Science Earth and Space Flashcards
6 cards from real ICAS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Science Earth and Space flashcards as text
Why does Australia experience summer in December while the Northern Hemisphere has winter?
Answer: Earth's axis is tilted, so the Southern Hemisphere leans toward the Sun in December
Seasons are caused by Earth's 23.5° axial tilt, not its distance from the Sun.
Which layer of Earth is liquid and responsible for generating the planet's magnetic field?
Answer: Outer core
The outer core is liquid iron and nickel; its movement creates Earth's magnetic field.
A student notices that the Moon looks like a thin curve on Monday and a full circle about two weeks later. What causes these changes in the Moon's appearance?
Answer: The changing amount of the Moon's sunlit side we can see from Earth
Moon phases occur because we see different amounts of the Moon's lit half as it orbits Earth.
Which type of rock forms when layers of sediment are compressed over millions of years?
Answer: Sedimentary
Sedimentary rock such as sandstone forms from compacted and cemented layers of sediment.
In the water cycle, which process moves water from the surface of oceans and lakes into the atmosphere?
Answer: Evaporation
Evaporation turns liquid water into water vapour that rises into the air.
Which of these statements about the planets in our Solar System is correct?
Answer: Mercury has the shortest year
Mercury is closest to the Sun and orbits it in just 88 Earth days.