Mr. Weisman’s Earth Science 2nd Block Midterm review

The basic metric unit of distance is the meter (m)The basic metric unit of liquid volume is the liter (l)The basic metric unit of mass is the gram (g)Density is Measure of how tightly the matter is packed together. D=M/V. Density = Mass/VolumeThe method used to calculate the volume of the sphere, an irregular object, is water displacement.An object less dense than water floats on the water and a more dense object sinks.A millimeter (mm) is 1/1000 of a meter. A centimeter (cm) is 1/100 of a meter. A kilometer (km) is 1000 meters.

The logical order of the scientific method is: Question, Hypothesis, Experiment, Conclusion

The independent variable (IV) is part of the experiment that is purposely changed; the presumed cause. The dependent variable (DV) is part of the experiment that depends on the outcome of the independent

variable and is measured; the presumed effect.

In research on the effect of cigarette smoking on lung cancer, cigarette smoking is the independent variable and lung cancer is the dependent variable.

A hypothesis is an answer to the question based off of research. In an “If…., then…” format. An experiment is the actual testing that you will conduct. It is your materials and procedure including

your constants, control, and variables. Analysis is the data you have collected, usually displayed in a graph. A conclusion is an interpretation of the data that explains the connection between the variables and

the validity of the hypothesis and experiment. A theory is an explanation based on observations and experimentation that has been tested and

confirmed as a general explanation for a phenomenon. A law is a statement about how the natural world behaves for which no exceptions have been found. Constants are part of the experiment that remains the same during all trials to ensure no other

variables after the results. The control is the part of the experiment to be used as a standard of comparison. This group receives

no “special treatment”

In research on the effect of cigarette smoking on lung cancer, constants would include the age of the participants, how many cigarettes were smoked each day and the type of cigarette. The control group would be the subjects in the experiment who did not smoke cigarettes.

Latitude is lines running parallel to the equator that are used to measure degrees North and South.Longitude is lines running between the poles used to measure degrees east and west of the Prime meridian.Each degree of latitude or longitude is broken into 60 minutes and each minute is broken into 60 seconds.The equator is the imaginary line dividing Earth into Northern and Southern Hemispheres at latitude 0°.The prime meridian is the imaginary line dividing Earth into Eastern and Western Hemispheres.Virginia is in the Northern Hemisphere and also the Western Hemisphere.Magnetic declination is the angle at which the compass needle varies from true north.

Topography is all natural and man-made features of a landscape; the shape of the land.Contour lines are lines on a topographic map that represent the elevation above sea level.The contour interval is the difference in elevation between two contour lines.The index contour line shows the actual elevation for all points on that line.The closer the contour lines, the steeper the land is. Contour lines cannot cross each other.Elevation is the height above sea level.

The approximate coordinates of point “A” on the map above are 15o N, 45o W.The approximate coordinates of point “B” on the map above are 45o S, 0o W, on the Prime Meridian.

The contour interval on the above topographic map is 100.The elevation at point X is 500.The type of feature the arrow indicates is a depression.

Meteorology is the study of weather.A meteorologist is a scientist who studies weather.

Climate is an area’s long term weather pattern (30 years).Climate is controlled by latitude, nearby water, ocean currents, topography, prevailing winds and vegetation.Weather is what’s happening outside right now.Weather is result of humidity, pressure and condensation.

El Niño and La Niña can have major effects on the weather.All energy that drives the weather comes from the sun.

Atmosphere is divided into layers due to temperature changes.

The troposphere is the lowest level of the atmosphere where all weather occurs and people live. The temperature decreases as the elevation increases.

The stratosphere is the atmospheric layer above the troposphere, which contains the ozone layer. The temperature increases as altitude increases because of the ozone layer. Ozone protects us from ultraviolet radiation.

The mesosphere is the layer above the stratosphere where the temperature decreases, the higher you go.

The thermosphere is the layer above the mesosphere where the aurora borealis (northern lights) appear. The temperature increases with altitude.

Radiation is the transfer of energy through space in the form of visible light (the sun).Conduction is the transfer of energy through touching. (A pot contacting a stove burner).Convection is the transfer of energy in a liquid or gas. (The water in a pot that is heating).

Condensation is the change from water vapor to liquid (dew, fog and clouds).Evaporation is the change from liquid water to gas.

Warm air holds more water vapor than cold air.Humidity is the percent of water vapor in the air.Dew point is the temperature where saturation (100% humidity) occurs and condensation begins (dew)The air temperature and the dew point would be the same at 100% relative humidity.

Thermometer measures temperatureBarometer measures pressureRain gauge measures the amount of rainfallWind vane measures wind directionAnemometer measures wind speedPsychrometer measures relative humidity

Wind is caused by differences in pressure. It flows from high pressure to low pressure.

High air pressure (H) creates areas with HAPPY (sunny) weather, while low air pressure (L) creates areas with LOUSY (rainy) weather. Pressure differences are responsible for creating land and sea breezes.Cloudy nights can be warmer than clear nights because clouds trap heat absorbed by Earth during daylight hours

Isobars on a weather map connect lines of equal pressure.Isotherms on a weather map connect lines of equal temperature.

The Coriolis Effect is the effect of Earth’s rotation that causes the curving of the wind in the Northern Hemisphere to the right and left in the Southern Hemisphere.

The Greenhouse Effect is when gases in the atmosphere absorb and trap heat.

Hurricane formation begins in the tropics with a supply of warm moist air. The air rises, cools, and water condenses. Humid air flows in at the surface to replace the rising are and even more water condenses. The rotation occurs because of the Coriolis force, turning it counterclockwise. Hurricanes only form when the surface ocean waters are 80°F or above and weaken as soon as they hit land.

Sleet- frozen rain drops,Freezing Rain- rain that freezes on contact with the ground.

Be able to draw a station model with cloud cover, wind direction, wind speed, rain, temperature and dew point.

Weather fronts:

Wind above is flowing from the NW at 30 knots.The temperature is 16° and the dew point 14°.The sky is cloudy, completely overcast.

25

15

The sky is overcast or clear? __Overcast_______The wind direction is from the _East_____________The wind speed is ____15___ knots. Long lines are 10 knots. Short lines are 5 knots.The temperature is ___25°________The dew point is _____15°________

Surface ocean currents are caused by winds. Warm ocean currents flow from the equator. Cold ocean currents flow from the poles. Deep ocean currents flow from the Polar Regions, because colder water is denser than warm water.

Upwelling is a vertical current in the water when cold water comes from the surface. Upwelling contains nutrients that phytoplankton need to grow. Phytoplankton are the basic food for other living organisms in the ocean.

Global wind patterns

In the first picture, the sphere is in a beaker with 100 mL of water. In the second picture, the dry sphere has a mass of 70g. The volume of the water in the beaker with the sphere is 150mL. The volume of the sphere is 150 mL – 100 mL, which = 50 mL. The density of the black sphere is the mass of 70/ the volume of 50, which = 1.4 g/mL.

The Sudan is SW of Kuwait. Kuwait is NE of Sudan.Using the scale on the lower left, the Red Sea is 2100 km long.

Time zones were created because the earth rotates. If traveling from location B to location C, (East), you should move your clock forward. If traveling from location B to location X, (West), you should move your clock backward. If it is 8pm at location D, what time is it at location B? Moving from D-B is west to east, which means

the clock is moved backwards. D is 0° longitude and B is 90° longitude for a difference of 90°. If the time changes 1 hour per 15°, and 90°/15° = 6, then we move 6 hours backwards. 8pm moved backwards 6 hours = 8-6 = 2pm.

Rift valley is at #1.Mid Ocean ridge is 1t #2.Abyssal plane is at #3.Ocean trench is at #4.

Having the Earth in the center of the solar system is called the geocentric model.Having the Sun in the center of the solar system is called the heliocentric model.

A lunar eclipse occurs when the moon passes through the Earth’s ___A____.a. shadowb. atmospherec. magnetic fieldd. orbit

According to scientists, how was the moon formed?a. An asteroid was caught by Earth’s gravity.b. Earth was struck by an object during its early phase and the molten rock flew off and condensed into a

sphere.c. Scientists have no idea, it remains a mystery.d. A smaller planet was created during the formation of the solar system but revolves around Earth rather

than the sun.

Waxing means that the phases of the moon when the illuminated portion is getting largerWaning means that the phases of the moon when the illuminated portion is getting smaller

The tilt of the earth causes seasons.Fusion is the process that occurs in our sun when atoms combine to form a new element and release energy.