Earth's Spheres

This sphere includes the continents, the ocean floor, all the rocks on the surface, and all of the sand in the deserts. 

• Hydrosphere 

• Biosphere 

• Atmosphere 

• Geosphere 

Answer explanation

The geosphere encompasses all solid Earth components, including continents, ocean floors, rocks, and desert sands. The hydrosphere refers to water, the biosphere includes living organisms, and the atmosphere is the layer of gases.

Tags

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This sphere is composed of all the living things 

• Hydrosphere 

• Biosphere 

• Atmosphere 

• Geosphere 

Answer explanation

The biosphere encompasses all living organisms on Earth, including plants, animals, and microorganisms. In contrast, the hydrosphere refers to water, the atmosphere to air, and the geosphere to land. Thus, the correct answer is biosphere.

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You see puddles after it rained. On which part of Earth's system did the puddles form?

• geosphere

• atmosphere

• biosphere

• hydrosphere

Answer explanation

Puddles form on the ground after rain, which is part of the geosphere. The geosphere includes all landforms and surfaces, making it the correct choice for where puddles appear.

Tags

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The model shows a venn diagram comparing three of Earth's four spheres. Which of these Earth events belongs in position D because it influences all three?

• An earthquake causes a tsunami which destroys homes and businesses near the coast

• Heavy rain and flooding causes a landslide that takes down an entire forest on a hillside

• A farmer used a tractor to till soil and grow crops creating a by-product of carbon that is released into the air

• A volcano erupts and lava flows down the mountain side causing the rock below to melt

Answer explanation

The correct choice, 'A farmer used a tractor to till soil and grow crops creating a by-product of carbon that is released into the air', influences the atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere, affecting all three spheres.

Tags

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Where in the diagram is the hydrosphere and geosphere most closely interacting and causing change?

• Evaporation, Erosion and Precipitation

• Condensation, evaporation and erosion

• Accumulation, Precipitation and evaporation

• Evaporation, Erosion, Accumulation

Answer explanation

The correct choice, 'Evaporation, Erosion and Precipitation', highlights key processes where the hydrosphere (water) interacts with the geosphere (land), leading to changes in landscape and water cycle dynamics.

Tags

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Bacteria and algae convert nitrogen from the air into a form that is usable by plants and animals. Which two of Earth's spheres is this an interaction between?

• hydrosphere and geosphere

• geosphere and atmosphere

• atmosphere and biosphere

• geosphere and biosphere

Answer explanation

The interaction involves bacteria and algae converting nitrogen from the atmosphere (air) into a usable form for living organisms, which are part of the biosphere. Thus, the correct spheres are atmosphere and biosphere.

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Kelsi is having a snowball fight with her brother on winter break. Which of the Earth's sphere's would Kelsi's snowballs belong to?

• Biosphere

• Geosphere

• Hydrosphere

• Atmosphere

Answer explanation

Kelsi's snowballs are made of snow, which is formed from water. Therefore, they belong to the hydrosphere, the sphere that includes all water in various forms on Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Alex is grading one of her students' pie chart that does not have a title. He knows that the pie chart is about one of the Earth's components, but he does not know which one. The key for the pie chart shows the following elements labeled: Oxygen, Silicon, Aluminum, and Iron. According to the chart below, which of Earth's components is represented by this pie chart?

• Earth's Crust

• Atmosphere

• Ocean

• Organic Material

Answer explanation

The pie chart elements (Oxygen, Silicon, Aluminum, Iron) are primarily found in the Earth's crust, making it the correct choice. The atmosphere mainly contains gases, while oceans and organic material do not match these elements.

This circle graph shows the percentages of different gases in Earth’s atmosphere. What is gas number 1?

• sodium

• oxygen

• nitrogen

• carbon dioxide

Answer explanation

Gas number 1 in Earth's atmosphere is nitrogen, which makes up about 78% of the atmosphere. The other options, such as oxygen and carbon dioxide, are present in much smaller percentages.

Tags

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Fresh water is water that is not salty. The graph below shows three ways fresh water is found on Earth: as ice, as groundwater, and as water above ground. Where would you find the most fresh water according to the graph?

• Antartica

• Australia

• Africa

• Argentina

Answer explanation

According to the graph, Antarctica contains the largest amount of fresh water, primarily in the form of ice. This makes it the correct choice compared to Australia, Africa, and Argentina.

Tags

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