Earth Science SOL Review

Equinoxes and solstices represent four distinct quarterly points signaling the cyclic change of seasons.

The axial tilt is responsible for the incidence and duration of sunlight striking a given hemisphere that varies during the Earth’s revoluti

Earth revolves around the sun tilted on its axis.

Moons are natural satellites of planets and vary widely in composition.

The sun consists largely of hydrogen gas. Its energy comes from nuclear fusion of hydrogen to helium.

planets consist mostly of solid rock.

The four outer planets are gas giants, consisting of thick outer layers of gaseous materials,perhaps with small rocky cores.

The dwarf planet, Pluto, has an unknown composition but appears to be solid. It is part of theKuiper Belt.

Moons are natural satellites of planets and vary widely in composition.

Earth’s axial tilt in affecting the evolution of the planet and life on the planet.

compare the classification of the dwarf planet Pluto to the planets in relation to its orbit, and its similarity to other objects in the Kui

compare and contrast the characteristics of Venus, Earth, Mercury, and Mars, and interpret various reasons why each planet has such characte

Earth is a dynamic system, and all atmospheric, lithospheric, and hydrospheric processes interrelate and influence one another.

The age of Earth is about 4.6 billion years.

The composition of Earth’s atmosphere has changed over geologic time. Earth’s atmosphere is unique in the solar system in that it contains s

The most primitive atmosphere was comprised of mainly helium and hydrogen. After the moon was formed, the early atmosphere contained mostly

Early photosynthetic life such as cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) consumed carbon dioxide and generated oxygen. It was only after early pho

Earth’s atmosphere is 21 percent oxygen, 78 percent nitrogen, and 1 percent trace gases. The composition of the atmosphere can change due to

The ability of Earth’s atmosphere to absorb and retain heat is affected by the presence of gases like water vapor and carbon dioxide.

Energy transfer between Earth’s surface and the atmosphere creates the weather.

Weather and climate are different. Both weather and climate are measurable and, to a certain extent, predictable. Weather describes day- to

The four major factors affecting climate are latitude, elevation, proximity to bodies of water, and position relative to mountains. Earth’s

Earth’s surface is much more efficiently heated by the sun than is the atmosphere. The amount of energy reaching any given point on Earth’s

Winds are created by uneven heat distribution at Earth’s surface and modified by the rotation of Earth. The Coriolis effect causes deflectio

Convection in the atmosphere is a major cause of weather. Convection is the major mechanism of energy transfer in the oceans, atmosphere, an

The solar nebular theory is our best current idea for the origin of the solar system. The solar nebular theory explains that the planets for

Stars have a finite lifetime and evolve over time. The mass of a star controls its evolution, lifespan, and ultimate fate. Stars form by con

longitude and latitude

which hemisphere gets more sun