Key Concepts: Geology on Mars Chapter 2

Why do scientists use models to study natural processes?

• Models make complicated systems easier to understand.

• Models help scientists watch slow processes in real time.

• Models replace the need for real-world experiments.

• Models give the exact results that happen in nature.

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How does a dried-up riverbed show past geological activity?

• It shows there used to be volcanic activity.

• It means there were once earthquakes.

• It shows that water once flowed there.

• It suggests glaciers used to be in the area.

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What is one problem with using models to study natural processes?

• Models can’t be changed once they’re made.

• Models don’t always show the correct size of real processes.

• Models give the same results every time.

• Models can only be used for easy-to-see processes.

When would a scientist most likely use a computer model?

• To study a volcanic eruption happening right now

• To watch how a mountain range forms over millions of years

• To collect rock samples from the ocean floor

• To measure weather changes every day

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What can scientists learn from layers of sediment in a canyon?

• The plants and animals that lived there

• The order of geological events that happened

• The air's composition from different times

• The history of human activity there

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Why must scientists be careful when interpreting results from models?

• Models are always exact copies of the real world.

• Models only predict weather.

• Models might oversimplify complicated processes.

• Models can only be used once.

Which is an example of scientists using a model to test their ideas?

• A small version of a river system is used to study erosion.

• A real earthquake is watched with sensors.

• A volcano is studied during an eruption.

• A mountain is climbed to measure its height.

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What can ancient landforms tell us about Earth’s past?

• They show the gases that used to be in the air.

• They show where glaciers once moved.

• They show where earthquakes might happen next.

• They prove tectonic plates have stopped moving.

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How do scientists make sure their models are still useful even if they aren’t exact?

• They add as many details as possible to cover everything.

• They focus on the most important parts of the process they’re studying.

• They change their models with every new piece of data.

• They don’t use models for complicated systems.

Which is an example of using a model to gather evidence?

• Predicting a hurricane’s path using past data

• Simulating climate change effects on a virtual ecosystem

• Collecting soil samples from different areas

• Watching animals in their natural habitat

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