SCIENCE IN OHIO MIDTERM REVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. What is geology?
2. Why do we study geology?
3. Explain the process of the Scientific method.
4. Explain the difference between a scientific theory and law.
5. What was the Big Bang?
6. List and describe the 3 compositional layers of the earth.
7. List and describe the 5 mechanical layers of the earth.
8. What is the difference between compositional and mechanical layers?
9. What was the theory of gradualism?
10. What is the theory of continental drift? What is the evidence for it?
11. What is sea-floor spreading? What is the evidence for it?
12. Explain the process of subduction. Which plate gets subducted?
13. What is the theory of plate tectonics? What is the evidence for it?
14. What is the driving force behind plate movement?
15. List and describe the three types of plate boundaries.
16. List and describe the 3 types on convergent boundaries.
17. What is the difference between stress and strain?
18. List and describe the 3 types of stress.
19. Describe what an earthquake is.
20. What are the 3 stages to an earthquake occurring? Use the terms stress and strain.
21. Describe dip-slip and strike-slip faults.
22. What is an epicenter and focus?
23. Describe the 2 kinds of Body Waves? Which is fastest and arrives first? Which can travel through
liquids?
24. Do body waves or surface waves cause more damage? Why?
25. What instrument do we use to measure earthquakes?
26. What are the steps we use to find an epicenter? (Think back to the finding epicenters lab)
27. Compare and contrast the Mercalli Index and the Richter scale.
28. What type of focus do most earthquakes occur at? Which type of focus has the largest
earthquakes?
29. What are some effects of earthquakes?
30. Describe a tsunami and how it works.
31. Can we predict earthquakes? Explain your reasoning.
32. Describe what fracking is and some pros and cons.
33. What is a mineral? What 5 points define a mineral?
34. How are minerals formed?
35. List and describe the 7 properties used to test minerals.
36. What are some special properties that a mineral could have?
37. What is a gemstone?
38. How are igneous rocks formed?
39. What is the difference between magma and lava?
40. List and describe the 2 origins of igneous rocks.
41. List and describe the 6 textures of igneous rocks.
42. List and describe the 4 types of igneous compositions.
43. Using the igneous rock chart, what is the name of a mafic aphanitic, igneous rock?
44. Using the igneous rock chart, what is the name of a vesicular, felsic igneous rock?
45. What is the difference between weathering & erosion?
46. What is the difference between chemical & physical weathering?
47. What is the process on how sedimentary rocks are formed?
48. What are some features associated with sedimentary rocks?
49. What are the four particle sizes of clastic sedimentary rocks in order from smallest to largest?
50. What is the difference between breccia & a conglomerate?
51. How is coal formed?
52. As sediments particles move farther from the source, describe how the sorting and edges of the
sediment change.