ASVAB General Science Practice Test: Earth and Space Science
- Earth and Space Science
- 10 questions
- 15 minutes
These questions cover rocks and minerals, weather, the oceans and the solar system. Many ask what a tool or unit measures, so learn the match between each name and its job.
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Question 1
On the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, which of these minerals is the hardest?
Correct answer: B
Diamond is the hardest mineral at 10 on the Mohs scale. Talc is the softest at 1, and quartz is 7.
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Question 2
Sandstone forms when layers of sand are pressed and cemented together over time. What type of rock is sandstone?
Correct answer: D
Rocks made from pressed and cemented sediments are sedimentary. Igneous rocks form from cooled magma or lava, and metamorphic rocks form when existing rock is changed by heat and pressure.
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Question 3
Which instrument records the vibrations of the ground during an earthquake?
Correct answer: A
A seismograph detects and records ground motion. A barometer measures air pressure, an anemometer measures wind speed, and a hygrometer measures humidity.
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Question 4
A weather observer sees that air pressure is falling quickly. Which instrument is she reading?
Correct answer: C
A barometer measures air pressure; a quick drop often signals stormy weather on the way. A thermometer measures temperature, not pressure.
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Question 5
What mainly causes the ocean tides on Earth?
Correct answer: B
The Moon's gravity pulls on the oceans and creates bulges of water that move as Earth turns. The Sun adds a smaller effect; winds cause waves, not tides.
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Question 6
During a solar eclipse, what blocks the light of the Sun as seen from Earth?
Correct answer: A
In a solar eclipse the Moon lines up between the Sun and Earth and casts its shadow on Earth. When Earth is between the Sun and the Moon, the result is a lunar eclipse.
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Question 7
Astronomers say a star is 10 light-years away. What does a light-year measure?
Correct answer: D
A light-year is the distance light travels in one year, about 6 trillion miles. Despite the word "year," it is not a unit of time.
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Question 8
Which planet is the largest in our solar system?
Correct answer: C
Jupiter is the largest planet; its diameter is about 11 times that of Earth. Saturn is the second largest.
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Question 9
Which star is closest to Earth?
Correct answer: A
The Sun is a star, and it is far closer than any other. The Alpha Centauri system is the nearest star system beyond the Sun, but it is still more than 4 light-years away.
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Question 10
Where do most earthquakes occur?
Correct answer: B
Plates grinding past, pulling apart or colliding build up stress that is released as earthquakes. The poles and deserts are not earthquake zones because of their climate.
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