PSSA PSSA Earth and Space Science 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What causes ocean tides?
- Wind pushing water toward coastlines
- The gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth's oceans (Correct answer)
- Earth's rotation creating centrifugal force
- Temperature differences between ocean regions
Correct answer: The gravitational pull of the Moon and Sun on Earth's oceans
Ocean tides are caused primarily by the gravitational pull of the Moon (and to a lesser extent the Sun) on Earth's oceans.
Question 2: What is erosion?
- The build-up of sediment in one location
- The process by which wind, water, and ice wear away and carry rock and soil (Correct answer)
- The chemical breakdown of minerals in rocks
- The formation of new land through volcanic activity
Correct answer: The process by which wind, water, and ice wear away and carry rock and soil
Erosion is the process by which natural forces like wind, water, and ice wear away and transport rock and soil from one place to another.
Question 3: Which planet is known as the 'Red Planet'?
- Venus
- Jupiter
- Mars (Correct answer)
- Saturn
Correct answer: Mars
Mars is called the Red Planet because its surface is covered with iron oxide (rust), giving it a reddish appearance.
Question 4: What is the greenhouse effect?
- The process by which plants absorb CO₂ from the atmosphere
- The trapping of heat in Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases (Correct answer)
- The reflection of sunlight off polar ice caps
- The cooling effect of the ocean on coastal regions
Correct answer: The trapping of heat in Earth's atmosphere by greenhouse gases
The greenhouse effect is the process by which greenhouse gases trap heat in Earth's atmosphere, keeping the planet warm enough for life.
Question 5: What is a fault in geology?
- A type of sedimentary rock layer
- A fracture in Earth's crust where rocks have moved relative to each other (Correct answer)
- An underground cave system
- A region of volcanic activity
Correct answer: A fracture in Earth's crust where rocks have moved relative to each other
A fault is a fracture or zone of fractures in Earth's crust along which the rocks on either side have moved relative to each other.
Question 6: What does the term 'light-year' measure?
- The age of a star
- The brightness of a star
- The distance light travels in one year (Correct answer)
- The time it takes for light to reach Earth from the Sun
Correct answer: The distance light travels in one year
A light-year is the distance that light travels in one year in a vacuum, approximately 9.46 trillion kilometers.
PSSA PSSA Earth and Space Science 2
What causes ocean tides?