Earth Science Final Exam Study Guide

7th Grade Science- Final Exam Study Guide 1. What did the following astronomers contribute to our understanding of the Solar System: Copernicus: He explained the heliocentric model, which says, the Earth revolves around the Sun. Galileo: He observed that the moons of Jupiter stayed with the planet as it revolved around the sun; he supported the heliocentric model Kepler: He discovered that the planets’ orbits are ellipses 2. What affects the phase of the moon you see? The phase depends on how much of the sunlit side of the moon is facing Earth. 3. Draw the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during these phases: Full Moon New Moon New First Quarter Moon Moon Third Quarter Moon 4. Draw the positions of the Sun, Moon, and Earth during Neap and Spring Tides. Neap Tides Spring Tides Third Quarter Full Moon First Quarter 5. Describe the positions of the Earth, moon and the sun during a solar and lunar eclipse: Solar: the moon is between the Earth and the sun Lunar: the Earth is between the moon and the sun 6. What is the spinning of the Earth on its axis is called? Rotation 7. What two things determine the strength of the force of gravity? The masses of the objects and the distance between them. 8. Explain what keeps the moon in orbit around the Earth. Earth’s gravity is pulling on the Moon: the Moon’s inertia keeps it moving forward and keeps it from being pulled towards the Earth. 9. Why does Earth have seasons? Earth has seasons because it is tilted on its axis 10. Draw and label the Earth’s positions (including the axis) around the sun for the four seasons in the Northern Hemisphere? Fall Winter Summer Spring 11. Describe each of the following characteristics of a mineral: Inorganic: does not have parts of once-living things. Naturally Occurring: is not made by humans. Crystal structure: Minerals are made of particles that are lined up in a pattern that repeats. 12. What determines the size of a mineral’s crystals? Rate of cooling 13. Describe the major characteristics of Earth’s layers: Crust: Thin layer of solid rock. Mantle: A layer of hot rock. Outer Core: Liquid/molten metal Inner Core: A dense ball of solid metal. 14. What causes the material in Earth’s mantle to rise? Heated material becomes less dense. 15. Describe Alfred Wegener’s theory of continental drift: He believed the continents were once joined together in a single supercontinent called Pangaea. He thought Pangaea broke into pieces millions of years ago. He used fossils and landforms as his evidence. 16. Describe the theory of Plate Tectonics: Earth’s surface is broken into pieces; pieces of Earth’s lithosphere are in constant, slow motion. Plate movement is caused by convection currents in Earth’s mantle. Interactions between the plates constantly reshape Earth’s surface.) 17. What causes the movement of Earth’s lithosphere? Convection currents 18. At which type of boundary would you find the following landforms: Rift valley (Continental/Continental) Divergent. Mountain Ranges (Continental/Continental) Convergent Mid Ocean ridges (Oceanic/Oceanic) Divergent or in Earth’s oceans at divergent boundaries 19. Where are most volcanoes located? Along the edges of Earth’s plates. 20. What evidence did scientists use to prove that seafloor spreading was occurring? They found the age and magnetic record of rock samples from locations on the sea floor. The results showed that rocks farther away from the center of mid-ocean ridges were older than those near it. 21. In an experiment, what is an independent variable? It is the thing that is changed on purpose 22. In an experiment, what is a dependent variable? It is what is measured/observed 23. In an experiment, what is a constant variable? Things that are kept the same for all trials 24. Identifying Variables Practice: Use the definitions above to identify the variables in the following experiment: A student wanted to test how the mass of a paper airplane affected the distance it would fly. The student used the same airplane for each trial, used the same release technique, and the same force of throw. All trials were performed indoors in the same location. Paper clips were added before each test flight. As each paper clip was added, the plane was tested to determine how far it would fly. The distance was measured in meters. Independent Variable: mass of an airplane Dependent Variable: distance (it would fly) Constant Variable(s): same airplane, same release technique, same force of throw, same location of experiment