Download Science Study Guide

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Science Study Guide
The Water Cycle
Most of the water on the Earth is found in the oceans.
The sun is the source of energy that evaporates the water from the Earth’s surface.
Water evaporates when it is changed from water (liquid) to water vapor (gas).
Water condenses when it is changed from water vapor (gas) to water (liquid).
Temperature controls whether water is a gas, liquid or solid ice.
Water freezes at 32◦ F and 0◦ C.
The sun has an effect on the water on Earth by evaporating water off of oceans or
condensing to form clouds and rain.
Water evaporation would occur more quickly in St. George during the summer
than Antelope Island during the winter because it is hotter in St. George during
the summer and colder on Antelope Island during the winter.
Clouds and dew forming are an example of condensation occurring during the
water cycle.
Water vapor in the air returns to the Earth as it condenses and then precipitates as
rain, snow, sleet, or hail.
Water gets into wells as rain sinks down through the soil and into the well.
A river would rise if heavy rain soaked the soil near it.
On a warm and sunny day you could expect more evaporation to take place from
the surface of a pond.
Evaporation occurs as water molecules leave water and go into the air.
Precipitation occurs as water leaves a cloud and falls back to the earth.
Rainfall that soaks into the soil slowly is the most helpful to farmers.
Water moves through the water cycle from oceans to air to clouds to rain, to
rivers, to oceans, etc.
Tropical rainforests have high levels of precipitation because of evaporation from
warm oceans.
If water falls as rain on the ground it may runoff to the nearest stream or river,
soak through the soil until it gets to an impermeable rock layer, or finds its way to
the surface as a spring.
If the Great Salt Lake disappeared it would affect the water cycle because there
would be less water to evaporate into the atmosphere. That would decrease the
amount of rain or snowfall, fewer clouds, less humidity and the rivers and streams
nearby would shrink. Ground water levels would drop and the wells may dry up.
Five places that hold water as it passes through the water cycle are oceans,
atmosphere, lakes, streams, snow, ice, and groundwater.
Weather
If a thunderstorm is approaching you could expect to see dark cumulus clouds,
low temperatures and rain.
Temperature, humidity and wind speed are all measurements of air.
To make an accurate forecast you would have to gather data on air temperature,
humidity, air pressure, wind, cloud cover, and precipitation.
Rain turns to snow when the air temperature gets colder or at 32 degrees F.
Cirrus clouds often predict a storm.
If we have a calm day with little wind usually that means the next day will be the
same.
A day with lots of wind from the south usually means that colder weather is
coming.
Some weather clues that a storm is coming are wind, especially from the south,
cirrus clouds, dropping barometer, or high humidity.
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A barometer is an instrument that could be used to find out the air pressure.
The weather bureau may be wrong in predicting the weather because there are
many factors that can make it change quickly.
The most important goal in weather forecasting is to save life and property.
Weather maps are made to show how weather moves and by tracking it a
meteorologist can make better predictions.
Anemometers measure wind speed.
Barometers measure air pressure.
Wind vanes show wind direction.
Thermometers measure temperature.
Hygrometers measure humidity.
Cumulus clouds are white fluffy and look like cotton balls.
Cirrus clouds are high wispy and feather like.
Stratus clouds are blanket like.
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Rocks and Minerals
Rocks can be classified as sedimentary, igneous or metamorphic.
A mineral is a solid material that is made up of all the same material.
Rocks are made from many minerals.
A sedimentary rock may feel rough and grainy.
Sedimentary rocks are formed by erosion and weathering. Then the sediments
are pressed and cemented together.
Some individual kinds of sedimentary rocks are sandstone, shale, limestone
and conglomerate.
A metamorphic rock has been changed by extreme heat and pressure, it may
have wavy folds.
Obsidian, granite, basalt, and pumice are all igneous rocks and formed from
cooled molten rock.
Rocks are made from a collection of minerals (heterogeneous).
Minerals have a crystal shape and are made of one substance (homogeneous).
Rocks can be broken down and weathered by freezing and thawing, plant
roots, or heat expansion.
Erosion is the movement of weathered materials.
Soil forms after a rock has been weathered over many years.
Erosion generally moves downward.
Soils are most likely to erode when their plant cover is gone.
If the soil has deep gullies you know that soil erosion is happening.
Water helps to weather rocks by dissolving it or freezing in a crack.
Weathering is the breakdown of rock into smaller pieces.
Erosion is when it is carried away.
Soil can be classified as sand, silt, or clay.
Clay is the most compact and has the least amount of air space.
Sand is made from pieces of rock.
Silt is made of smaller particles than sand.
Most plants need soil for support.
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Fossils
Prehistoric animals are sometimes preserved in amber.
A fossil dinosaur bone is harder than the original bone because it is now
made from minerals.
Sedimentary rocks are best for finding fossils.
Fossil imprinting occurs when a mark is made in soft wet soil which then
turns to rock leaving the shape in the rock.
Fossils are harder and heavier then recent bones. They are a different
color and may not look like a normal animal.
The mammoth use to live in Utah but no longer does.
Climate changes are common causes of plant and animal extinction.
Trilobites found in limestone provide evidence that parts of Utah were
once part of the sea floor of an ancient ocean.
If a scientist found a seashell fossil on top of a mountain he could guess
that the mountain was once part of the ocean floor.
Scientists have learned from fossils that oceans have changed their size
and location over many years.
People have caused animals to become extinct through over hunting,
removing food sources, and destroying habitat.
Fossils are often found in sedimentary rocks because these rocks were
formed on the Earth’s surface where living things were. When the
organisms die they fall into the sediments, the minerals replace the bones,
and become part of the rock.
Coal begins to form in a warm and swampy climate.
Deseret, Forest, and Wetlands
A forest would have coniferous (pine) trees.
Animals live in the environment that best meet their needs.
Small, thick, waxy leaves help desert plants adapt to the hot summer.
A rattlesnake's poisonous bite helps it to get its food.
Trees provide squirrels with food, shelter, and protection from enemies.
The squirrel helps the tree by scattering its seeds.
Utah is mostly a desert.
Animals must eat other things.
The area where the Bear River flows into the Great Salt Lake is a
wetland.
Wetlands have wet soil.
You would most likely find cactus in the desert.
Animals in the desert: jackrabbit, tortoise, rattlesnake, roadrunner.
Animals in the forest: Moose, elk, squirrel, blue jay, deer.
Higher elevations cause the temperature to be colder and more rain or
snow to fall.
Conifers and pines grow in colder areas. Deciduous trees grow in more
temperate areas.
The main difference between a worm and a slug are their body shapes.
Aspen leaves have a toothed edge and has more than one leaf on it.
Oak leaves are notched or lobed and have more than one leaf.
Pine leaves are needle-like and in clusters of two or more.
Spruce leaves are needle-like and single.
A bear survives the winter by hibernating in its den.
Beavers use aspen trees to build their dams with and to use the bark for
food.
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Reptiles lay eggs on land and amphibians lay eggs in the water.
Reptiles have a scaly, tough skin.
Birds migrate to a warmer location to survive the winter.
Animals have adapted to the winter by growing long hair, storing fat,
hibernating, and going to lower elevations or warmer climates.
Similarities between reptiles and amphibians: walk on four legs, if they
walk, they are small, cold blooded, and lay eggs.
Differences between reptiles and amphibians:
Be able to classify any animal as Mammal, Bird, Reptile, Amphibian, or
Fish.
Be able to classify any animal as an Omnivore, Carnivore, or Herbivore,
Know the difference between warm blooded and cold blooded, and be
able to tell which animals are in each category.