Earth Science Regents Memorization Review

A Foucault pendulum appears to change its directions of swing because Earth

• is tilted on its axis
• is spinning on its axis
• has a curved surface
• has a density of 5.5 g/cm3

The modern heliocentric model of planetary motion states that the planets travel around

• the Sun in slightly elliptical orbits
• the Sun in circular orbits
• Earth is slightly elliptical orbits
• Earth in circular orbits

Which soil characteristic allows greater amounts of water retention?

• large-size particles
• small-size particles
• high-density particles
• low-density particles

A paved blacktop parking lot was built on what was once a soil-covered field. The area will now experience increased runoff when rain occurs because the parking lot has

• less capillarity
• greater infiltration
• greater porosity
• less permeability

Which processes of the water cycle return watervapor directly to the atmosphere?

• evpaoration and transpiration
• infiltration and capillarity
• freezing and precipitation
• water retention and runoff

Evidence supports the idea that increases in carbon dioxide and methane in Earth’s atmosphere are major contributors to global warming. This is based primarily on the fact that carbon dioxide and methane are excellent absorbers of

• gamma rays
• visible light
• infrared radiation
• microwaves

Which agent of erosion most likely formed the drumlins and finger lakes in New York State?

• running water
• moving ice
• wave action
• mass movement

What caused the interior of Earth to separate into layers?

• a decrease in the rate of rotation of Earth
• the gravitational pull on materials of varying densities
• variations in heating by the Sun due to Earth’s tilt
• collisions with meteors and comets

Which motion causes the constellation Orion to be visible at midnight from New York State in winter but not in summer?

• rotation of Earth
• rotation of Orion
• revolution of Earth
• revolution of Orion

Which event temporarily slows or reverses surface ocean currents in the equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean, causing a disruption of normal weather patterns?

• tsunami
• El Niño
• volcanic eruption
• deforestation