Earth Science - Grade 11 Quiz

Earth Science - Grade 11

• Earth science is the study of the physical constitution of the Earth and its atmosphere.
• The universe originated 13.8 billion years ago from a singularity, an infinitely small, infinitely dense, and extremely hot point of pure energy.
• Georges Lemaître and Alexander Friedman theorized the singularity inflated and expanded after its initial appearance.
• Four fundamental forces of nature (gravitational, strong nuclear, electromagnetic, and weak nuclear) formed as the universe expanded.
• The gravitational force is the weakest force and exists between all objects.
• The strong nuclear force is the strongest force and holds particles in the nucleus together.
• The electromagnetic force is the second strongest force and is due to electric charges.
• The weak nuclear force is involved in radioactive decay and is actually a form of the electromagnetic force.
• Matter and anti-matter exist and when they attract, protons and neutrons are formed.
• Protons are stable and have a positive electric charge.
• Neutrons are stable subatomic particles and have no electric charge.
• Matter and anti-matter attract and destroy each other, leaving behind protons and neutrons.

Stars

• Stars are element manufacturers.
• Stars are composed primarily of hydrogen (75%) and helium (25%).
• Stars evolve as they form heavier elements until they eventually die.
• Supernova explosions scatter matter into space.
• Nebulae are interstellar clouds of dust, hydrogen, helium, and other ionized gases.

Planets

• Planets move in elliptical orbits around a star.
• The solar system has eight planets and smaller bodies such as asteroids, meteoroids, and comets.
• The four inner, terrestrial planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
• The four outer, Jovian planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Earth's Subsystems

• Geosphere: Solid Earth, including rocks, minerals, and geologic formations.
• Hydrosphere: All water on Earth (oceans, lakes, rivers, groundwater, ice).
• Atmosphere: The gaseous layer surrounding Earth.
• Biosphere: All living organisms and organic matter.

Minerals

• Minerals are naturally occurring, inorganic, solid substances with a definite chemical composition.
• Minerals have specific physical properties such as color, hardness, cleavage, and luster.
• They form in organized crystal structures.

Rock Cycle

• The rock cycle describes the processes by which rocks are formed, modified, transported, decomposed, melted, and reformed.
• The three main rock types are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
• Igneous rocks form from the cooling and solidification of molten rock (magma or lava).
• Sedimentary rocks form from the compaction and cementation of sediments.
• Metamorphic rocks form from the transformation of existing rocks through heat and pressure.

Ore

• Ores are rocks that contain sufficient amounts of minerals with economically important metals.
• Eight common rock-forming elements in Earth's crust are oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium.

Weathering

• Chemical weathering is the alteration of minerals in rocks exposed to oxygen and water, forming new minerals and residual ore deposits.
• Several processes (hydrothermal fluid circulation, metamorphic processes, magmatic processes, kimberlite magma, chemical sedimentary processes, action of waves and ocean currents) can create and change ore minerals.

Renewable and Non-renewable Resources

• Renewable resources can be replenished naturally, such as solar, wind, biomass, hydroelectric, and geothermal energy.
• Non-renewable resources, such as fossil fuels (coal, petroleum, and natural gas), cannot be replenished on a human timescale.

Water Cycle

• Includes processes like evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
• Reservoirs such as oceans and rivers, groundwater, and glaciers store water for various periods.
• Pathway describes the movement of water between reservoirs and subsystems.

Types of Lakes

• Lakes are bodies of water.
• Ponds are small, shallow lakes.
• Dams are barriers that contain water flow.
• Lakes can form due to natural barriers.

Types of Floods

• Flood is a natural phenomenon where an area is temporarily submerged in water.
• Flood types include riverine floods (caused by overflowing streams), flash floods (rapid and intense bursts of water), and coastal floods (water inundating low-lying coastal areas) due to heavy rainfall.