Name (Last, First) Carter, Rachel

1. Select the most appropriate letter that describes an interaction from the concept map (also on page 23 of the book).

Plants absorb carbon dioxide. m
Volcano emits toxic gases. j
Earthquake destruction causes deaths. g
Animals drink water. f
Wind blows sand. i
Water evaporates from the oceans. d
Spacecraft explore deep space. b
Humans mine coal. h
Continents deflect ocean currents. k
Winds generate waves. c
Plants release oxygen. n
A stream carves a canyon. l
Fish live in oceans. e
Asteroid impacts Earth. a

2. Describe how the intensity of sunlight (insolation) varies as a function of latitude.

Insolation decreases with increased latitude.

3. How does insolation explain why the equator hotter than the poles?

The sun shines on the equator 100% of the time.

4. What effect does tilting the Earth’s rotational axis have on the distribution of solar radiation (insolation)?
It causes seasons.

5. Why it can be winter in the U.S. when it is summer in Australia?
Because of the way the Earth tilts toward the sun. When it is summer in the US, it is winter in Australia.

6. At what latitude are direct rays hitting during each season in the U.S.?

Spring Summer Fall Winter

0-23.5N 23.5N-0 0-23.5S 23.5S-0

7. What would happen to temperatures in Australia if Earth’s tilt angle increased during summer in the northern hemisphere and why?

It would become much colder in Australia.

8. Compare and contrast compositional and mechanical boundaries in the Earth.

The Earth has 3 compositional layers:
1. Crust-composed of silicate rock. There are 2 separate types: continental and oceanic.
2. The mantle: consisting of ultramafic silicate rock which can flow when subjected to long duration stresses. The mantle is over 2900 km thick and makes up over 80% of the volume of the Earth. The mantle is not molten!
3. The core: Is a combination of iron and nickel, has a liquid outer region with a solid center; and, is roughly half the diameter of the Earth.
Earth’s Mechanical boundaries are as follows: 1. The lithosphere is the outermost mechanical layer and is the most rigid layer of the Earth. The lithosphere consists of the crust, and some of the uppermost mantle. 2. The asthenosphere lies beneath the lithosphere. It is a part of the mantle, approximately 100 km thick, with very little strength. The asthenosphere flows relatively easily and accommodate the movement of the overlying lithosphere. The upper and lower boundaries of the asthenosphere are diffuse as they involve gradual changes in the rigidity of the mantle, not a change in composition. 3. The lower mantle or mesosphere consists of most of the mantle. This part of the mantle flows, but at much slower rates than the asthenosphere. 4. The outer core is liquid iron (with some nickel and other elements). This is the only internal layer of the Earth that is a true liquid. The core-mantle boundary is the one mechanical boundary that is also a compositional boundary. Movement of the electrically conductive fluid in the outer core generates the Earth's magnetic field. 5. The inner core is solid. It has the same composition as the outer core, and is about half the diameter of the core.

9. Read the sentences in the following table and bold the appropriate underlines term that could be used to complete the sentence or fill in the blank.

a. If Earth were farther from the Sun, the planet would be warmer or colder. b. If Earth were a little closer to the Sun, the oceans would be smaller or larger. c. If Earth did not have a biosphere, the composition of the atmosphere would be the same or different. d. If Earth’s biosphere were younger, we would have less or more oxygen in the atmosphere. e. If Earth did not have an atmosphere, its surface would have fewer or more craters formed by meteor impacts. f. If Earth did not have an atmosphere, life on the land surface would be less or more developed than today. g. If Earth were larger, its gravity would be weaker or stronger. h. If Earth were smaller, it atmosphere would be thicker or thinner. i. If Earth were smaller, it would have a hotter or colder interior. Terrestrial Planets

Jovian Planets

2 1

Complete the following Venn diagram to compare and contrast the similarities and differences between the two major groups of planets in our solar system. Place the numbers corresponding to each characteristic in the diagram. Characteristics 1 and 2 have been plotted on the diagram for you.
1. Orbits around sun
2. Gas giant
3. Strong gravitational field
4. Large
5. Small
6. Rocky surface 7. Has an atmosphere 8. Are spherical 9. May have rings 4 9 10 10. Many moons 5 11. Had/has a hot interior 6 3 12 12. Earth-like 7 8 11(both)