Some Predicted Exam Topics

1. State the difference between Observation and Inference

2. State the relationship of the density of a floating object to the liquid it is in

3. Determine the percentage of error: Student measurement= 7.5 . Actual value=7.3 .

4. Graph interpretation: (Reference tables). Based on the melting point and temperature lines, at what depths below the surface is the earth liquid?

5. Earth's shape and roundness: Where, on the earth's surface, would a person weigh the most at sea level?

6. In which New York State city might you see Polaris at an altitude of 42°?

7. Give two examples of vector fields

8. Determine the circumference of a planet if its North Star changes altitude by 5° as seen by two places 350 miles apart.

9. Determine the gradient between pts. E & F for the stream (topographic map in Review Book )

10. During which season could we see the sun's smallest apparent diameter?

11. Why do ocean currents north of the equator curve clockwise?

12. Describe the eccentricity of the earth's orbit, if d=3.00 x 106 and L= 1.86 x 108

13. Which factor is most responsible for the earth's seasonal changes?

14. 100° in which temperature scale represents the greatest electromagnetic energy?

15. Compare the insolation duration experienced at Lat. 60°N. and 23 1/2° N. in June.

16. Describe the greenhouse effect: mention shortwave & longwave radiation, and gases responsible.

17. Describe how convection works in the earth's atmosphere. Which zone of the atmosphere is affected?

18. Which color and texture clothes should you wear during the winter?

19. Determine dew point: Wet-bulb temperature is 17°C. and Dry-bulb is 20°C./Determine: Relative Humidity.

20. Predict weather for the next few hours based on the station model in ReferenceTables

21. Draw a graph showing changes in air pressure (y-axis) during 24 hrs. (x-axis)

22. Which size of uniform, round particles (of equal volumes) has the greatest:

porosity? water retention? permeability? capillarity?

23. Draw a graph showing the relationship between evaporation rate (y-axis) and relative humidity (x-axis).

24. During which stage of the water budget is stream discharge likely to be smallest?

25. Give two examples of physical weathering.

26. Describe the temperature, relative humidity, and air pressure of descending air on the leeward side of a mountain.

27. What stream velocity is required to transport particles with a diameter of 6.4 cm?

28. Which factor is most important in determining a city's climate?Which is second?

29. Draw a graph showing the relationship of weathering rate (y-axis) to surface area (x-axis). Which size of equal volume particles has the greatest surface area?

30. Draw a graph showing the relationship between (deposition of) particle size (y-axis) and distance away from shoreline (x-axis).

31. A coarse-grained crystalline rock composed of 25% orthoclase, 40% quartz, 20% plagioclase, 10% mica, 5% amphibole would be identified as:...............................

32. Mica, quartz, and asbestos are silicates. Why do their physical properties differ?

33. According the the R.Tables , during which period of time was North America closest to Africa?

34. A seismograph station records a difference in arrival times between P- and S-waves of 4 minutes. How far away is the epicenter? How many stations would be needed to locate the epicenter?

35. Shell and coral fossils are found in limestones in the Catskill Mts. at an elevation of 1000 feet. Describe the sequence of events needed to accomplish this.

36. How are land-derived sedimentary rocks classified?

37. What is the evidence supporting the existence of the earth's liquid outer core?

38. Where can you find the thickest parts of the earth's crust ?...the thinnest parts?

39. Which radioactive element would you use to date bones found in recent glacial deposits?

40. Describe the compositions and densities of the continental and oceanic crusts.

41. Describe the sequence of events which produced a gelogic cross section diagram in Review Book.

42. Which periods of geologic time are not represented by New York State rocks? When were NY mts. made?

43. Where in New York State would you go to find rocks of: Mesozoic age? Carboniferous age? Cambrian?

Skills: Read an isoline map (contour map/weather map): Measure distances, use scale, determine gradient, determine maximum and minimum elevations, determine direction of stream flow. Draw a profile/Recognize a profile drawn along a line across the map

Locate distance to an epicenter, given a seismogram. Determine the radioactive age date of a rock sample.

Determine latitude of observer from diagram of person measuring altitude angle to Polaris.

Locate a place on a map given longitude & latitude. Given a place on a map, state its longitude & latitude

Determine density from a diagram showing an object's mass and volume/ Given volume and density, determine mass/ Given density and mass, determine volume.

Read a graph to state coordinates of a point

Given a weather map determine: weather movement, air masses, wind direction, temp, dew point, fronts, predict weather, movement of low pressure system (or hurricane, if shown)