Name:_______________ Form: Science Teacher: HM ST RA

Year 10 Science Common Assessment Task 2011

Planet Earth and Beyond

DO NOT OPEN THIS PAPER UNTIL INSTRUCTED. ANSWER ALL QUESTIONS IN BLUE OR BLACK PEN.

For Assessors use only

Achievement Criteria Achievement with Merit

Demonstrate in-depth understanding of aspects of planet earth and beyond

Achievement
Demonstrate understanding of aspects of planet earth and beyond

Achievement with Excellence

Demonstrate comprehensive understanding of aspects of planet earth and beyond

Overall Level of Performance

Question 1
a) About 4.6 million years ago, the earth began to form in space from a cloud of dust. Explain how the earth was formed.

b) This is a simple diagram of the structure of the earth i) Label the diagram

ii) Match the descriptions of each of these parts of the earth crust Thickest part of the earth (3000km). Top part (100km) is solid, but contains semisolid magma Made of nickel and iron. Temperature from 4000-5000 < C. Solid under pressure. Layer of liquid heated to about 4000 < C. Top layer of the earth. Thinnest layer. Solid layer that is broken into plates.

mantle

inner core

outer core

c) List three elements commonly found in the soil

Question 2
a) What does the Theory of Plate Tectonics say about the earth's crust?

b) Name and explain two observations that support the theory of plate tectonics.

c) Explain what happens at i) subducting plate boundaries

ii) sliding plate boundaries

iii) colliding plate boundaries

iv) Diverging plate coundaries

Question 3
a) New Zealand was formed in a very unique way i) When did New Zealand break off from Gondwanaland?

ii) How did this result in New Zealand's great biodiversity?

iii) Theory relating to New Zealand's geological history is now present. What do geologists think happened 25 million years ago?

b) New Zealand has many endemic, flightless birds. Why?

c) How did human settlement in New Zealand affect its biodiversity?

Question 4
a) There are three main types of rock: igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary i) Briefly describe how each is formed Igneous

Metamorphic

Sedimentary

ii) Name three examples of each type of rock Igneous Metamorphic Sedimentary ii) Identify the type of rock each description. This rock has a fossil. It is relatively soft and the grains are not interlocking. It has many visible layers

This rock has no fossils. It has a crystalline structure and feels grainy and has been split at a fault. The crystals of different types are in bands.

This rock has no fossils. It is hard and has interlocking crystals of different types.

b) Fill in the gaps in the rock cycle on the following page

c) Differenciate weathering and erosion.

d) Name three the three main types of weathering, explaining them and explain two types of erosion.

e) Explain the factors that affect the forming of fossils and a process of creating one

Question 5
a) What is the earth's hydrosphere?

b) The water cycle is how water is moved and changes form on earth. i) How does water enter the atmosphere?

ii) What are clouds?

iii) What is precipitation? When does it occur?

c) How does water help to shape the landscape?

Question 6
a)Define the following terms i) Hydrosphere

ii) Atmosphere

b) Name four naturally occurring substances that contain carbon

c) In recent years, carbon dioxide levels on earth have risen significantly i) What processes release carbon dioxide into the air?

ii) What human activities cause the levels to rise so high?

iii) What are the negative effects of carbon dioxide on the planet?

d) How is acid rain formed?