ERSC 144 Midterm Study Guide
Question and answers verified to pass
Why do we study earth science? - correct answer ✔-to mitigate natural
hazards (find out why they happen/get warnings/lessen impact)
-to sustain earth's resources (air, wood, solar energy, water, minerals, living
things)
-environmental protection/remediation
-ensuring future for humanity
-understanding impact of man
earth systems - correct answer ✔geosphere
hydrosphere
atmosphere
biosphere
Geosphere - correct answer ✔solid earth (rocks, land surfaces)
supports life/climate systems
used for construction, mining, agriculture, extraction of fuels
Hydrophere - correct answer ✔water, ice
in lakes, rivers, oceans
supports life (plankton-basic life form)
transports/distributes solar energy
drinking water supply
used for agriculture, sanitation
, Atmosphere - correct answer ✔gas blanket that covers/envelopes Earth
composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 0.93% Argon, 0.038% Carbon
Dioxide, and 0.01% water vapor
supports biosphere (provides protein with Na)
oxygen aids in respiration (oxidation, reduction)
important for life support, climate systems (most dynamic)
Biosphere - correct answer ✔all life (animals, plants, humans)
always interacting
Scientific Hypothesis - correct answer ✔idea shaped from scientific
observations
4 Tenants of Good Science - correct answer ✔-hypothesis/interpretations of
facts are TENTATIVE
-predictability of system behaviors & hypothesis have to be testable
-experiments have to be repeatable
-have to have physical causation
Deductive Reasoning - correct answer ✔general observation leading to
specific hypothesis
Inductive Reasoning - correct answer ✔specific observation leading to
general hypothesis
Geocentricity - correct answer ✔Earth is the center of the universe
(hypothesized through view rising and setting sun/stars)
Question and answers verified to pass
Why do we study earth science? - correct answer ✔-to mitigate natural
hazards (find out why they happen/get warnings/lessen impact)
-to sustain earth's resources (air, wood, solar energy, water, minerals, living
things)
-environmental protection/remediation
-ensuring future for humanity
-understanding impact of man
earth systems - correct answer ✔geosphere
hydrosphere
atmosphere
biosphere
Geosphere - correct answer ✔solid earth (rocks, land surfaces)
supports life/climate systems
used for construction, mining, agriculture, extraction of fuels
Hydrophere - correct answer ✔water, ice
in lakes, rivers, oceans
supports life (plankton-basic life form)
transports/distributes solar energy
drinking water supply
used for agriculture, sanitation
, Atmosphere - correct answer ✔gas blanket that covers/envelopes Earth
composed of 78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 0.93% Argon, 0.038% Carbon
Dioxide, and 0.01% water vapor
supports biosphere (provides protein with Na)
oxygen aids in respiration (oxidation, reduction)
important for life support, climate systems (most dynamic)
Biosphere - correct answer ✔all life (animals, plants, humans)
always interacting
Scientific Hypothesis - correct answer ✔idea shaped from scientific
observations
4 Tenants of Good Science - correct answer ✔-hypothesis/interpretations of
facts are TENTATIVE
-predictability of system behaviors & hypothesis have to be testable
-experiments have to be repeatable
-have to have physical causation
Deductive Reasoning - correct answer ✔general observation leading to
specific hypothesis
Inductive Reasoning - correct answer ✔specific observation leading to
general hypothesis
Geocentricity - correct answer ✔Earth is the center of the universe
(hypothesized through view rising and setting sun/stars)
