8 Earth Science
E.12.A.4 http://www.rpdp.net/sciencetips_v2/E12A4.htm
The diagram represents an experiment on different
soil types. The thermometers are measuring the
temperature of the center of the soil samples.
What factor causes the temperature
difference in the two soils?
A. Conduction within different soil types
B. Condensation within different soil types
C. Radiation emitted by different soil types
D. Convection in the air above different soil
types
From:
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development
Program
http://www.doe.mass.edu/
K-12 Science
21 Earth Science
E.12.C.1 http://www.rpdp.net/sciencetips_v2/E12C1.htm
The drawings below show some trilobite and
crinoid fossils.
What statement is the most reasonable conclusion why
the fossils of two different types of organisms are found
in the same layers of rock?
A. Crinoids were prey for trilobites.
B. Crinoids were ancestors of
trilobites.
C. Crinoids and trilobites had similar
behaviors.
D. Crinoids and trilobites lived at the
same time.
From:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development
Program
K-12 Science
18 Earth Science
E.12.C.1 http://www.rpdp.net/sciencetips_v2/E12C1.htm
The diagram below shows a geologic cross
section. Letters A through D represent
different rock units.
Which sequence correctly
shows the age of the
lettered rock units, from
oldest to youngest?
A. A → B → C → D
B. B → A → D → C
C. C → D → A → B
D. D → C → B → A
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
K-12 Science
24 Earth Science
E.12.C.2 http://www.rpdp.net/sciencetips_v2/E12C2.htm
What information indicates that new seafloor rock is
forming along the mid-ocean ridge and then moving
horizontally away from the ridge?
A. Most volcanoes are located under ocean water and
found near the continental shelves.
B. Studies of the ocean floor show that the orientation of
Earth’s magnetic field has remained constant.
C. Fossils of marine organisms can be found at high
elevations on continents.
D. The age of the seafloor rock increases as the distance
from the mid-ocean ridge increases.
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
K-12 Science
25 Earth Science
E.12.C.2 http://www.rpdp.net/sciencetips_v2/E12C2.htm
The cross section below shows the direction of movement
of an oceanic plate over a mantle hot spot, resulting in the
formation of a chain of volcanoes labeled A, B, C, and D.
The geologic age of volcano C is shown.
Using the diagram, what are the
approximate ages of volcanoes B
and D?
A. B is 5 million years old and D
is 12 million years old.
B. B is 2 million years old and D
is 6 million years old.
C. B is 9 million years old and D
is 9 million years old.
From
http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es806
D. B is 10 million years old and
.pdf
D is 4 million years old.
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
K-12 Science
26 Earth Science
E.12.C.2 http://www.rpdp.net/sciencetips_v2/E12C2.htm
Use the diagram to answer the following
question.
Which type of plate
boundary is shown in the
diagram?
A. Divergent
B. Transform
C. Convergent
D. Universal
From
http://www.nysedregents.org/testing/scire/es806
.pdf
Southern Nevada Regional Professional Development Program
K-12 Science
Warm-up Questions



100’s of years ago scientists
believed that the sun moved
around us causing day and
night; what is the correct
explanation?
What signifies 1 day here on
Earth?
How many time zones are there
on Earth? Why?
Principles of Science
The Year:
Revolution and Seasons
Earth’s Revolution
Revolution - The movement
of Earth in its orbit around
the sun.
 1 revolution = 365.25 days.

•Every 4 years (leap year) the
“.25 days” adds up to one
whole day; Feb. 29th.
The Seasons
The Seasons

Distance from Earth to the
Sun has NO EFFECT ON
SEASONS!
•During summer, the Earth is
actually farther from the sun.
•During winter, the Earth is
closer to the sun which may
make the sun appear slightly
bigger in the winter sky.
The Seasons

Seasons are caused because
the Earth is tilted.
•The hemisphere of the Earth
tilted toward the sun is in
summer.
•The hemisphere of the Earth
tilted away from the sun is in
winter.
Earth’s Tilt
Earth’s axis is always tilted at
23.5 degrees.
 This tilt causes sunlight to fall
more directly on different
parts of the Earth throughout
the year.

Earth’s Tilt
The Seasons
4 major seasonal dates:
(Note: Seasons are reversed for southern
hemisphere)
June 21st– Summer Solstice.
2) September 23rd– Autumnal
Equinox.
3) December 21st– Winter Solstice .
4) March 21st– Vernal Equinox .
1)
The Seasons

1. Summer Solstice – Longest
day of the year in the
Northern Hemisphere.
• 1st day of summer
• Sun strikes the Northern
Hemisphere most directly
The Seasons

2. Autumnal Equinox – Day
and night are equal length.
•1st day of fall (Autumn)
•Sun strikes the Northern and
Southern Hemispheres equally
The Seasons

3. Winter Solstice – Shortest
day of the year in the Northern
Hemisphere.
•1st day of winter
•Sun strikes the Northern
Hemisphere most indirectly.
The Seasons

4. Vernal Equinox – Day and
night are equal length.
•1st day of spring
•Sun strikes the Northern and
Southern Hemispheres equally.
Review
1. Define revolution.
2. What effect does the distance from
the sun have on the seasons?
3. How far is the Earth tilted on its axis?
4. When are the days exactly 12 hours of
day and 12 hours of night?
5. When the Northern Hemisphere is
tilted toward the sun, which season
are we in?