1. List and describe ways in which Earth's atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere interact.
2. Briefly describe the composition of the Inner Core, Outer Core, Mantle and Crust.
3. Explain what is meant by an "Empirical Approach" to a problem.
4. Explain in what way scientific ideas are distinguished from other types of ideas.
5. Given several hypotheses or ideas, identify which fall within the realm of science, which do not, and explain why.
6. Define and correctly use the following terms: geocentric, heliocentric, orbit, retrograde motion, ellipse, Occam’s Razor, solar system, Mare (Maria), Asteroid, Comet, Meteoroid, Meteorite, Meteor, Sunspot, Solar flare, Nuclear fusion, New Moon, Full Moon, Quarter Moon, Lightyear.
7. Distinguish between terrestrial and Jovian planets.
8.
List the
planets in the solar system in order of distance from the sun.
9. Identify and describe the Asteroid Belt.
10. Describe the source of the Sun’s energy.
11. Explain the general concept of Plate Tectonics
12. Given a tectonic map of the earth, identify convergent, divergent and transform boundaries.
13. List evidence that Wegener used to support the theory of Continental Drift, and explain how each provides support.
14. Explain how detailed maps of the seafloor provided new evidence of Plate Tectonics.
15. List types of Plate Tectonic boundaries and describe the relative motion at each.
16. Contrast the Lithosphere and Asthenosphere.
17. Compare and contrast oceanic crust and the continental crust.
18. Compare and contrast oceanic lithosphere and continental lithosphere.
19. Compare and contrast geologic processes at the following types of convergent boundaries: Ocean-Ocean, Ocean-Continent, Continent-Continent.
20. Contrast Transform boundary with other tectonic boundaries.
21. Describe how the occurrence of deep earthquakes supports the theory of plate tectonics.
22. Given points on the ocean floor, sort them from youngest to oldest.
23.
Recall the definition of a
mineral.
24.
Describe the structure of an
atom.
25.
Define and use properly the
terms proton, neutron, electron, atomic number, ion, and isotope.
26.
Distinguish between minerals
and other material.
27.
Describe the silica
tetrahedron and its role in determining the cleavage and structure of silicate
minerals.
28.
Describe and illustrate what
is meant by silica tetrahedra, single-chain tetrahedra, double-chain of
tetrahedra, sheet silicates, and three-dimensiona bonds of tetrahedra.
29.
Identify the silicate
structure of the minerals olivine, augite (pyroxene), hornblende (amphibole),
mica, feldspar and quartz.
30.
Describe the meaning of the
terms luster, cleavage, crystal structure, streak,
and hardness in describing minerals.
31.
Use knowledge of the silicate
structure to explain the cleavage of the following minerals: Mica, feldspar,
Quartz
32.
Correctly identify the
following minerals from a picture or hand specimen: Olivine, Hornblend, Mica
(biotite and muscovite), Feldspar, Quartz.
33.
Describe how the Mohs
hardness scale is used to identify minerals.
34.
Memorize the Mohs hardness of
Talc, Quartz and Diamond and a fingernail.
35. List the three basic rock types and describe how each forms.
36. Describe, illustrate, and label an illustration of the rock cycle.
37. Distinguish between extrusive (plutonic) and extrusive (volcanic) igneous rock in terms of their appearance and how they form.
38. Given a picture or hand specimen of an igneous rock, correctly identify the following igneous textures: coarse grained, fine grained, glassy, vesicular, and porphyritic.
39. Describe how each of the textures listed above relate to the formation of igneous rocks.
40. Identify the following igneous rocks from samples, pictures or descriptions: Gabbro, Basalt, Granite, Rhyolite.
41. Compare and contrast igneous rocks that are found in oceanic crust and continental crust.
42. Describe and illustrate Bowen's Reaction Series.
43. Relate Bowen's Reaction Series to the complexity of silicate minerals that crystallize.
44. Define detrital (clastic) and chemical sedimentary rocks.
45. Compare and contrast the formation of detrital and chemical sedimentary rocks.
46. Explain how grain size of detrital sedimentary rocks relates to the speed of water from which their sediment was deposited.
47. Relate the roundness of detrital sedimentary rocks to the amount of abrasion they experienced; relate the amount of abrasion to the distance that the particles traveled.
48. Given written descriptions, pictures or samples, identify and distinguish between the following detrital sedimentary rocks: Conglomerate, sandstone, breccia, shale.
49. Given written descriptions, pictures or samples, identify and distinguish between the following chemical sedimentary rocks: halite, crystalline limestone.
50. Given written descriptions, pictures or samples, identify and distinguish between the following biochemical sedimentary rocks: chert, fossil-rich limestone, coal.
51. Describe, illustrate, and label an illustration of the rock cycle.
52. Compare and contrast mechanical and chemical weathering.
53. List, explain, and identify in pictures the agents of mechanical weathering.
54. Define the terms "soil" and "soil horizon."
55. List and explain factors that affect soil thickness.
Explain why clearing tropical and subtropical rainforest does not usually yield productive farmland.
57.
58. Distinguish between the processes of weathering, erosion, and mass wasting.
59. List and describe factors that affect the rate of weathering.
60. Define the term "Mass Wasting."
61. Define the terms "creep," "slump," "slide," "rock fall, " and "flow" in the context of mass wasting.
62. Define and properly use the term "angle of repose. "
63. Explain the geologic and climatic factors that contributed to the Mill Creek Landslide on Hwy 50.
64. Explain what is meant by an n-year flood (where n is a number of years).
65. Describe, illustrate, and label an illustration of the hydrologic cycle.
66. Define, explain and properly use the terms "gradient", "discharge", "hydrograph", and "base level" in the context of stream flow.
67. Given a stream profile, locate those regions that have high, moderate and low gradients.
68. Given a stream profile, indicate where streams will form “V-shaped” valleys and where they will form broad flood plains.
69. Relate water velocity to the processes of erosion and deposition of sediment.
70. Correctly identify and label the quantities represented on the axes of a stream hydrograph.
71. Describe how stream meanders form and migrate.
72. Define and correctly use the terms "porosity" and "permeability."
73. Know the name of the major watershed in which the university is located, the name of the major watershed directly south of this watershed, and be able to locate and sketch both on a map.
74. Explain and sketch how the following quantities vary along a typical stream profile (and in particular for the American River): Elevation, volume of water flowing in stream, water velocity, channel shape.
75. Relate stream gradient to water velocity, the shape of a stream channel, and the development of a flood plain.
76. Distinguish between confined and unconfined aquifers.
77. Define, illustrate and properly use the following terms: Epicenter, focus, hypocenter, elastic rebound, seismograph, seismogram.
78. Describe the particle motion and relative speed of the following types of seismic waves: P-wave, S-wave, Surface wave.
79. Sketch the particle motion of P-waves and S-waves relative to the direction the waves travel.
80. Distinguish between earthquake magnitude and earthquake intensity.
81. Describe some of the factors that determine earthquake intensity.
82. Define and properly use the following terms: pyroclastic material, viscosity, igneous dike, igneous sill, caldera, batholith.
83. Given type of magma (basaltic versus rhyolitic) in a volcano, predict the magma viscosity and eruption style of volcanoes located in different tectonic settings.
84. Describe, illustrate label an illustration of profiles of different types of volcanoes; label figure 8.B, noting volcano sizes and the steepness of their slopes.
85. Given a photograph of a volcano, identify it as "shield," "composite," or "cinder cone."
86. Given a sketch of photograph of a volcano or volcanic eruption, predict magma viscosity (high or low), silica content (high or low), magma type basaltic or rhyolitic), and volcano type.
87. Distinguish between relative and absolute age dating.
88. Given a geologic cross-section, use the rules of relative age dating to put geologic events in their proper time sequence.
89. Given the half-life of a radionuclide, its abundance in a rock, and the abundance of the daughter product, determine the age of the rock.
90. Provide the scientifically accepted age of the earth.
91. Describe and illustrate the motion of water particles in a wave before the wave begins to break and after the wave begins to break.
92. Describe and illustrate the motion of sand during longshore drift (longshore transport).
93. Describe the source of salts in ocean water.
94. Explain how ocean surface currents form.
95. Describe Coriolis.
96. Provide the general chemical composition of the atmosphere.
97. Explain the greenhouse effect.
98. List common greenhouse gases in the atmosphere.
99. Explain the what is meant by the following terms: El Nino, La Nina, ENSO.
100. Explain how El Nino affects coastal fisheries in South America.
101. Locate the following features on a map of California: San Andreas fault, Sierra Nevada mountains, Sacramento River, San Joaquin River, American River, Lake Tahoe, Mount Shasta.