Earth Systems Test

A group of students receives an exciting assignment: to design a new model biosphere. According to the criteria and constraints for the project, the biosphere must replicate Earth’s spheres as closely as possible, and it must be able to support life—but it may not use any resources that are located beyond the boundaries of the model. The students design a model biosphere under a large clear plastic dome with doors and windows opening wide onto the surrounding land to let in the fresh air. Inside there are rocks, soil, a small saltwater lake, a freshwater pond, fish, mammals, birds, insects, and even two humans. The next step is to determine if the model is ready for construction and testing. Their teacher tells them that theirs is considered a failure because they did not fully meet the criteria and constraints of the project. Which change in the design of the model will fix the problem so that the model can go forward with testing?

• The scientists should remove all of the soil because a working biosphere should not include the geosphere.

• The doors and windows to the biosphere should be closed because a working biosphere must be a closed system.

• The scientists should remove the oxygen from the model because a working biosphere does not require an atmosphere

• Either the pond or the ocean should be removed because a working biosphere cannot have a hydrosphere with both fresh water and salt water.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ETS1-1

NGSS.MS-ETS1-2

Marcus is giving a presentation on Earth's energy flow at Science Night. His poster includes this model, which shows Earth's crust, mantle and core. Which sentence can he include as a caption that correctly describes how energy flows in this system?

• Energy flows from the cooler rock at Earth's crust toward Earth's core.

• Energy flows from the warmer rock at Earth's crust toward Earth core.

• Energy flows from the warmer rock at Earth's core towards Earth's crust.

• Energy flows from the cooler rock at the Earth's core towards Earth's crust.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Brianna goes for a swim in the ocean. She swims away from shore, and as she begins treading the deeper water, she notices that the water on the surface is much warmer than the water touching her toes. What Earth process explains how the surface water was heated?

• gravity

• convection cells in the ocean

• radiation from the sun

• conduction of heat from Earth's crust

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

Devin is preparing a science fair presentation about weather patterns in desert climates. He is using this photograph as a model of an atmospheric convection cell. Which statement is the best label for his model?

• The increased density of the heated air causes it to rise.

• The decreased density of the heated air causes it to rise.

• The increased density of the heated air causes it to sink to the ground.

• The decreased density of the heated air causes it to sink to the ground.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

In the ​ ​ (a)   , water exists in its solid form as ice

• cryosphere

• hydrosphere

• geosphere

• atmosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What liquid features are found in the geosphere and hydrosphere? The liquid feature found in the ge

• geosphere

• hydrosphere

• atmosphere

• biosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

What liquid features are found in the geosphere and hydrosphere? The liquid feature found in the geosphere is ​ (a)   and in the hydrosphere​ ​ (b)   .

• molten rock

• water in the ocean

• glaciers

• evaporation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

What liquid features are found in the geosphere and hydrosphere? The liquid feature found in the ge

• geosphere

• hydrosphere

• atmosphere

• biosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS3-1

Joanna knows that energy is transferred in all four of Earth’s systems: the atmosphere, the biosphere, the geosphere, and the hydrosphere. Which three of Earth’s systems transfer energy primarily through convection cells?

• atmosphere, biosphere, and geosphere

• biosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere

• atmosphere, biosphere, and hydrosphere

• atmosphere, geosphere, and hydrosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

What process is happening in part "B" of the model?

• Conduction

• Radiation

• Convection