Earth & Environmental Science Final Exam Study Guide
Astronomy – 1.1
1. 1.1.1 What does the geocentric model of the solar system look like?
EARTH AT THE CENTER OF THE SOLAR SYSTEM
2. 1.1.1 What is the theory that the Solar System developed from a cloud of dust and gas?
NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS
3. 1.1.1 At what point is Earth closest to the sun?
PERIHELION
4. 1.1.1 What are the Jovian planets vs terrestrial?
TERRESTRIAL – CLOSEST TO THE SUN, example: MERCURY, VENUS, EARTH, MARS
JOVIAN – FURTHEST FROM THE SUN, example: JUPITER, SATURN, URANUS, NEPTUNE
5. 1.1.2 What is responsible for the seasonal changes on earth?
SEASONS RESULT FROM THE TILT OF THE EARTH’S ROTIONAL AXIS RELATIVE TO THE PLANE OF ORBIT AND THE YEARLY ORBIT OF THE EARTH AROUND THE SUN
6. 1.1.2 What causes the earth to experience tides?
THE COMBINED EFFECTS OF GRAVITATIONAL FORCES EXERTED BY THE MOON, SUN, AND THE ROTATION OF THE EARTH
7. 1.1.2 What causes earth to experience days and years?
DAYS ARE DUE TO THE SPIN OF THE EARTH ON IT’S AXIS (ROTATION) AND YEARS ARE DUE TO THE EARTH MOVING AROUND THE SUN IN AN ELIPTICAL ORBIT (REVOLUTION)
8. 1.1.2 Why is the circumference of the earth larger at the equator then the poles?
IT IS A RESULT OF GRAVITY AND ITS ROTATION
9. 1.1.3 What is fusion?
IT’S THE PROCESSTHAT POWERS THE SUN AND THE STARS. IT’S THE REACTION OF TWO ATOMS OF HYDROGEN COMBINE TOGETHER , OR FUSE, TO FORM AN ATOM OF HELIUM. IN THE PROCESS SOME OF THE MASS OF HYDROGEN IS CONVERTED TO ENERGY.
10. 1.1.3 What is fission?
Fission is a nuclear process in which a heavy nucleus splits into two smaller nuclei. An example
of a fission reaction that was used in the first atomic bomb and is still used in nuclear reactors
11. 1.1.3 What process produces radiant energy in stars?
FUSION
12. 1.1.4 What causes the differential heating of Earth’s surface (differences in land and water)?
WATER HEATS UP AND COOLS MORE SLOWLY THEN LAND. 2/3’S OF THE EARTH’S SURFACE IS COVERED...