Earth Science (A) Final Exam Study Guide PDF

Name: Daniel Benjamin Exam will be taken on Tuesday, 1/28/25 (for me) Unit 1 STUDY GUIDE ESS 1-1 Lifespan of Stars ✅ Identify stars based on their surface temperature and luminosity ✅ Identify stars in the same life-cycle ✅ Describe characteristics of star...

Name: Daniel Benjamin Exam will be taken on Tuesday, 1/28/25 (for me) Unit 1 STUDY GUIDE ESS 1-1 Lifespan of Stars ✅ Identify stars based on their surface temperature and luminosity ✅ Identify stars in the same life-cycle ✅ Describe characteristics of stars as compared to one another; ✅ Describe the relationship between a star’s diameter and luminosity luminosity, surface temperature, mass ✅ Describe the characteristics (luminosity, surface temperature, as it changes throughout its lifespan mass) of a given star ESS 1-2 Big Bang Theory ​Identify and describe the evidence that supports the Big Bang Theory (redshift, CMBR, Hydrogen/Helium distribution) Redshift indicates that galaxies are moving away from us. Cosmic Background Microwave Radiation are remnants of visible light from the early universe. Also, there is 75% Hydrogen to 25% Helium. ​ Understand the electromagnetic spectrum; color vs wavelength vs frequency Color is derived from reflected light. Wavelength and frequency are inversely related; the bigger the wavelength the smaller the frequency. ​Understand the sequence of the planets and Earth's moon in our solar system based on the following: ​Mass (https://www.sporcle.com/games/bowsntoys/clickable--- planets-in-order-by-size-minefield) Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury ​Density (https://www.sporcle.com/games/heyimsaph/solar-syste m-density) Earth, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Neptune, Jupiter, Uranus, Saturn ​Diameter (https://www.sporcle.com/games/bowsntoys/clickable---plane ts-in-order-by-size-minefield) Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Earth, Venus, Mars, Mercury  ​Distance from the Sun (https://astro.unl.edu/newRTs/PlanetOrder/) Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Nepttune ​Terrestrial vs Jovian Terrestrial planets are the inner 4 planets that are rocky, so Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Jovian are the outer 4 planets that are gas giants, so Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. ​Define the age of the universe and Earth The universe is about 13.7 billion years old, and Earth is about 4.5 billion years old. ​Describe the defining of terrestrial vs jovian planets (mass, material, density, distance to Sun Terrestrial planets have less mass, are rocky, denser, and closer to the Sun. Jovian planets have more mass, are gassy, have a lower density, and are further from the Sun. ​Understand the difference between a galaxy, star, asteroid, comet, stellar gas cloud A galaxy is a giant formation of gas, dust, and billions of stars. A star is a bright sphere held together by gravity. An asteroid is a small rocky object that orbits the sun. A comet is a large icy object that orbits the sun. Finally, a stellar gas cloud is an area in space with gas and dust, composed of Hydrogen and Helium, where stars are formed. ​Know the age of the universe and Earth The universe is about 13.7 billion years old, and Earth is about 4.5 billion years old. ESS 1-3 Ways stars produce elements ​Identify & describe the process that generates energy that is released by stars Nuclear fusion is described above.  ​Identify the proportion of elements found in the universe that supports Big Bang 75% hydrogen to 25% helium. ESS 1-4 Planet Motion (Kepler) ​Define eccentricity, ellipse & foci Eccentricity is a number that indicates how circular the or elliptical an orbit is. Ellipse is just a regular oval shape. Foci is the”split center” of the ellipse. ​Understand the relationship between ellipse & foci As an object gets more elliptical, the foci, or center of the ellipse also changes. ​Know the relative orbits of the planets of our solar system ​ Mercury - 87.97 days ​ Venus - 224.7 days ​ Earth - 365.26 days ​ Mars - 686.98 days ​ Jupiter - 11.86 years ​ Saturn - 29.46 years ​ Uranus - 84.01 years ​ Neptune - 164.79 years ​Know the difference between ​Eccentricity A number that indicates how circular or elliptical an orbit is. ​Period of rotation The time it takes for a planet to complete one rotation around its axis, gives a planet days. ​Period of revolution Time it takes for a planet to revolve around its Sun, gives a planet years. ​Equatorial diameter The diameter of a planet measured at the equator of that planet.  ​Understand the relationship of how the above all change in relation to distance from the Sun As planets get further away from the Sun, it gets bigger, and time on it gets longer. Unit 2 STUDY GUIDE ESS1-5 Modeling Plate Tectonics For the image above, be able to ​Label the layers (Asthenosphere, Inner Core, Mantle, Outer Core) (above) ​Identify which layers are solid or liquid  (above) ​Identify in which layer convection primarily occurs Mantle, and the outer core ​Explain how density progresses through the layers The deeper you go, the denser it gets ​Explain the force responsible for plate tectonics Density ESS 2-1 Earth’s Internal/Surface Processes & Features ​Explain subduction It happens when oceanic plates move and slide under continental plates ​Explain the difference in process between ​Convergent plate boundary Plates collide into each other, which is Destructive ​Divergent plate boundary Plates move away from each other, which is Constructive ​Transform plate boundary (happens at San Andreas Fault) Plates slide past each other which is NEITHER Constructive nor Destructive ​Understand the different surface features ​Convergent plate boundary Mountains, volcanoes, ridges ​Divergent plate boundary Ridges, earthquakes, volcanoes ​Transform plate boundary Earthquakes ​Know the characteristics (density/thickness) of continental vs. oceanic plates Continental plates are way thicker than oceanic plates, but oceanic plates are denser than continental plates ​Describe the difference in tectonic features below each location ​Iceland - Way more volcanoes, which are more deadly, and have a bigger impact on communities  ​Hawaii - Less volcanic activity, less deadly, smaller impact ​Difference between P-waves and S-waves ​ P-Waves: Push waves. Which are parallel to the direction of the waves. They move faster. Material can be bonded or not bonded, and ranges from gas, liquids, or solids. ​ S-Waves: Side-to-side waves. Perpendicular to the direction of the waves. Moves slower. Material HAS TO BE bonded. Solids only. ESS 2-3 Cycling of Matter ​Understand the process of thermal convection Is the transfer of heat from one object to another by the movement of fluids. ​Understand density’s role in plate tectonics Less dense materials will float on top of denser materials. While those denser materials will sink under the less dense material. Unit 3 STUDY GUIDE Fossils ​Understand characteristics and use of index fossils Index fossils must be easily recognizable, abundant, must have a wide geographic distribution, and a short geologic time range. Index fossils can be used to narrow down the age of rocks because of their short geologic time range. ​Scientists use fossils as evidence of what?  Scientists use fossils as evidence of a species’ evolution or adaptation to their environment over time ​Evidence of marine fossils on all continents tells us what about early Earth About the Ice Age. Geologic Time scale ​Know the order of geologic time (longest to shortest) Eons → Eras → Periods → Epochs → Ages ​Understand when humans first appeared on the geologic time scale Humans appeared about 1.8 million years ago, in the pleistocene epoch, in the quaternary period, in the cenozoic era, in the phanerozoic eon Radiometric/Absolute Dating ​Understand isotopes Isotopes are atoms of the same element that have the same number of protons but a different number of neutrons. Unstable isotopes decay and are radioactive because of an imbalance in the number of protons and neutrons. Stable isotopes don’t decay, and don’t emit radiation. ​Understand half-life A half-life is the time it takes for the radioactivity of a specified isotope to fall by half its original value. Carbon-14 samples less  than 50,000 years, and its half-life is 5,730 years. Uranium-238 samples more than 50,000 years, and its half-life is 4.47 billion years. ​Understand the main purpose of radiometric dating Radiometric dating is used to find the age of rocks on Earth. ​Given the age of a sample, calculate percentage of original isotope remaining Imagine this: If 100% of the original isotope is remaining at half-life 0, then moving to half-life 1, it will be cut in HALF by 50%, and it will follow the same trend for each half-life. Half-life Original radioactive isotope remaining (%) 0 100% 1 50% 2 25% 3 12.5% Volcanoes & Asteroid ​Consequences of large volcanic eruptions Some consequences of large volcanic eruptions could include sending CO2 into the atmosphere, which causes global warming. Also, when volcanic ash blocks sunlight, it could cause crops to stop growing, therefore giving us no food.  ​Understand the importance of volcanic ash deposits as geologic time markers Volcanic Ash deposits contain important fossils and minerals that make scientists measure its age, and could determine when past plants and animals lived and died. ​Understand the main factor of volcanic eruptions that contributes to atmospheric changes Volcanic ash is released into the atmosphere, which can block sunlight and cause global cooling. On the other hand, CO2 can also get released into the atmosphere, and can cause global warming. ​Consequences of large asteroid impacts Large asteroid impacts can cause tsunamis, earthquakes, and if the asteroid is big enough, it could even cause a mass extinction. ​What protects the Earth from asteroids? The influence of other planet’s gravitational pull. Stratigraphy ​Understand the law of superposition States that older rock layers are at the bottom, and newer ones at the top. ​Understand the law of original horizontality States that undisturbed rocks will be horizontal (flat)  ​Understand the law of cross-cutting relationship Any break or fault must be younger than the layers which is breaks ​Understand the law of inclusion Fragments that make up a rock must be older than the rock itself ​Understand the law of unconformity Possible for rock layers to be missing due to erosion and weathering. ​Be able to apply the laws of stratigraphy to identify the relative ages of rock layers You better know how. Carbon Cycle ​Understand the significance of the the Carbon Cycle The carbon cycle is the process that moves carbon around Earth. Carbon is what makes life possible on Earth. The more Carbon Dioxide (CO2) that is in the atmosphere, the more global temperatures will increase.