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WorksheetsEarth Sci Spring Final Study Guide 2026
Total questions: 90
Worksheet time: 46mins
What does the law of superposition tell us?
that rocks are very old
that rock layers are older on the bottom and younger at the top
that rocks can become deformed by pressure
that rocks are about 4 billion years old
The principal of Original Horizontality states that......
layers of the Earth are made of granite
sediments are only deposited under the ocean
layers of sediment are generally deposited in a horizontal position
layers of sediments are usually deposited in vertical positions
The principal of Cross Cutting Relationships tells us that......
rock that cuts across established layers is younger than the rocks it is cutting through
rocks that cut across layers are older than the layers they are cutting through
rocks are not able to cut across established rock layers because they are too old
rocks can not contain fossils in the layers that are cut
Put the rock layers in order from oldest to youngest.
A, B, X, C, D, E, F
E, D, C, X, K, B, A
K, A, B, C, X, D, E
A, B, K, X, C, D, E
In rock formations, what are inclusions?
rocks that are surrounded by older rock formations
rocks that break off during an intrusion and are embedded in younger rocks
sediments that have fossils included
rocks that are mostly granite type rocks
What type of rock do we find fossils embedded?
granite
igneous
sedimentary
metamorphic
How can we use the law of super position to determine the relative age of a fossil?
fossils that are found in lower sedimentary rock layers are older than fossils that are found in layers that are above those layers
the law of superposition can not be used for determining the age of fossils
fossils that are found in layers of sedimentary rocks are usually older than the rock layers they are found in
fossils that are found in upper layers of sedimentary rocks are the oldest of all fossils
What conditions are necessary for fossil formation?
warm temperatures and slow burial
cold temperatures and fast burial
soft parts and slow burial
hard parts and quick burial
The different types of fossils include .....
molds and casts, preserved remains, petrified fossils, carbon films
molds and casts, petrified fossils, inclusions, cross cuts
preserved remains, petrified fossils, carbon films, inclusions
inclusions, cross cuts, unconformities, petrified fossils
Using the chart provided, if a rock sample is determined to have 1/8 of the parent material left how many half-lives has that radioactive material gone through?
1
2
3
4
Using the chart provided, if a rock sample is determined to have 1/8 of the parent material left and each half life is 1 million years, how old is the rock sample?
2 million years old
3 million years old
4 million years old
5 million years old
What percent of the Earth's History has been spent in Pre-Cambrian time?
78%
88%
68%
58%
How old is the Earth?
4.5 million years old
5.5 million years old
6.7 billion years old
4.5 billion years old
When did fossil evidence become abundant in the geologic record?
during the Devonian period
during the Jurassic period, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth
during the Cambrian period, known as the Cambrian explosion
during the Quaternary period when mammals ruled the Earth
What is the current geologic PERIOD of time?
Quaternary
Jurassic
Ordovician
Permian
Burning fossil fuels releases ____________ into the atmosphere.
oxygen
nitrogen
carbon dioxide
ozone
Greenhouse gases include;
nitrogen and argon
carbon dioxide, and water vapor
nitrogen and carbon dioxide
argon and water vapor
During the 20th Century, have Earth's average global temperatures increased or decreased?
increased
decreased
What are the 3 most abundant gases in our atmosphere?
carbon dioxide, water vapor, argon
argon, ozone, nitrogen
nitrogen, oxygen, argon
oxygen, carbon dioxide, argon
What layer of the atmosphere do we live in?
thermosphere
mesosphere
stratosphere
troposphere
What layer of the atmosphere includes the ozone layer?
thermosphere
mesosphere
stratosphere
troposphere
What layer of the atmosphere is where meteors start to burn up?
thermosphere
mesosphere
stratosphere
troposphere
What layer of the atmosphere is the hottest?
thermosphere
mesosphere
stratosphere
troposphere
During what time of year do the sun's rays strike the Tropic of Cancer (23.5oN) at a direct 90o angle?
Spring Equinox
Summer Solstice
Fall Equinox
Winter Solstice
During what time of year do the sun's rays strike the equator at a direct 90o angle?
Spring Equinox
Summer Solstice
Fall Equinox
Winter Solstice
Which waves on the electromagnetic spectrum are the shortest?
microwaves
visible
UV
gamma
Which waves on the electromagnetic spectrum are the longest?
microwaves
visible
UV
gamma
When heat/light energy is transferred from the sun to the Earth, the process is called ________________.
conduction
convection
radiation
When heat/light energy is transferred by mass movement or circulation within a substance is called _____________.
conduction
convection
radiation
When heat/light energy is transferred through matter by molecular activity it is called _______________.
conduction
convection
radiation
Thinking about local climates, cities that are located on the windward coast of the United States experience _________.
the same climate as those cities on the leeward coast
much hotter and colder temperatures than cities on the leeward coast
more moderate temperatures than cities on the leeward coast
Solar energy absorbed by carbon dioxide and water molecules in the atmosphere is called the _________.
Greenhouse effect
Radiation effect
Electromagnetic spectrum effect
Conduction effect
Because clouds reflect incoming solar radiation during the day, that causes daytime temperatures to be _________.
cooler
hotter
Because clouds act as a blanket or insulator over the Earth during the night, night time temperatures tend to be _____.
cooler
hotter
When it comes to understanding atmospheric processes, __________ is the most important gas in the atmosphere.
carbon dioxide
water vapor
nitrogen
argon
When air contains the maximum amount of water vapor that it can hold at a given temperature it is said to be _____.
dense
unsaturated
saturated
shallow
______________ air can hold more water vapor than _____ air.
cold, warm
warm, cold
The amount of water vapor that air can hold relative to its temperature is called __________________.
the water vapor limit
the condensation level
relative humidity
dew point
Clouds form in the atmosphere when water vapor _____
heats up and dissolves in the upper levels of the atmosphere
rises in the atmosphere and reaches the dew point, and condenses
sinks in the atmosphere and condenses into liquid water
cools off and lifts up to the stratosphere
When it comes to precipitation, the process that forms rain is called
the Collision-Coalescence Process
the Bergeron Process
When it comes to precipitation, the process that forms snow is called
the Collision-Coalescence Process
the Bergeron Process
The pressure exerted by the weight of the air is called ______.
relative humidity
convection currents
dew point
air pressure
The three factors that contribute to the wind are _________.
heating of the atmosphere, pressure differences, cloud cover
coriolis effect, cloud cover, friction with the ground
pressure differences, coriolis effect, friction with the ground
heating of the atmosphere, air temperature, humidity levels
Isobars on a weather map are
lines of equal temperatures
lines of equal pressures
lines of wind patterns
lines of temperature patterns
The closer isobars are together on a weather map
the calmer the winds are.
the faster the winds are.
Describe the winds in a high pressure system.
winds are moving up and in counterclockwise
winds are moving up and out clockwise
winds are moving down and out clockwise
winds are moving down and out counterclockwise
Describe the winds in a low pressure system.
winds are moving up and in counterclockwise
winds are moving up and out clockwise
winds are moving down and out clockwise
winds are moving down and out counterclockwise
How are winds named?
winds are named for the direction they are coming from
winds are named for the direction they are going to
winds are named by the speed they are moving
Winds that blow on the globe between the equator and 30 degrees north or south are called
Polar Easterlies
Westerlies
Easterlies or Trade Winds
Winds that blow on the globe between 30 degrees and 60 degrees north or south are called
Polar Easterlies
Westerlies
Easterlies or Trade Winds
Winds that blow on the globe between 60 degrees and 90 degrees north or south are called
Polar Easterlies
Westerlies
Easterlies or Trade Winds
What is an air mass?
air that hangs high in the stratosphere
a mass of air that is found over large bodies of water
an immense body of air
air that has lots of clouds associated with it
What are the properties that characterize an air mass?
wind speeds and temperature levels
temperature levels and humidity levels
humidity levels and cloud cover
cloud cover and wind speeds
This picture indicates what type of front?
cold front
warm front
stationary front
occluded front
This picture indicates what type of front?
cold front
warm front
stationary front
occluded front
This picture indicates what type of front?
cold front
warm front
stationary front
occluded front
This picture indicates what type of front?
cold front
warm front
stationary front
occluded front
What is a vortex?
a rotating column of air extending from the clouds to the ground
a cloud that brings strong rains
a high pressure system that occurs during the summer months
frozen water vapor
A vortex of air, approximately 2 to 10 miles in diameter, within a convective storm, air rises and rotates around a vertical axis, this is known as a
high pressure system
mesocyclone
trade wind
warm front
During what months of the year are tornadoes most abundant?
June through November
November through February
February through April
April through June
Hurricanes tend to slow as they move over land surfaces because .......
of constant high pressure systems over land surfaces
there is a loss of energy from the warm waters of the ocean; and friction from the land
too many tornadoes form when hurricanes reach the land
In a hurricane, the fastest winds and the most intense rainfall is found
in the outer bands of the north face of the hurricane
in the inner bands of the south half of the hurricane
in the eye wall of the hurricane
in the eye of the hurricane
The heliocentric model of the universe has
Earth as the center and all planets revolve around it
the Sun as the center and all planets revolve around it
Venus as the center and all planets revolve around it
Jupiter as the center and all planets revolve around it
The main contribution to astronomy by Aristotle is
he said that planets are orbiting around the sun
he was the first to say the Earth is round because of the shadow cast on the moon
he measured the circumference of the Earth
he cataloged over 800 stars according to their brightness
Ptolemy's contribution to astronomy is
he presented a model of the planets moving in circles around the Earth, but also moving backward for a time which he called retrograde movement
he presented a sun centered model of our solar system
he kept the best most accurate notes of any astronomer of his time
he described the law of gravity
Kepler is known for what contribution to astronomy?
he developed the geocentric model of the universe
he described the law of gravity as it relates to planets
he came up with his 3 laws of planetary motion
he observed the phases of the moon
Galileo is known for what contributions to astronomy?
he discovered the four largest moons of Jupiter
he said that there were great "Mare" on the surface of the moon
he discovered sunspots on the surface of the sun
he contributed all of these to astronomy
If you are on a planet that has RETROGRADE rotation, in what direction does the sun rise and set?
the sun rises in the east and sets in the west
the sun rises in the west and sets in the east
the sun rises in the north and sets in the south
the sun rises in the south and sets in the north
As the Earth orbits the sun in an ellipse, there are times when the Earth is closer to the sun and times when it is farther from the sun. When the Earth is closest to the sun it is said to be at ________.
Perihelion
Aphelion
As the Earth orbits the sun in an ellipse, there are times when the Earth is closer to the sun and times when it is farther from the sun. When the Earth is farthest from the sun it is said to be at ________.
Perihelion
Aphelion
We only see one side of the moon because __________
the moon does not rotate on its axis
the moon rotates in a retrograde direction
the moon rotates at the same rate that it revolves around the Earth
the moon rotates twice as fast as it revolves around the Earth
When the moon is waxing it is going from _________________
new moon phase to full moon phase
full moon phase to new moon phase
1st quarter phase to 3rd quarter phase
3rd quarter phase to 1st quarter phase
The oldest rocks on the moon are found _________
in the lunar maria
in the lunar craters
in the lunar highlands
in the lunar riles
The lunar maria is made of what type of rock?
Dark basaltic rock, that's why Galileo thought they were seas
Light granitic rock, that is why the moon is so bright
Mostly sedimentary rock from the evaporation of all of the water
Metamorphic rock because of the extreme temperatures on the Moon
Which planets are terrestrial planets?
Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Neptune
Mercury, Venus, Saturn and Uranus
Venus, Earth, Saturn and Neptune
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars
Which planets are Jovian planets?
Mars, Jupiter, Venus and Neptune
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune
Venus, Earth, Saturn and Neptune
Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars
The Nebular Theory is the theory of ______________
how the moon formed
how our solar system formed
how the asteroid belt formed
how the Milky Way formed
What are the most abundant gases on the Jovian planets?
Helium and oxygen
Oxygen and Nitrogen
Hydrogen and Helium
Hydrogen and oxygen
How do we know that there was once water on Mars?
because of the water puddles that are on the surface still
because of the cumulus clouds in the Mars sky
because of the organic material in the soil of Mars
because of the drainage patterns in the rocks on Mars
The largest planet in our solar system is ___________
Mercury
Mars
Jupiter
Saturn
The smallest planet in our solar system is ________
Mars
Mercury
Pluto
Venus
The planet closest to the sun is
Mercury
Venus
Earth
Mars
The planet farthest from the sun is ________
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
The planet that is home to the largest volcano in the solar system, Olympus Mons, is __________
Venus
Mars
Jupiter
Pluto
Pluto is considered a dwarf planet because __________
it's a sphere, it orbits a star, but it hasn't cleared it's path in space
it's irregularly shaped, it orbits a star, and it hasn't cleared its path in space
it's a sphere, it orbits another planet, and it has a clear path in space
it's irregularly shaped, it orbits another planet and it has a clear path in space
The asteroid belt is located __________________
between Venus and Mars
between Mars and Jupiter
between Jupiter and Saturn
between Neptune and Pluto
Comets have 3 basic parts, they are __________
the coma, the dust and rock tail, and the ionized gas tail
the coma, the surrounding ring system and the gas tail
the ring system, the rocky tail, and the hydrogen cloud surrounding the comet
When we see a "shooting star", that is technically called a _______
meteoroid
meteor
meteorite
A space rock that flies through space, travels through our atmosphere, and hits the surface of the Earth is known as a
meteoroid
meteor
meteorite
Meteor showers are associated with __________.
the conjunction of Venus and the Moon
the passing of the Andromeda galaxy to our north
the tails of comets
the solar winds
