Chapter 1: Introduction to Earth Science

Choose the four basic principles that good scientific explanations follow.

1. Scientific hypotheses offer natural causes for natural effects. 2. Scientific explanations are provisional. 3. Scientific explanations are predictable and testable. 4. Scientific explanations are based on experiments that are repeatable.

Some people argue that the large impact humans have on the planet has brought us into a new period in the history of Earth, a period informally known as the ______.

Anthropocene

What group of animals is most famously associated with the hypothesis that an asteroid collided with Earth, resulting in a mass extinction event at the Cretaceous-Tertiary (K-T) boundary?

Dinosaur

__________have had such a large impact on the planet that we have now entered a new period in Earth's history called the Anthropocene.

Human or people

Earth science explores the interactions between which of the following?

Hydrosphere, atmosphere, Biosphere, and Geosphere

A(n) ______ is a reasonable explanation for an observed phenomenon that can be tested.

Hypothesis

Complete the following sentences that list the steps of the scientific method by matching the words and phrases.

Make=observations Form and test=hypotheses Develop=predictions Conduct=experiments Analyze=data Evaluate=results

______ is an example of a nonrenewable resource, which takes a relatively long time to form relative to the human life span.

Petroleum, Aluminum, and Coal

is a process of discovery that increases our knowledge of the natural world.

Science

A theory is not just an opinion or a guess; it is a well-supported explanation for some phenomena in the natural world.

Scientific

Which of the following is not a basic principle for good scientific explanations?

Scientific explanations are permanent.

______ is the capacity of Earth's natural systems and human cultural systems to survive, flourish, and adapt to changing environmental conditions in the very long term future. Multiple choice question.

Sustainability

What is the role of the popular press in scientific issues?

To get the information to the public

______ uses more mineral and energy resources per capita than any other nation.

US

Science is ______.

a methodology used to study the natural world

The prevailing hypothesis concerning the cause for the extinction of the dinosaurs is that ______.

an asteroid or comet collided with Earth

All of the following are natural hazards that can result in a large loss of life and/or property, except _______.

an epidemic

The possibility of a large __________colliding with Earth is a global-scale natural hazard that could devastate the entire planet.

asteroid, meteor, meteorite, or comet

Science's system of checks and___________ usually keeps bad science from coming to a public forum because it is weeded out by the peer review process.

balances

Scientific explanations are _______.

changeble

The scientific process is a system of ______ and balances, which is important for maintaining its integrity.

checks

Air, water, and soil are examples of elements in the environment, which have their own specific ______ and physical characteristics.

chemical

Earth scientists use _____ to better understand Earth.

direct measurements, models, and indirect information

_________science investigates the interactions among the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and geosphere.

earth

Global change research encompasses many disciplines, including ______.

ecology, oceanography, geology, and climatology

A scientific hypothesis must be testable to determine if it could be ______.

false

Scientists from many disciplines are involved in change research, including geologists, ecologists, oceanographers, and climatologists.

global

A(n) ______ is an example of a natural hazard, an event an earth scientist might be interested in understanding in an attempt to protect life and property. Multiple select question.

hurricane, flood, and landslide

Scientific ______ are provisional; they can and do change. Multiple choice question.

hypotheses, predictions, and explanations

A(n) ________ is a testable explanation for an observed phenomenon.

hypothesis

Population growth and pollution are related in that as one increases, the other

increases

A(n) ______ is a natural hazard that would have global-scale impacts with the potential to devastate a significant amount of the planet.

large asteroid colliding with Earth

Scientific explanations are ______ by technology and other factors.

limited

The scientific________ implies that ample observations will provide insight about the origin of Earth.

method

Actions that reduce the probability of a natural disaster or lessen its effects are _________strategies.

mitigation

Earth scientists may take direct or indirect measurements or they may use physical or mathematical ______ to simulate a system or phenomenon they are attempting to study.

models

As world population has grown exponentially, much of the world has become more industrialized, leading to ______ pollution of the land, air, and water.

more

The United States uses ______ other industrialized nations.

more natural resources than

Mitigation strategies are those that prevent or reduce the probability of a disaster or lessen its effects.

natural

The scientific method starts with making a(n) ______ about the natural world and ends with evaluating the ______ of data analysis to make conclusions.

observation; results

The principle elements of the environment, which include air, water, and soil, have specific chemical and __________ characteristics.

physical

Whereas scientists analyze situations, it is the ______ media that makes that information available and digestible to the general public.

popular

Scientific explanations should be _______.

predictable testable

Wood and wind are examples of ______ resources, as they are replenished relatively quickly when compared to other resources.

renewable

Everything that we use in the environment, from water and trees to fuel and minerals, is considered a

resource

Soil, water, air, coal, oil, and minerals are all examples of ______, or things in the environment that we use.

resources

When an individual makes an observation about the world and then develops an educated explanation that they are able to test through experimentation, they are using the method.

scientific

A(n) ________society uses the resources it desires while leaving enough resources for future generations.

sustainable

Science can be limited by the that is available at the time; inventions such as the telescope and microscope revolutionized our explanations of the cosmos and cells, respectively.

technology

A scientific is a well-substantiated explanation of natural phenomena that has been repeatedly tested.

theory