117 Ways to Pass the 117 Ways to Pass the Earth Science RegentsEarth Science Regents

1. The same substance always 1. The same substance always has the same densityhas the same density

2. As pressure increases, density 2. As pressure increases, density increasesincreases

3. As 3. As temperature temperature increases, increases, density density decreasesdecreases

6. Water is most 6. Water is most dense at 4dense at 4oo C, when it is C, when it is a liquida liquid

4. Water expands when it freezes4. Water expands when it freezes

5. Most changes are cyclic5. Most changes are cyclic

7. The true shape of the Earth is 7. The true shape of the Earth is an oblate spheroid, but from space an oblate spheroid, but from space

it looks like a perfect sphere.it looks like a perfect sphere.

8. The best model of the earth is a sphere

9. The 9. The altitude of altitude of Polaris is Polaris is

equal to your equal to your latitude on latitude on

Earth!Earth!

10. To 10. To determine the determine the

earth’s earth’s circumference, circumference, the altitude of the altitude of

the sun is the sun is needed at 2 needed at 2 locations.locations.

11. 11. Latitude Latitude lines run lines run

east-west, east-west, but but

measure measure distances distances

N – S.N – S.

12. Longitude lines run N – S, but 12. Longitude lines run N – S, but measure distances E – W.measure distances E – W.

13. 13. Longitude is Longitude is

based on based on observations observations of the sun.of the sun.

14. Use the REFERENCE 14. Use the REFERENCE TABLES!!!TABLES!!!

15. The closer the isolines 15. The closer the isolines (isobars, isotherms, contours), the (isobars, isotherms, contours), the

steeper the gradient!steeper the gradient!

16. The earth rotates from West to 16. The earth rotates from West to East (24 hours) or East (24 hours) or counterclockwisecounterclockwise

17. The earth revolves 17. The earth revolves counterclockwise around the sun counterclockwise around the sun

(365 ¼ days)(365 ¼ days)

18. All celestial objects appear to 18. All celestial objects appear to rise in the east and set in the west.rise in the east and set in the west.

19. The moon has phases 19. The moon has phases because of the angle at which we because of the angle at which we

view it (Half is ALWAYS lit!).view it (Half is ALWAYS lit!).

20. Planets appear to go 20. Planets appear to go backwards (retrograde motion) as backwards (retrograde motion) as the earth passes them in space.the earth passes them in space.

21. Summer Solstice is 21. Summer Solstice is June 21June 21stst

22. Winter Solstice is 22. Winter Solstice is December 21December 21stst

23. Equinoxes: March 23. Equinoxes: March 2121stst and September and September 21st21st

24. The equator always receives 24. The equator always receives 12 hours of daylight.12 hours of daylight.

25. The lower the altitude of the 25. The lower the altitude of the sun, the longer the shadow it casts.sun, the longer the shadow it casts.

26. Foucault’s pendulum and the 26. Foucault’s pendulum and the coriolis effect prove the earth coriolis effect prove the earth

rotatesrotates. .

27. Earth is closer to the sun in the 27. Earth is closer to the sun in the winter.winter.

Winter

28. The closer the planet is to the 28. The closer the planet is to the sun, the faster it moves!sun, the faster it moves!

31.31. Black absorbs/white reflects.Black absorbs/white reflects.41. Good absorbers are good 41. Good absorbers are good

radiators.radiators.

32. The half-life of a radioactive 32. The half-life of a radioactive element cannot be changed!element cannot be changed!

33.33. Ocean crust is thin Ocean crust is thin and made of basalt.and made of basalt.

34.34. Continental crust is Continental crust is thick and made of thick and made of granite!granite!

35. Energy moves from source to 35. Energy moves from source to sink (high concentration to low sink (high concentration to low

concentration).concentration).

36. Mountains form by uplift.36. Mountains form by uplift.

37.37. Chemical weathering Chemical weathering occurs most rapidly occurs most rapidly in warm, moist in warm, moist climates and involves climates and involves a change in chemical a change in chemical composition of the composition of the rock.rock.

38.38. Physical weathering Physical weathering occurs most rapidly occurs most rapidly in cold, moist in cold, moist climates due to frost climates due to frost action.action.

39.39. Air moves Air moves clockwise and clockwise and outward around a outward around a high pressure high pressure system.system.

40.40. Air moves Air moves counterclockwise counterclockwise and toward the and toward the center of a low center of a low pressure system.pressure system.

44.44. As temperature As temperature increases, air increases, air pressure pressure decreases. decreases. (Indirect)(Indirect)

45.45. As moisture As moisture increases, increases, pressure pressure decreases decreases (Indirect).(Indirect).

46.46. Air pressure Air pressure decreases with decreases with altitude.altitude.

47. High pressure is cool and dry; 47. High pressure is cool and dry; low is warm and wet!low is warm and wet!

48.48. Winds are due to air pressure Winds are due to air pressure differences.differences.

49. Wind blows from areas of 49. Wind blows from areas of high pressure to low pressurehigh pressure to low pressure

50. Wind is named from the 50. Wind is named from the direction it is coming!direction it is coming!

52. The closer the air temperature 52. The closer the air temperature and dew point temperature the and dew point temperature the

greater the chance of precipitation greater the chance of precipitation (increased humidity).(increased humidity).

53. Weather moves from West to 53. Weather moves from West to East in the United States.East in the United States.

54. Cold Front54. Cold Front57. Cold fronts move the fastest!57. Cold fronts move the fastest!

Cold fronts force warm air up and are associated with Cold fronts force warm air up and are associated with short narrow bands of heavy precipitation and short narrow bands of heavy precipitation and thunder/lightning in advance of the front!thunder/lightning in advance of the front!

55. Warm Front55. Warm Front

Warm fronts ride up the back of cold air and produce Warm fronts ride up the back of cold air and produce longer periods of steady rain and occur both in front of longer periods of steady rain and occur both in front of and behind the advancing front.and behind the advancing front.

56. Occluded Front56. Occluded Front

58. 58. Porosity Porosity does NOT depend on does NOT depend on particle size.particle size.

59. As particle size increases, 59. As particle size increases, permeability increases!permeability increases!

60. Capillarity increases when 60. Capillarity increases when particle size decreases.particle size decreases.

61. Potential evapotranspiration 61. Potential evapotranspiration depends on temperature.depends on temperature.

62. Dynamic equilibrium means 62. Dynamic equilibrium means balance.balance.

63. Apparent diameter of objects (sun, 63. Apparent diameter of objects (sun, moon) gets larger when the object is closer moon) gets larger when the object is closer

to Earth (perihelion/perigee)to Earth (perihelion/perigee)

64. Vertical rays (overhead sun) 64. Vertical rays (overhead sun) can occur between 23 ½ can occur between 23 ½ oo N and 23 N and 23

1/21/2oo S. S.

65. Index fossils are good time 65. Index fossils are good time markers (widely spread, lived a markers (widely spread, lived a

short time).short time).

66. Air cools as it rises.66. Air cools as it rises.

67. Water bodies moderate 67. Water bodies moderate temperature (cooler summers/warmer temperature (cooler summers/warmer

winters) along the coast.winters) along the coast.

68. Expansional cooling: 68. Expansional cooling: Orographic effect!Orographic effect!

69. Gravity is the primary force 69. Gravity is the primary force behind ALL erosional agents!behind ALL erosional agents!

70. Streams are the number 70. Streams are the number one agent of erosion. one agent of erosion. B/C there is so much of B/C there is so much of it on Earth!it on Earth!

71.71. Stream velocity depends Stream velocity depends on slope and discharge.on slope and discharge.

1.1. Increase in slope = Increase in slope = increased velocity and increased velocity and increased discharge.increased discharge.

72. Velocity is fastest 72. Velocity is fastest on the outside of a on the outside of a meander bend.meander bend.

73.73. Heavy, round and dense particles settle out Heavy, round and dense particles settle out first (Graded bedding).first (Graded bedding).

74.74. Bedding (vertical sorting): biggest sentiments Bedding (vertical sorting): biggest sentiments are on bottom!are on bottom!

Horizontal Sorting – Biggest is located near the shore

75. Glacial sediments are unsorted, 75. Glacial sediments are unsorted, unconsolidated, scratched, create U-shaped unconsolidated, scratched, create U-shaped

valleys!valleys!

76.76. Sedimentary rocksSedimentary rocks – strata – flat layers – strata – flat layers – most likely to have fossils– most likely to have fossils

77.77. Igneous rockIgneous rock: cools fast, small crystals; : cools fast, small crystals; cools slow, big crystalscools slow, big crystals

78.78. MetamorphicMetamorphic – banding, foliation or – banding, foliation or distorted structuredistorted structure

79.79. Mineral properties depend on Mineral properties depend on internal atomic arrangement.internal atomic arrangement.

- it will determine the hardness, cleavage- it will determine the hardness, cleavage

80. Silicon + oxygen = tetrahedron80. Silicon + oxygen = tetrahedron

81. Isostasy: earth’s crust in 81. Isostasy: earth’s crust in equilibriumequilibrium

82. Mid-ocean ridge – new earth 82. Mid-ocean ridge – new earth being created – sea floor being created – sea floor

spreading.spreading.

83. Trenches – earth being 83. Trenches – earth being destroyed – subduction zonedestroyed – subduction zone

84.84. P waves travel faster than S waves.P waves travel faster than S waves.

85.85. P waves travel through liquid and solids – P waves travel through liquid and solids – S waves only travel through solids.S waves only travel through solids.

86.86. Three (3) seismic stations are needed to Three (3) seismic stations are needed to locate the epicenter of an earthquake.locate the epicenter of an earthquake.

Locating the epicenterLocating the epicenter

87.87. In undisturbed In undisturbed strata – the strata – the bottom layer bottom layer is the oldestis the oldestLAW OF LAW OF SUPERPOSITIONSUPERPOSITION

88. Intrusion and faults are 88. Intrusion and faults are younger than the rock they cut younger than the rock they cut

across!across!

89. Unconformity means erosion 89. Unconformity means erosion followed by deposition.followed by deposition.

90. Arid landscape: steep slopes 90. Arid landscape: steep slopes with sharp angles.with sharp angles.

91. Humid landscape: smooth with 91. Humid landscape: smooth with rounded slopes.rounded slopes.

92. When in doubt…. See if the 92. When in doubt…. See if the reference tables will help!reference tables will help!

93.93. Uranium Uranium 235235 dates dates old rocks.old rocks.

94.94. Carbon Carbon 1414 dates dates recent living objects.recent living objects.

95. Convection currents in the 95. Convection currents in the mantle move plates.mantle move plates.

99. Be familiar with this chart:99. Be familiar with this chart:

DateDateLat. of Lat. of

Sun’s direct Sun’s direct raysrays

Direction of Direction of sunrise and sunrise and

sunsetsunset

Altitude Altitude of noon of noon

sunsun

Length of Length of DaylightDaylight

Sept 21 Sept 21 (Autumnal (Autumnal Equinox)Equinox)

EquatorEquator Due east + Due east + Due westDue west 4848oo 12 hours12 hours

Dec. 21 Dec. 21 (Winter (Winter

Solstice)Solstice)

Tropic of Tropic of Capricorn Capricorn (23 ½ (23 ½ o o S)S)

Rises S. of Rises S. of east + sets S. east + sets S.

of Westof West24.524.5oo

8 hours 8 hours (shortest (shortest daylight)daylight)

March 21 March 21 (Vernal (Vernal

Equinox)Equinox)EquatorEquator Due east + Due east +

Due westDue west 4848oo 12 hours12 hours

June 21 June 21 (Summer (Summer Solstice)Solstice)

Tropic of Tropic of Cancer Cancer

(23 1/2(23 1/2oo N) N)

Rises N. of Rises N. of east + sets N. east + sets N.

of westof west71.571.5oo

16 hours 16 hours (longest (longest daylight)daylight)

97. When a rock is broken into 97. When a rock is broken into smaller pieces, surface area smaller pieces, surface area

increases and weathering increases and weathering increases.increases.

100. USE THE “DANG” Reference Tables!100. USE THE “DANG” Reference Tables!

101.101. Relax!!.... You’ve Relax!!.... You’ve already completed ¼ already completed ¼ of the exam.of the exam.

103. Take your time! 103. Take your time! You have 3 hours!You have 3 hours!

104. Read introductory paragraphs and study diagrams 104. Read introductory paragraphs and study diagrams before looking at questions. before looking at questions. Look for helpful key words like always, never, none, except, most, least. Underline

or hi-light key words!!or hi-light key words!!

105. Draw diagrams to help you 105. Draw diagrams to help you visualize the questions being asked visualize the questions being asked

– where possible!– where possible!

106. Use a straight-edge to read 106. Use a straight-edge to read graphics, to mark points on a graph graphics, to mark points on a graph

and to measure distances.and to measure distances.

107. If certain words cause 107. If certain words cause confusion, cross them out and confusion, cross them out and

substitute a different word, then read substitute a different word, then read the question again.the question again.

Example: substitute the word “spin” for Example: substitute the word “spin” for rotate or “orbit” for revolution.rotate or “orbit” for revolution.

108. Don’t leave any questions blank! 108. Don’t leave any questions blank! Mark an answer for every question. You may lose credit by guessing incorrectly, but an unanswered question

will cost you credit automatically.

Try to supply your own answer to a multiple choice question before you look at the alternatives. Then choose the response closest to your own answer.

If all else fails and you have to guess an answer, then and only then consider this advice:  

If two choices are very similar choose neither. If two choices are opposite, choose one of them. The most general alternative is frequently the right answer. Don't change your original answer unless you're completely sure it's wrong.

111. Ask yourself: Is it in the 111. Ask yourself: Is it in the reference tables, or can the reference tables, or can the reference tables help me?reference tables help me?

112. Check your test a second 112. Check your test a second time, but only change an answer if time, but only change an answer if you find an obvious mistake. Your you find an obvious mistake. Your

first choice is usually correct!first choice is usually correct!

113. Look up formulas, even if you 113. Look up formulas, even if you think you know them. Substitute think you know them. Substitute information from the question into information from the question into the formula (Front page of ESRT).the formula (Front page of ESRT).

114. Skip over hard questions that are stumping 114. Skip over hard questions that are stumping you. Go back to them later. Something else in the you. Go back to them later. Something else in the test may give you a clue to the harder problems.test may give you a clue to the harder problems.

FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS!!!FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS!!!

Be Prepared!!Be Prepared!!Your exam is this Friday June 17 at 12:00 pmYour exam is this Friday June 17 at 12:00 pm

Bring pens (2) and pencil, hi-lighter, ruler and calculator (4 function only)

You are not allowed to use your graphing calculator

Do not bring any electronic devices to the exam

All other materials (ESRT, Scrap paper, test booklet and answer sheet) will be supplied

Regents Earth

Science Exam