaris is at Toronto Canada. __45º____
STUDY THE MEMORY JOGGER FIGURE 2-5 A & B
22. Where are the pointer stars and what can they help you find in the sky? THE EDGE OF
THE “BOWL” OF THE BIG DIPPER. THEY HELP FIND THE NORTH STAR –
POLARIS.
Longitude
23. Define Longitude: ANGULAR DISTANCE MEASURED FROM THE PRIME
MERIDIAN.
24. Complete the analogy  The equator is to latitude, as the _PRIME MERIDIAN___ is to
longitude.
25. The 180 degree meridian is the continuation of the _PRIME MERIDAIN__ on the other
side of the Earth. This meridian somewhat follows the __INTERNATIONAL DATE
LINE.
2
Name: ____________________
TOPIC 2: Measuring Earth (p.14 – 32)
p.20
Measuring Longitude
26. The moment the sun reaches its highest altitude in the sky is called _LOCAL NOON.
MEMORIZE # 27 ↓
27. The Earth rotates from _WEST_____ to ___EAST____ at the rate of one rotation per day –
360º in 24 hours – it rotates ___15º PER HOUR___ .
28. What is GMT? GREENWICH MERIDIAN TIME. THE TIME ON THE PRIME
MERIDIAN.
29. In general, longitude can be calculated by finding the time difference in hours between
LOCAL SOLAR TIME and GREENWICH MERIDIAN TIME GMT and multiplying
by 15º.
30. Complete the “Digging Deeper” after the Using Latitude and Longitude reading section.
Answer questions 18 – 30 on pp.20 &21.
p.22
Fields
31. Define Isoline: LINES ON A MAP THAT CONNECT POINTS OF EQUAL FIELD
VALUE
32. What is the difference between isotherms, isobars, and contour lines?
ISOTHERMS – connect points of equal temperature; ISOBARS – connect points of equal
pressure; CONTOUR LINES – connect points of equal elevation.
How can gradient be estimated? BY THE SPACING OF THE ISOLINES.
33. Write the equation for calculating gradient:
GRADIENT = CHANGE IN FIELD VALUE ÷ DISTANCE
Answer questions 31 – 34 on p. 23
p.23
Mapping Earth’s Surface
34. What kind of lines are used to draw topographic maps? CONTOUR LINES
35. What does the contour interval tell you about a topographic map? THE DIFFERENCE
IN ELEVATION BETWEEN EACH CONTOUR LINE.
3
Name: ____________________
TOPIC 2: Measuring Earth (p.14 – 32)
36. What happens to the shape of a contour line as it crosses a stream?
THE CONTOUR LINES BEND UPSTREAM
37. Draw a series of contour lines that represent a hill and draw a series of contour lines that
represent a depression:
HILL
DEPRESSION
p.25
Horizontal distance on Maps
38. What is the most common type of map scale? GRAPHIC – BAR SCALE
Topographic Map Gradient and Profile
39. In fig 2-8, the gradient is steep just to the east of Vails Gate Ridge, so the contour lines are
___CLOSE TOGETHER____ . In the area around Denman Orchard, the gradient is
gentle, so the contour lines are __SPREAD OUT____ .
40. What is a profile? THE SIDE VIEW OF AN AREAS LANDSCAPE
N
41. Draw a compass rose:
W
E
42. List the eight cardinal directions:
S
North, Northeast, East, Southeast, South, Southwest, West, Northwest
Answer questions 35 – 48 on p. 27
Complete the Questions for Regents Practice as a study guide for the next unit test.
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