100 Key Concepts in Earth Science

Question 1

What is Studied in Earth and Planetary Science ?

Answer 1

Geology, Astronomy, and Meteorology.

Question 2

What is the Human population of the Earth?

Answer 2

7.75 billion people

Question 3

What is the formula for density?

Answer 3

Mass divided by Volume

Question 4

A substance will float in a liquid if :

Answer 4

Its density is less than the density of the liquid

Question 5

What tool is used to measure the mass of an object?

Answer 5

A balance or scale

Question 6

What tool is used to measure the mass of an object?

Answer 6

A balance or scale

Question 7

What are rocks made of?

Answer 7

A combination of minerals

Question 8

The idea that rocks continuously change from one kind to another is called:

Answer 8

The Rock Cycle

Question 9

Name three classifications of rocks.

Answer 9

Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic

Question 10

How are Igneous rocks formed?

Answer 10

From the cooling and hardening of magma.

Question 11

How are sedimentary rocks formed?

Answer 11

From the deposition and cementing of sediments.

Question 12

How are metamorphic rocks formed?

Answer 12

From changes in other rocks

Question 13

The two main rocks of the Earth’s Crust are:

Answer 13

Granite and Basalt

Question 14

What is Moh’s Hardness Scale?

Answer 14

A scale which rates minerals from softest (1) to hardest (10)

Question 15

What is the hardest mineral known?

Answer 15

Diamond

Question 16

The upper 8 – 12 inches of the ground is called the:

Answer 16

Topsoil

Question 17

What is weathering?

Answer 17

The process of breaking down rocks

Question 18

The process which moves soil from one place to another

Answer 18

Erosion

Question 19

The two main ingredients in soil are:

Answer 19

Weathered rocks and Organic matter

Question 20

What do we call the part of Earth made up of the crust and upper mantle?

Answer 20

Lithosphere

Question 21

What does the Theory of Plate Tectonics tell scientists?

Answer 21

That the crust of the Earth is broken into pieces (called plates) that move.

Question 22

The 3 types of plate boundaries are:

Answer 22

Divergent, Convergent, and Transform Fault

Question 23

The last super continent was called:

Answer 23

Pangaea

Question 24

How do plates move along a Divergent Plate Boundary?

Answer 24

The plates move apart.

Question 25

How do plates move along a Convergent Plate Boundary?

Answer 25

The plates move together

Question 26

How do plates move along a Transform Fault Boundary?

Answer 26

The plates slide (grind) past each other.

Question 27

The only Plate Boundary in the United States is found:

Answer 27

Along the Pacific Coast

Question 28

The shaking and trembling that results from sudden movement of part of Earth’s crust is called:

Answer 28

An Earthquake

Question 29

Three types of volcanoes are:

Answer 29

Shield, Cinder Cone, and Composite

Question 30

Three land forms created from rivers are:

Answer 30

V-Shaped valleys, canyons, deltas, oxbow lakes, gorges, floodplains, bluffs, or waterfalls

Question 31

Three landforms created by glaciers are:

Answer 31

U-Shaped valleys, kettle lakes, ridges, hills, or moraines.

Question 32

Three land forms created by plate movement are:

Answer 32

Mountains, Volcanoes, Rift Valleys, Trenches, Island arcs, or Fault lines

Question 33

Three land forms created by waves are:

Answer 33

Beaches, cliffs, caves, sea stacks, isthmus, peninsulas, straits, or spits

Question 34

What do Contours show on a topographic map?

Answer 34

Points of similar elevation