Professional Documents
Culture Documents
UPCAt Earth Science Module 1
UPCAt Earth Science Module 1
This module covers the topics of Earth Science 1 (ES1) that deals with
the forces that shapes the lithosphere, the solid part of the earth, and the
forces that govern changes or phenomena that occurs in the hydrosphere
brought about by the movement of the earth and other celestial bodies like
the moon.
Concepts Revisited
1. Mineral
is a naturally occurring inorganic solid that
possesses a definite chemical structure
2. Rock
is an aggregate or combination of one or
more minerals
3. Soil
is made up of tiny bits of rocks and organic
materials from plants and animals
Properties of Minerals
o Crystal form
o Odor
o Luster (quality of light reflected from the surface of the mineral: metallic, glassy.
Pearly, dull)
o Color
o Streak (the color of the powder obtained by rubbing a mineral across a hard, rough
surface of a file or unglazed porcelain called streak plate)
o Cleavage (splitting of a mineral along the smooth surfaces or cleavage plane)
o Fracture
o Hardness (resistance to scratching)
1. The mineral or object with a scale of 10 is the hardest while those with a scale of 1 is
the softest.
2. The object or mineral can only scratch those object or mineral below it.
Rock Types
i
t
x
e
h
g
r
l
E
I
C
O
F
n
o
t
e
n
o
S
M
N
i
d
t
D
i
r
e
a
c
o
R a
t
s
u
i
m
n
o
e
m
a
o
f
i
l
r
o
l
s
k
s
e
l
d
v
c
u
i
a
a
C
l
c
ti
s
n
o
a
h
p
r
d
e
t c
i
y
1. Igneous Rocks
formed when magma or lava solidified
a. Extrusive Rocks – rocks that are formed from solidified lava; fine crystalline rocks
o “Quick” solidification – obsidian (glassy), pumice (fine pores, floats on water)
o Slow solidification – basalt (dark colored), felsites
b. Intrusive Rocks – formed from solidified magma; coarsely crystalline rocks
o Granite, gabbros
2. Sedimentary Rocks
consists of materials that once were part of older rocks or of plants and animals
categorized based on the type of material in which they are formed
a. Detrital or Clastic Rocks – rock fragments due to weathering
o silt → siltstone; clay→ shale; cement grains of sand → sandstone
o conglomerate, breccias
b. Chemical Rocks – formed from deposit of minerals that were once dissolved in water
o Limestone, coal
c. Organic Rocks – formed from the remains of organisms.
o Fossiliferous limestone, chalky limestone
3. Metamorphic Rocks
a rock that has changed its appearance and sometimes its mineral composition
formed due to subjection of heat and pressure (metamorphism)
examples of rock transformations:
o granite → gneiss
o limestone → marble
o quart grains in sandstone → quartzite
o soft shale and clay → slate
o impure sandstone and felsites → schist
Rock Cycle
Weathering – the breaking down of rocks brought about by either physical or chemical means
Erosion – the process by which rock fragments and sediments are carried along by such agents
Deposition – the process by which rock fragments and sediments carried by agents of erosion
are dropped or deposited in other places
Compacting – the process by which rock fragments and other materials that accumulated
(usually at the bottom of a thick column of water), get cemented together and harden into rock
Metamorphism – a change in constitution of rock brought about by pressure, heat and chemical
reaction resulting in a more compact and highly crystalline condition of the rock
Melting
Cooling and solidifying
1. Earthquake
Shaking of the ground caused by the breaking and shifting of the subterranean
rock under immense pressure
Seismology
Seismograph – an instrument that records earthquake waves
E
i
s
/
e
k
u
q
h
t
r
a
m
v
w
c
Earthquake Waves
o
B
P
S
f
r
u
y
d
a
w
c
e
v
s
v
e
a
s
w
S Bod
w
urf a
Ear h
Sm
P w a
av
v
c av
i w
cy
es
es
av es
e
t quak e/ s ei
s
Causes of Earthquakes
Effects of Earthquakes
2. Earth’s interior
Plate Tectonics
Continental drift Theory by Alfred Wegener
- the present seven continents originated from a big landmass called Pangea
- Proofs: fit of South America and Africa
fossil evidences
rock structures
ancient climate
Volcanism
3 General Eruptive Patterns and Characteristic Forms of Volcanoes:
o Shield
o Cinder
o Composite
Geologic Time
II. Hydrosphere:
- caused by the gravitational attraction of the moon, and to a lesser extent, by the sun
1.Human populations in specific locations, locations where there is extensive tectonic activity, should
take extensive precautions to minimize loss of: ___________________ and properties.
A) diamonds
B) lives
C) emeralds
D) money
E) wealth
2.Older crust tends to be ________________, and therefore is denser than younger crust.
A) hotter
B) higher
C) faster
D) younger
E) cooler
3.Of the three known boundaries, the "East-Pacific" Ridge or Rise, is considered to be a
_______________________ boundary.
A) intermediate
B) convergent
C) transform
D) deep
E) divergent
4.The Mariana Trench was most likely created by the
A) divergence of the Eurasian and Philippine Plates
B) convergence of the Pacific and Philippine Plates
C) sliding of the Pacific Plate past the North American Plate
D) movement of the Pacific Plate over the Hawaii Hot Spot
E) divergence of the Pacific and Antarctic Plates
5. Which part of Earth’s interior is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to
move?
A) crust
B) outer core
C) asthenosphere
D) inner core
E) rigid mantle
6. Primary (P) Seismic Waves can pass through ____________________________.
A) liquids only
B) solids only
C) gases only
D) solids, gases, and liquids
E) crust and core only
7. Of the 3 seismic waves, the _____-Waves are the fastest.
A) R
B) Q
C) P
D) S
E) L
8. Secondary (S) Seismic Waves can pass through ____________________________.
A) gases only
B) solids only
C) liquids only
D) solids, gases, and liquids
E) crust and core only
9. P-Waves are also said to be ____________-____________ waves.
A) east-west
B) side-side
C) up-down
D) north-south
E) push-pull
10. To find the epicenter of an earthquake, at least _____ seismic stations are needed.
A) 2
B) 1
C) 3
D) 4
E) 5
11. The closest seismic station to the epicenter of an earthquake will record P-Waves
___________________.
A) third
B) second
C) first
D) fourth
E) fifth
12. A tsunami forms when the epicenter of an earthquake is on the _____________________ floor.
A) convergent
B) desert
C) crusty
D) volcanic
E) oceanic
13. Lasers are sometimes used to detect movements along faults. LASER is an acronym for:
____________________________________.
A) Light Amplification by Simplified Emission of Radiation
B) Light Altercation by Stenographic Emission of Radiation
C) Lunar Amplification by Simplistic Emission of Radiation
D) Local Altercation by Super Emission of Radiation
E) Lunar Amplification by Simplified Emission of Radiation
1. The famous meteorologist who helped bring forth the theory of Continental Drift was
A) Charles Darwin
B) Albert Einstein
C) Alfred Wegener
D) Charles Bronson
E) Alfred Hitchcock
3. Geographically, the east coast of South America seems to fit the __________________________.
A) west coast of Africa
B) east coast of Africa
C) west coast of India
D) east coast of India
E) north coast of Australia
9. Continental Drift Theory asserts that our continents have been ______________________ for millions
of years!
A) rising
B) growing
C) moving
D) subducting
E) dying
14. Between the 3 known types of plate boundaries, the ________________________ zone is most
dangerous to human life.
A) transform
B) convergent
C) divergent
D) oceanic
E) continental
15. Between the 3 known types of plate boundaries, the ________________________ zone is most
known for producing precious metals.
A) convergent
B) transform
C) divergent
D) oceanic
E) continental
Featured Problems
1. What does Mt. Pinatubo, Mt. St. Helen's, and Redoubt Volcano of Alaska have in common?
A) All three are mountains
B) All three are on the Ring of Fire
C) All three are safe to visit
D) All three are on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge
E) All three are on top of divergent zones
3. Why does the oceanic crust sink beneath the continental crust at a subduction boundary?
A) The oceanic crust has a lighter density.
B) The oceanic crust is pulled downward by Earth’s magnetic field.
C) The continental crust has a more magnetic composition.
D) The oceanic crust is hotter.
E) The oceanic crust has a greater density.
8. In seafloor spreading, the further the ocean floor is away from the mid-ocean ridge, the
_____________________ that floor will be.
A) younger
B) newer
C) rockier
D) older
E) prettier
Words to Ponder
Here is a checklist of must know words. It includes a word or a set of words in each item that you must
be familiar with. Using a scratch paper try to illustrate or write the relationship, similarities and
differences of the words in each set.
Note: You really need to be familiarized with these concepts. Remember these are very basic but must
not be over-looked. Don’t get the wrong impression that only the definition matters. Remember that
what we want here is for you to be familiarized with these concepts through practice because most of
the items in the Science part of UPCAT are application so it really matters if you really understand the
concept.
UP Cut
Here are a few reasons why not all that we studied became a part of our long term memory:
1. You just read it. Remember you must understand it and be able to relate to it in order to
learn it.
2. Too many distractions. You might be reviewing in a too noisy place.
3. It hasn’t really been processed.
4. Lack of focus.
5. Too tired to study.
1. Focus.
2. Take down notes.
3. Review in a quiet place that is conducive for learning.
4. Don’t study when you’re too tired. Take some break, rest and sleep.
5. Move away from distractions.
Self-check
Answer key:
1.B
2.E
3.E
4.B
5.E
6.D
7.C
8.B
9.E
10. C
11. C
12. E
13. A
14. A
15. C
16. C
17. A
18. D
19. C
20. A
21. A
Featured Problem
Answer Key:
1. B
2. D
3. E
4. E
5. B
6. D
7. A
8. D