NJIT PHYSICS 203 EARTH IN SPACE
EXAM 2 TEST SCRIPT 2026 TEST
PAPER QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
CERTIFICATION REVIEW GRADED
A+
◉ geosphere. Answer: the solid part of the earth
◉ mineralogy. Answer: the study of minerals
◉ mineral. Answer: Any naturally occurring solid, inorganic object with
a definite chemical structure
◉ properties of a mineral. Answer: color, streak, luster, light
transmittance, hardness, tenacity, cleavage, habit, density, specific
gravity, taste, smell, magnetic properties, chemical reactivity
◉ color (mineral property). Answer: least reliable way to identify a
mineral
◉ streak (mineral property). Answer: the color of a mineral in its
powder form is more reliable
,◉ light transmittance (mineral property). Answer: transparent: see
through
opaque: no light
translucent: kind of see through
◉ hardness (mineral property). Answer: resistance to
scratching/rubbing without breaking
◉ mohs scale. Answer: measures hardness of a mineral from 1-10
1: talk (baby powder)
10: diamond
you can scratch minerals together to see which is harder
pocket knife: 4.5
fingernail: 2.5
◉ tenacity (mineral property). Answer: resistance to
breaking/deforming
to measure it you need to break or at least deform the mineral
no scale to measure it
◉ cleavage (mineral property). Answer: crystal geometry of a mineral
when you break it (classified by orientation of the cleavage planes)
, ◉ habit (mineral property). Answer: the crystal geometry of a material
if it forms without confinement
(most of the time, it is not realized as most minerals form with at least
some confinement)
◉ density (mineral property). Answer: = mass/volume
every mineral has its own density
◉ specific gravity (mineral property). Answer: the density of an object
in comparison to the density of the water
= density of substance/density of water
◉ magnetic properties (mineral property). Answer: can be tested if it
attracts metal
◉ silicates. Answer: the most common type of mineral
based on SO4, tetrahedral structure
◉ types of silicates in increasing complexity. Answer: nesosilicates,
sorosilicates, single chain inosilicates, double chain inosilicates,
phyllosilicates, tectosilicates
EXAM 2 TEST SCRIPT 2026 TEST
PAPER QUESTIONS AND SOLUTIONS
CERTIFICATION REVIEW GRADED
A+
◉ geosphere. Answer: the solid part of the earth
◉ mineralogy. Answer: the study of minerals
◉ mineral. Answer: Any naturally occurring solid, inorganic object with
a definite chemical structure
◉ properties of a mineral. Answer: color, streak, luster, light
transmittance, hardness, tenacity, cleavage, habit, density, specific
gravity, taste, smell, magnetic properties, chemical reactivity
◉ color (mineral property). Answer: least reliable way to identify a
mineral
◉ streak (mineral property). Answer: the color of a mineral in its
powder form is more reliable
,◉ light transmittance (mineral property). Answer: transparent: see
through
opaque: no light
translucent: kind of see through
◉ hardness (mineral property). Answer: resistance to
scratching/rubbing without breaking
◉ mohs scale. Answer: measures hardness of a mineral from 1-10
1: talk (baby powder)
10: diamond
you can scratch minerals together to see which is harder
pocket knife: 4.5
fingernail: 2.5
◉ tenacity (mineral property). Answer: resistance to
breaking/deforming
to measure it you need to break or at least deform the mineral
no scale to measure it
◉ cleavage (mineral property). Answer: crystal geometry of a mineral
when you break it (classified by orientation of the cleavage planes)
, ◉ habit (mineral property). Answer: the crystal geometry of a material
if it forms without confinement
(most of the time, it is not realized as most minerals form with at least
some confinement)
◉ density (mineral property). Answer: = mass/volume
every mineral has its own density
◉ specific gravity (mineral property). Answer: the density of an object
in comparison to the density of the water
= density of substance/density of water
◉ magnetic properties (mineral property). Answer: can be tested if it
attracts metal
◉ silicates. Answer: the most common type of mineral
based on SO4, tetrahedral structure
◉ types of silicates in increasing complexity. Answer: nesosilicates,
sorosilicates, single chain inosilicates, double chain inosilicates,
phyllosilicates, tectosilicates
