General Science: Earth Science and Space Science Flashcards
6 cards from real ASVAB practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 General Science: Earth Science and Space Science flashcards as text
Which layer of Earth's atmosphere contains the ozone layer and is where most weather patterns occur just below it?
Answer: Stratosphere
The ozone layer sits within the stratosphere (roughly 15–35 km altitude). Weather occurs in the troposphere below it, but the ozone layer itself is in the stratosphere.
What is the correct order of the rock cycle stages when magma cools and eventually becomes sedimentary rock?
Answer: Magma → igneous → weathering/erosion → sediment → sedimentary rock
Magma cools to form igneous rock. Weathering and erosion break igneous rock into sediment, which compacts and cements into sedimentary rock over time.
Ocean tides are primarily caused by which force?
Answer: The gravitational pull of the Moon (and to a lesser extent, the Sun)
The Moon's gravity pulls ocean water toward it, creating a tidal bulge. The Sun also contributes, and when Sun, Earth, and Moon align (spring tides) the effect is strongest.
On the Mohs hardness scale, which mineral is rated 10 (the hardest)?
Answer: Diamond
Diamond is rated 10 on the Mohs scale, making it the hardest naturally occurring mineral. Corundum is 9, Topaz is 8, and Quartz is 7.
Which planet in our solar system has the most moons?
Answer: Saturn
Saturn currently holds the record with over 140 confirmed moons, surpassing Jupiter. Both are gas giants with large moon systems, but Saturn's count is higher.
What type of front forms when a cold air mass overtakes and pushes under a warm air mass, often causing thunderstorms?
Answer: Cold front
A cold front occurs when a cold air mass advances and slides under a warmer air mass, forcing it upward rapidly. This rapid uplift causes thunderstorms and heavy precipitation.