Exploring Earth's Systems and Processes

What are Earth’s four spheres?

• Rocks, Water, Air, and Animals

• Geosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere

• Land, Clouds, Stars, and People

• Oceans, Mountains, Trees, and Wind

Which sphere includes all the water on Earth, like oceans, rivers, and groundwater?

• Atmosphere

• Geosphere

• Hydrosphere

• Biosphere

What is the main function of the atmosphere?

• To provide solid ground for plants and animals

• To supply oxygen, trap heat, and control weather

• To store all of Earth’s water

• To create mountains and volcanoes

How does the biosphere interact with the geosphere?

• Plants grow in soil and animals dig burrows in the ground

• The atmosphere provides oxygen for animals

• Water from the hydrosphere falls as rain

• The sun provides energy for life on Earth

What is weathering?

• The breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces

• The movement of clouds across the sky

• The process of heating and cooling the atmosphere

• The formation of new mountains

Which of the following is an example of mechanical (physical) weathering?

• Acid rain dissolving rocks

• Water freezing in cracks, causing rocks to break apart

• Rocks changing color due to oxidation

• Volcanoes erupting and creating new land

What is the main source of freshwater on Earth?

• The ocean

• Rivers, lakes, glaciers, and groundwater

• Clouds and wind

• The sun

Why is freshwater important?

• It makes up most of the Earth’s water

• It is unlimited and never runs out

• It is essential for drinking, farming, and daily life

• It only exists in the ocean

How do the hydrosphere and atmosphere interact?

• The atmosphere provides oxygen for the geosphere

• Water evaporates from oceans and forms clouds in the atmosphere

• The geosphere holds up the biosphere

• Animals breathe in water from lakes

What happens when Earth's spheres interact?

• They work separately without affecting each other

• They help shape Earth's environment and support life

• Only the geosphere and atmosphere interact

• The hydrosphere is the only sphere that changes things