REVIEW FOR FINAL

Grade 8 Science Review

As you read over the following items, you should cross check your notes, hand-outs and your book for information to write answers for each topic. We will discuss the questions in class - small groups first, large groups last.


1. The Dynamic Earth
• What are the three layers of the earth?
• Which layer makes up the earth's surface?
• Name the layers of the crust and name a feature of each.
• What is the lithosphere? asthenosphere?
• What is the geosphere?
• What is the main cause of earthquakes?
2. Plate Tectonics
• What are tectonic plates and what do they do?
• What are the three kinds of plate boundaries? Describe their movement.
• Explain the Theory of Plate Tectonics.
• Where does plate movement take place?
• Where are some of the major plate boundaries around the world?
• Who developed the theory of Continental Drift and why was it not a highly accepted theory?
• What are the 4 pieces of evidence that Wegener used to support his theory?
3. Water Cycle
• What is the difference between surface water and groundwater?
• Fully explain the water cycle.
• What is the source of energy for the water cycle?
• Why is the water cycle important?
• Diagram the water cycle.
• What is eutrophication and how is it caused?
• Describe point and non-point pollution.
4. Biosphere
• What are the three important factors required for life to exist?
• What is the biosphere?
5. Ecosystem
• What is an ecosystem?
• What are the requirements of an ecosystem?
• What is an organism?
• What is a habitat?
• What is a niche?
• What happens when we remove the keystone species?
• How would you describe our biome?
6. Biotic/Abiotic
• What is an abiotic factor?
• What is a biotic factor?
• Name the roles of the biotic/abiotic factors in an ecosystem.
• What is a population?
7. Energy Flow
• What is photosynthesis? What is the formula for it?
• Where does the energy come from?
• What is a producer? consumer? decomposer?
8. Energy Transfer
• How is energy transferred from producers to consumers?
• What is a food chain? food web? What is the difference?
9. Species Interactions
• What is symbiosis?
• commensalism? predation? mutualism? parasitism?
• Examples of each .....
10. Biodiversity
• What is biodiversity?
• What are endemic species?
• What are exotic species?
• What is a hotspot?
• How do humans adversely affect biodiversity?
11. Global Warming and Atmospheric Change
• What is ozone?
• What are two consequences of global warming?
• What are greenhouse gases?
• What is weather? climate?
• What is the greenhouse effect?
• What is a microclimate?
• What are two ways to decrease your CO2 emissions?
12. Non-renewable Energy
• What is non-renewable energy?
• What are some examples of non-renewable energy?
• What are fossil fuels?
• What is the timeline for the remaining fossil fuels?
• Use kinetic, potential and activation energy in a short essay. Be sure to use an example.
• How are fossil fuels formed?
• Why is nuclear energy considered non-renewable?
• What is a problem associated with nuclear energy?
• What are some uses, other than fuel, for petroleum?
• Describe how electricity is produced.
13. Renewable Energy
• What are two types of renewable energy?
• What are two methods of using solar energy?
• What is active solar energy? How does it work?
• What is passive solar energy?
• What are some of the design components needed for passive solar energy to be most effective?
• What is hydroelectric power? How is it generated?
• Why is it important to use more renewable energy?
• What are some drawbacks of renewable energy?
• What is biomass fuel?
• How is wind power generated?
• Where do we get geothermal energy?
• How is active solar energy converted to electricity?
14. Waste
• Discuss solid waste. Who generates it?
• Describe how a landfill operates.
• What are some problems associated with incineration?
• Describe what is meant by the three "R's".
• Why is it important to recycle and purchase products made from recycled materials?
• Describe the ideal school recycling program.
• Why compost?
• What is hazardous waste?
• What does CERCLA do? Why is this law so important to us?