Science Semester 2 Flashcards
Flashcards for the Final Science exam (40 cards)
What causes the continents to move?
The movement of tectonic plates causes continents to move.
Why does hot rock rise? What is this process called?
The process is called convection, and it rises because less dense materials rise in the Earth’s mantle.
Which of the following is an example of a relative age?
A. The Earth is 4.6 billion years old.
B. A specific fossil found in Florida is 1 million years old.
C. A fossil of a certain shark found in South America is older than a specific fossil of a manatee found in Florida.
D. Zircon crystals were found in Australia that are 4.4 billion years old
C. A fossil of a certain shark found in South America is older than a specific fossil of a manatee found in Florida.
What are the different layers of the atmosphere and what function does each
serve? (blocking radiation, etc.)
(Lowest-Highest)↴
Troposphere- contains the air we breathe and is where weather occurs.
Stratosphere- homes the ozone layer.
Mesosphere- coldest layer, causes meteors to burn up.
Thermosphere- causes warmer temperatures, absorbs solar radiation, and houses the ionosphere.
Exosphere- where satellites roam.
What is the water cycle in the atmosphere?
The continuous movement and process of water.
What is the greenhouse effect and what causes it? Is it a good thing or a bad thing for life on Earth? Why?
The greenhouse effect keeps the planet warm enough to support life. It can be both good and bad because it contributes to global warming, which is hurting the planet, but it is also keeping our planet warm enough for us to live on.
What causes surface currents and why are they important?
Movement in the water is caused by the winds. It is important because surface currents distribute heat and are very influential on global climate patterns.
What causes deep ocean currents? How does the thermohaline circulation
distribute energy and nutrients throughout the globe?
They are caused by the different densities in sea water. The currents transport heat and nutrients to marine life from warm to cold regions.
How does the ocean act as a sink for energy?
The ocean absorbs and distributes heat throughout the atmosphere.
A canyon is a deep, steep-sided valley, as shown in the illustration below. Which statement describes how the canyon most likely formed?
A. A swift-moving river carved the soil and rock.
B. A volcanic event opened the space in Earth’s crust.
C. A glacier traveled through the area and scoured the rock.
D. A deep lake filled the area and carved the sides of the canyon.
A. A swift-moving river carved the soil and rock.
The climate of the land that is now Antarctica was once warm and wet, like a rainforest. We know this because there are fossils in Antarctica of birds and tropical plants. How is this possible?
A. Birds and tropical plants were able to live in cold environments millions of years ago.
B. Birds and tropical plants migrated away from Antarctica by swimming to the coast of South America.
C. The tectonic plate that Antarctica sits on was once near the equator of the earth and has since shifted due to convection currents in the mantle.
D. The continent of Antarctica floated on the ocean toward the South Pole over time.
D. The continent of Antarctica floated on the ocean toward the South Pole over time.
Which of the following statements is true?
A. The deeper into Earth you dig, the younger the material gets.
B. The deeper into Earth you dig, the older the material gets.
C. No matter what layer of the Earth you are viewing, all fossils are the same age.
D. The age of a rock is determined by the shape and the amount of weathering on the surface of the rock.
B. The deeper into Earth you dig, the older the material gets.
Which two spheres of the earth are interacting if a lightning strike were to cause a forest fire?
A. atmosphere and biosphere
B. biosphere and hydrosphere
C. atmosphere and geosphere
D. hydrosphere and biosphere
A. atmosphere and biosphere
Why is the cycling of nutrients, such as nitrogen, carbon, and phosphorus, crucial for the environment?
A. It helps maintain the Earth’s temperature by regulating greenhouse gases.
B. It ensures the continuous supply of essential elements to organisms, supporting ecosystem stability and growth.
C. It decreases the amount of oxygen in the atmosphere, preventing excessive plant growth.
D. It eliminates all forms of pollution by breaking down harmful chemicals in the soil and air.
B. It ensures the continuous supply of essential elements to organisms, supporting ecosystem stability and growth.
Which of the following processes is a key part of the carbon cycle, helping to move carbon from the atmosphere into living organisms?
A. Evaporation, which releases carbon into the atmosphere.
B. Photosynthesis, where plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air to produce glucose.
C. Combustion, which removes carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in the soil.
D. Decomposition, which releases oxygen into the environment as organic matter breaks down.
B. Photosynthesis, where plants absorb carbon dioxide from the air to produce glucose.
What is one of the primary environmental effects of an imbalance in the carbon cycle, such as increased carbon dioxide emissions from human activities?
A. Reduced biodiversity due to changes in habitat and climate.
B. Increased oxygen levels in the atmosphere, promoting plant growth.
C. Decreased ocean acidification, benefiting marine life.
D. Enhanced nitrogen fixation, leading to greater soil fertility.
A. Reduced biodiversity due to changes in habitat and climate.
Earth’s atmosphere traps energy from the sun. Which is a direct result of the trapping of energy by Earth’s atmosphere?
A. Earth has weather.
B. Earth has gravity.
C. Earth’s atmosphere has four layers.
D. Earth has moderate temperatures.
D. Earth has moderate temperatures.
Which of the following is a potential impact of global warming on thermohaline circulation?
A. Melting ice caps near Greenland would input fresh water into the system, reducing the density of surface water and preventing it from sinking, thus slowing down the oceanic conveyor belt.
B. The increased temperature of water masses would cause these currents to flow faster given the higher kinetic energy of the water molecules.
C. Higher polar temperatures would increase rates of evaporation, causing an increase in sinking of denser surface waters and accelerating the oceanic conveyor belt.
D. Warmer surface waters may mean that deep water
A. Melting ice caps near Greenland would input fresh water into the system, reducing the density of surface water and preventing it from sinking, thus slowing down the oceanic conveyor belt.
Give examples of nonrenewable resources and renewable resources.
Non: (fossil fuels) Oil, coal, and natural gas
Renewable: Sunlight, wind, water, Earth’s heat, and biomass
What is the difference between renewable and nonrenewable resources?
Nonrenewable resources can not be replenished after they run out, but renewable resources can be replenished.
What are the benefits of using renewable resources over fossil fuels?
They are more beneficial for the environment, sustainable, and more affordable.
People have been using electricity as a source of power in their homes for more than 100 years. Which of these sources is used for generating electricity that is NOT renewable?
A. coal
B. the Sun
C. water
D. Wind
A. coal
Which of the following is a positive effect of using windmills instead of fossil fuels to generate energy?
A. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
B. decrease in overall energy use
C. use of more habitat for wind farms
D. increase in the use of metal resources
A. reduction in greenhouse gas emissions
What are El Nino and la Nina? How do they alter weather events, and food webs
in North and South America?
They are two opposite climate patterns. They alter the weather by changing the positions and strength of the jet stream. El Nino brings moisture and Rainfall, while La Nina brings drier climates. They also alter food webs by changing ocean temperatures, which affects the availability of nutrients, which are the base of the food chain.
