Earth’s Systems Study Guide
Name: _____________________
5th Grade PSI
1) Define geosphere.
2) What two forces created the layers of the Earth?
3) What are the four layers of the Earth? List them in order from the outermost to
the innermost.
4) Draw and label the four layers of the Earth.
5) What are the layers of the Earth made of?
6) What are plates? On which layer of the Earth would you find them?
7) What is soil?
8) Define atmosphere.
9) What is the type and percentage of gases that make up Earth’s atmosphere?
10) List the layers of the atmosphere from closest to furthest from Earth.
11) What happens the further up you get in the atmosphere?
12) What is the ozone layer and what does it do?
13) Why is air important?
14) How can landforms impact the weather? Give three examples.
15) Describe the rain shadow effect.
16) What is a wind funnel?
17) How can water vapor impact the temperature of the earth?
18) Define hydrosphere.
19) Give three examples of where water may be found in the hydrosphere.
20) Where is most of the water on Earth located?
21) How much water on Earth is freshwater and how much is salt water?
22) What is surface water?
23) How does water impact weather and climate?
24) How are landforms in the ocean similar to those found on land?
25) Where is the majority of water located?
26) What is groundwater? Is it usable by humans?
27) Why are oceans important to the health of the planet?
28) Define Biosphere.
29) Describe the interactions between the different spheres for one of the following
events. Try to list as many interaction as possible.
a. Hurricane
b. Flash Flood
c. Earthquake
30) What is the impact of rain on the biosphere?
31) How does rain impact landscapes.
32) What are biomes?
33) How can humans impact the spheres? Give an example for each sphere.
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5th Grade PSI
Earth’s Systems