Science SSA

Which of the following statements best relates a star's color to its surface temperature?

• A blue star has a relatively low temperature.

• A red star has a relatively high temperature.

• A blue-white star has a relatively low temperature.

• A yellow star has a relatively low temperature.

Which of the following pairs of terms directly relates to the actual brightness of a star?

• Absolute magnitude and luminosity.

• Apparent magnitude and luminosity.

• Size and luminosity.

• Absolute magnitude and apparent magnitude.

Which of the following units is used to express the size of stars?

• Kilometer

• Light-year

• Solar Radius

• Astronomical unit

Which characteristic of the outer core makes it unique among the other layers of Earth?

• The outer core is the densest, making it more rigid than the other layers.

• The outer core is the only layer made of silicate rock, allowing it to flow and move in convection currents.

• The outer core is the hottest of all the layers, creating a buildup of pressure that makes it solid.

• The outer core is the only layer that is composed of liquid metal, making it responsible for Earth’s magnetic field.

Folding and faulting are two examples of slow changes by which plate tectonics can shape Earth’s surface. Which of the following describes a difference between these two processes?

• Folding is caused by circular movement of the plates around each other, while faulting causes pressure and heat to be reduced.

• Folding begins with the fracturing of the rock, while faulting takes place when high heat and pressure are exerted horizontally.

• Folding takes place when pressure and heat bend rock horizontally or vertically, while faulting begins with fracturing of the rock.

• Folding is caused by forces of the plates found close to the surface of Earth, while faulting occurs through continental collisions deep within Earth.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-2

The transfer of heat is responsible for many of the events that occur on Earth. Which of the following events is most directly caused by radiation from the Sun?

• the circulation of air

• the warming of Earth’s surface

• the movement of ocean currents

• the movement within Earth’s mantle

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Which of the following best explains how minerals get into streams?

• Rainwater that is high in minerals from the atmosphere falls into the stream.

• The stream absorbs minerals from the plants growing in and around its banks.

• Rainwater dissolves minerals out of the rocks and soil along the stream during runoff.

• When water evaporates from the ocean, it takes minerals with it and redeposits them as rainwater into the stream.

Trade winds blow in a curved path toward the equator in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. How do normal trade wind patterns change the weather of islands near the equator?

• Trade winds blow cooler, gentler winds toward the islands.

• Trade winds blow colder, heavier winds toward the islands.

• Trade winds blow drier, more constant winds toward the islands.

• Trade winds blow warmer, more unpredictable winds toward the islands.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

The picture below shows warm air over land and cool air over water.

Air currents form due to the uneven heating of Earth. According to the picture above, what direction will the air currents most likely move?

• straight down over the land

• straight up above the water

• from the water toward the land

• from the land toward the water

Answer explanation

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-5

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

Why is the greenhouse effect important to life on Earth?

• The greenhouse effect absorbs x-rays in the winter time.

• The greenhouse effect helps Earth’s atmosphere hold in heat.

• The greenhouse effect makes it much colder at the North and South poles.

• The greenhouse effect reflects harmful radiation into the upper atmosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-6

NGSS.MS-ESS3-5