ESC1000 Earth Science Key Concepts and
Principles Questions with Verified Correct
Answers
What are the steps of the scientific method?
Observation, question, hypothesis, experiment or data collection, analysis, conclusion, and
communication.
What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?
Inductive reasoning goes from specific observations to a general conclusion; deductive
reasoning goes from a general principle to a specific prediction.
What are Earth's systems?
The geosphere (solid Earth), hydrosphere (all water), atmosphere (layer of gases), and
biosphere (all life).
What defines good science?
Good science is testable, based on evidence, repeatable, and open to revision.
What is the difference between accuracy and precision?
Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the true value; precision is how close repeated
measurements are to each other.
How is evidence for a hypothesis gathered?
Through observations, experiments, measurements, and repeated studies.
What do you identify in a photo of Earth systems?
, Air or clouds = atmosphere; water or ice = hydrosphere; rock or soil = geosphere; plants or
animals = biosphere.
What roles do Earth scientists play?
They study Earth processes and apply knowledge to hazards, resources, climate, and the
environment.
What is the Doppler effect?
When a source moves toward an observer, wavelength shortens and frequency increases;
when it moves away, wavelength lengthens and frequency decreases.
What is the geocentric model?
It places Earth at the center of the universe with the Sun and planets revolving around it.
What is the heliocentric model?
It places the Sun at the center of the universe, proposed by Copernicus and supported by
Galileo.
What is the sunspot cycle?
Sunspot activity follows an 11-year cycle.
What is the order of the planets from the Sun?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
What were the first elements after the Big Bang?
Hydrogen and helium, with a small amount of lithium.
How is a year on Earth defined?
As the time Earth takes to complete one orbit around the Sun, about 365.25 days.
Principles Questions with Verified Correct
Answers
What are the steps of the scientific method?
Observation, question, hypothesis, experiment or data collection, analysis, conclusion, and
communication.
What is the difference between inductive and deductive reasoning?
Inductive reasoning goes from specific observations to a general conclusion; deductive
reasoning goes from a general principle to a specific prediction.
What are Earth's systems?
The geosphere (solid Earth), hydrosphere (all water), atmosphere (layer of gases), and
biosphere (all life).
What defines good science?
Good science is testable, based on evidence, repeatable, and open to revision.
What is the difference between accuracy and precision?
Accuracy is how close a measurement is to the true value; precision is how close repeated
measurements are to each other.
How is evidence for a hypothesis gathered?
Through observations, experiments, measurements, and repeated studies.
What do you identify in a photo of Earth systems?
, Air or clouds = atmosphere; water or ice = hydrosphere; rock or soil = geosphere; plants or
animals = biosphere.
What roles do Earth scientists play?
They study Earth processes and apply knowledge to hazards, resources, climate, and the
environment.
What is the Doppler effect?
When a source moves toward an observer, wavelength shortens and frequency increases;
when it moves away, wavelength lengthens and frequency decreases.
What is the geocentric model?
It places Earth at the center of the universe with the Sun and planets revolving around it.
What is the heliocentric model?
It places the Sun at the center of the universe, proposed by Copernicus and supported by
Galileo.
What is the sunspot cycle?
Sunspot activity follows an 11-year cycle.
What is the order of the planets from the Sun?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
What were the first elements after the Big Bang?
Hydrogen and helium, with a small amount of lithium.
How is a year on Earth defined?
As the time Earth takes to complete one orbit around the Sun, about 365.25 days.
