Planet Earth

Which statement about an unidentified rock sample is most likely an inference?

• The rock is composed of large crystals.

• The rock has shiny, wavy mineral bands

• The rock is a metamorphic rock.

• The rock has no visible fossils.

A student measured the mass and volume of the mineral crystal below and recorded the data shown below. The student used these data to calculate the density of the crystal.

What will be the student's percent error using the recorded data if the actual density of the crystal is 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter?

• 0.4%

• 5.0%

• 7.4%

• 8.0%

The ozone layer protects life on Earth by absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation. The ozone layer is located between 17 kilometers and 35 kilometers above Earth's surface in which atmospheric temperature zone?

• troposphere

• stratosphere

• mesosphere

• thermosphere

A 25-gram sample of halite was placed in a jar with five other mineral samples and water. The jar was shaken vigorously for 5 minutes. The halite sample was then found to have a mass of 15 grams. What was the rate of weathering of the halite sample?

• 0.50 g/min

• 2.0 g/min

• 3.0 g/min

• 10.0 g/min

Base your answer on the diagram below, which has lettered arrows showing the motions of Earth and the Moon. These lettered arrows represent motions that are

• noncyclic and unpredictable

• noncyclic and predictable

• cyclic and unpredictable

• cyclic and predictable

Which object best represents a true scale model of the shape of the Earth?

• a Ping-Pong ball

• a football

• an egg

• a pear

Which statement best explains the apparent daily motion of the stars around Polaris?

• The Earth's orbit is an ellipse.

• The Earth has the shape of an oblate spheroid.

• The Earth rotates on its axis.

• The Earth revolves around the Sun.

The true shape of the Earth is best described as a

• perfect sphere

• perfect ellipse

• slightly oblate sphere

• highly eccentric ellipse

As air on the surface of Earth warms, the density of the air

• decreases

• increases

• remains the same

• none of the above

Assume cube B was broken into many irregularly shaped pieces. Compared to the density of the entire cube, the density of one of the pieces would be

• less

• greater

• the same

• unpredictable