Earth Science Final Exam Study Guide

Pyroclastic flows can exceed speeds of ________ kilometers per hour. 100 80 65 40

100

After three half-lives, ________ of an original, radioactive, parent isotope remains and the rest has decayed into the daughter isotope. 75% or three-fourths (3/4) 50% or one-half (1/2) 25% or one-fourth (1/4) 12.5% or one-eighth (1/8)

12.5%

The first galaxies and stars are believed to have formed ________ years ago. 300 million 13.8 billion 4.6 billion 9 billion

13.8 billion

How many seconds would it take an echo sounder's ping to make the trip from a ship to the Challenger Deep (10,994 meters) and back? Recall that depth = 1/2 (1500 m/sec × Echo travel time). 0.1466 seconds 1.466 seconds 14.66 seconds 146.6 seconds

14.66

It is believed our solar system formed approximately ________ years ago. 300 million 13.8 billion 4.6 billion 9 billion

4.6 billion

________ is a type of basaltic lava flow that has its surface covered with sharp-edged, angular blocks and rubble. Aa Tephra Pahoehoe Pillow lava

Aa

What type of magma typically comprises stratovolcanoes? Rhyolitic Andesitic Ultramafic Basaltic

Andesitic

What type of magma is the most abundant at oceanic-spreading centers? Granitic Basaltic Andesitic Granitic

Basaltic

We now live in the ________ era. Paleozoic Neoproterozoic Mesozoic Cenozoic

Cenozoic

Which pair of terms describes the circumstances when salinity in the ocean would be highest? High precipitation; low temperature High evaporation; low precipitation High temperature; low evaporation High precipitation; low evaporation

High evaporation; low precipitation

What plane defines a rapid change in density with depth in the ocean? Barocline Thermocline Isocline Pycnocline

Pycnocline

Which of the following planets exhibits an extreme greenhouse effect? Mercury Ceres Mars Venus

Venus

________ are pyroclastic materials ejected from volcanoes that are larger than 64 mm (2.5 inches) in diameter. Volcanic ash Lapilli Volcanic bombs Pillow lavas

Volcanic bombs

Subducting oceanic crust underneath oceanic crust will produce ________. hot-spot volcanic islands volcanic island arcs continental volcanic arcs mid-ocean ridge

Volcanic island arcs

A section of marine sediments is uplifted, folded, and then overlain by sandstone. What is the name of the resulting feature? nonconformity angular unconformity disconformity intrusion

angular unconformity

Which of the following radioactive isotopes would be best for age-dating a rock from 50,000 years ago? uranium-238 carbon-14 potassium-40 thorium-232

carbon-14

The process by which geologists identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas is ________. paleomagnetism extrapolation correlation interpolation

correlation

The volcanic activity in Yellowstone National Park is caused by ________. subduction a divergent plate boundary intraplate volcanism a transform plate boundary

intraplate volcanism

The Milky Way galaxy is an example of a(n) ________ galaxy. spiral irregular elliptical dwarf

spiral

What happened to create an unconformity? There was a fault or fracture with older rocks above and younger rocks below. The older strata below were eroded before the younger layers were laid down. There was a fault or fracture with younger strata above and older strata below. The younger strata below were eroded with older strata laid above.

the older strata below were eroded before he younger layers were laid down.

What is the maximum limit on carbon-14 dating? 7 million years-7.5 million years 700,000-750,000 years 70,000-75,000 years 7,000-7,500 years

70,000-75,000 years

Ocean covers approximately ________ percent of Earth's surface. 11 51 71 91

71

Of the following choices, which best describes Mt. St. Helens? A basaltic shield volcano An explosive shield volcano An explosive stratovolcano A basaltic cinder cone

An explosive stratovolcano

What type of magma typically comprises stratovolcanoes? Ultramafic Andesitic Basaltic Rhyolitic

Andesitic

________ is the measurement of ocean depths and the charting of the topography of the ocean floor. Photometry Altimetry Bathymetry Radiometry

Bathymetry

If 40% of the remaining parent isotopes are in a radioactive decay process, how many half-lives have elapsed since the material was 100% parent atoms. One more than three Between 3 and 4 Between one and two

Between one and two

________ are objects from which light cannot escape because of the immense gravitational pull at its surface. They are produced during supernova events. Neutron stars Black holes Black dwarves White dwarves

Black holes

Which one of the following statements concerning volcanic blocks and bombs is true? Blocks are broken fragments of solid rocks; bombs have smaller sizes than lapilli. Blocks and bombs are both smaller than lapilli and cinders. Blocks are formed within the lava flows; bombs are ejected as solid fragments. Blocks are ejected as solid fragments; bombs are ejected as magma lumps.

Blocks are ejected as solid fragments; bombs are ejected as magma lumps

Which of the following is not a very long-lived, radioactive isotope? K-40 Rb-87 U-238 C-14

C-14

________ is the belief that Earth was shaped by large-scale geologic calamities. Evolution Absolutism Uniformitarianism Catastrophism

Catastrophism

_______ are examples of small solar system bodies. Comets Moons Planetesimals Satellites

Comets

Which of the following investigative processes do geologists use to identify and match sedimentary strata and other rocks of the same ages in different areas? Correlation Cross-cutting Inclusions Fossil succession

Correlation

What is the source of natural carbon-14? Cosmic ray collisions and neutron-capture involving atmospheric nitrogen Leakage of radioactive gases from the liquid, outer core Nuclear fission of the heavy, radioactive elements uranium and thorium Fusion of hydrogen and helium in the Sun and eruption of solar flares

Cosmic ray collisions...

________ are huge circular-moving current systems that dominate the surface of the ocean within an ocean basin. Tombolos Gyres Coriolis Upwellings

Gyres

What fate befell the "Lost City of Atlantis" mentioned in Plato's writings? It was obliterated by dust storms from North Africa in the fifth century A.D. It disappeared as part of caldera collapse following a major, explosive, volcanic eruption. It was buried by thick ash deposits from Mt. Vesuvius in 79 B.C. It washed away in a giant sea wave about 79 A.D

It disappeared...

________ are pyroclastic materials that are larger than ash, but smaller than blocks or bombs. Pumice Scoria Lapilli Pillow lavas

Lapilli

What fundamental concept states that, "in a horizontal sequence of conformable sedimentary strata, each higher bed is younger than the bed below it"? Law of original horizontility Principle of cross-cutting relationships Law of superposition Principle of uniformitarianism

Law of superposition

In 1980, __________ was the first Cascade Range volcano to erupt since Mt. Lassen, California, in 1915-16. Mt. St. Helens Kilauea Mt. Rainier Mt. Shasta

Mt. St. Helens

What is the most abundant salt in seawater? NaCl KCl MgSO4 MgcL2

NaCl

What is the largest known volcano in the solar system? Mount Olympus, Greece, Earth Mauna Loa, Hawaii, Earth Olympus Mons, Mars Mauna Kea, southern hemisphere, Mars

Olympus Mons, Mars

The ________ Ocean is largest; the ________ Ocean is smallest. Pacific; Arctic Atlantic; Indian Pacific; Indian Arctic; Atlantic

Pacific; Arctic

What concept states that "ancient life forms succeeded each other in a definite, evolutionary pattern and the contained assemblage of fossils can determine the geologic age of the strata"?What concept states that "ancient life forms succeeded each other in a definite, evolutionary pattern and the contained assemblage of fossils can determine the geologic age of the strata"? Principle of faunal succession Principle of correlation Principle of original horizontality Principle of inclusions

Principle of faunal succession

Which one of the following shows the correct order (from left to right) of decreasing magma viscosity? (Remember that viscosity is resistance to flow, so you should pick the answer that has the most viscous lava type on the left, and the least viscous [most runny] on the right.) rhyolite, andesite, basalt andesite, rhyolite, basalt basalt, andesite, rhyolite andesite, basalt, rhyolite

RAB

________ is an indication of how near the air is to saturation rather than the actual quantity of water vapor in the air. Mixing ratio Relative humidity Dew-point temperature Adiabatic cooling

Relative humidity

Which one of the following shows the correct order from left to right of decreasing magmatic viscosity? Basalt, andesite, rhyolite Andesite, rhyolite, basalt Basalt, rhyolite, andesite Rhyolite, andesite, basalt

Rhyolite, andesite, basalt

What term describes the total amount of solid material dissolved in water? Insoluble residue Solute Load Salinity

Salinity

A fire extinguisher containing compressed CO2 is used to put out a fire. In spite of being close to the flames, the firefighter notices a white layer of "frost" forming on the exterior of the fire extinguisher can. What's going on? The gas in the extinguisher is expanding when released, cooling adiabatically. The gas in the extinguisher is cooling under higher pressure. The exterior temperature must be dropping. The fire is pulling heat from the surrounding air.

The gas in the extinguisher is expanding when released, cooling adiabatically

Sandstone strata and a mass of granite are observed to be in contact. Which of the following statements is correct? Info The sandstone is younger if it shows evidence of contact metamorphism. The sandstone is younger if the granite contains sandstone inclusions. The granite is older if it contains inclusions of sandstone. The granite is older if the sandstone contains pebbles of the granite.

The granite is older if the sandstone contains pebbles of the granite.

Which of the following is an essential characteristic of an index fossil? The organism only lived for a short period of geologic time over a broad area. The fossils occur in deep-water marine sediments, but the organism actually lived in the sunlit, surface layer of the ocean. The fossils are exceptionally abundant and well preserved. The organism lived only in specific environments such as beaches or estuaries.

The organism only lived for a short period of geologic time over a broad area.

Which of the following is an example of a terrestrial planet? Neptune Saturn Jupiter Venus

Venus

What is the most common volatile constituent in both magmas and volcanic gases? Carbon monoxide Methane Water Hydrogen chloride

Water

To what is the geologically recent volcanic activity in Yellowstone National Park usually attributed? Yellowstone volcanism is usually attributed to intraplate (meaning "within the plate"), hot spot volcanism. Yellowstone volcanism is usually attributed to a divergent plate boundary. Yellowstone volcanism is usually attributed to plate subduction. Yellowstone volcanism is usually attributed to a transform plate boundary.

Yellowstone volcanism is usually attributed to intraplate...

An echo sounder operates by measuring the time required for ________. a sound pulse to travel from a ship to the seafloor and back a laser beam to travel from a ship to the seafloor and back a radar pulse to travel from a ship to the seafloor and back a radar pulse to travel from a satellite in orbit around Earth to the sea surface and back

a sound pulse to travel from a ship to the seafloor and back

What type of volcanoes are Kilauea and Mauna Loa in Hawaii? Basaltic stratovolcanoes Andesitic stratovolcanoes Basaltic shield volcanoes Small, basaltic cinder cones

balsaltic shield volcanoes

Shield volcanoes like Mauna Loa mostly comprise ________. granitic lava flows intermediate lava flows rhyolitic lava flows basaltic lava flows

basaltic lava flows

Among the following radioactive parent isotopes, which has the shortest half-life? uranium-238 potassium-40 rubidium-87 carbon-14

carbon-14

Which element is most commonly dissolved in seawater? sodium chlorine magnesium gold

chlorine

What kind of seawater is densest? warm, low salinity warm, high salinity cold, low salinity cold, high salinity

cold, high salinity

The most violent volcanic activity is associated with ________. the Mid-Atlantic Ridge composite volcanoes cinder cones shield volcanoes

composite volcanoes

The change of state from a gas to a liquid is called ________. evaporation sublimation condensation melting

condensation

The most important process of cloud formation in the atmosphere is ________. cooling by compression of air radiation cooling cooling by expansion of air cooling by release of latent heat of vaporization

cooling by expansion of air

A ________ marks the site where old, oceanic lithosphere begins its descent into a subduction zone. deep-ocean trench submarine canyons seamount continental rise

deep-ocean trench

________ develop where oceanic lithosphere bends downward and sinks into the mantle. Guyots Deep-ocean trenches Submarine canyons Oceanic ridges

deep-ocean trenches

Clouds consist of ________. water droplets ice particles either water droplets or ice particles white-colored gases

either water droplets or ice particles

The longest subdivision of the geologic time scale is the ________. epoch eon era period

eon

A day of the year when the length of the night is equal to the length of the day is known as a(n) ________. albedo reflection solstice equinox

equinox

A set of fossil organisms found together in a given layer is called a(n) ________. fossil succession fossil assemblage index fossil microfossils

fossil assemblage

High salinity values in ocean water are due to ________. higher evaporation rates lower evaporation rates higher longitudes lower longitudes

higher evaporation rates

A concentration of heat in the mantle capable of producing magma is called a ________. magma melt plume hot spot basalt spout

hot spot

The amount of water vapor in the air is called ________. latent heat ozone aerosols humidity

humidity

Who first formulated the principle of uniformitarianism? Aristotle Lyell Steno Hutton

hutton

Which of the following processes would decrease the amount of salinity in seawater? icebergs melting evaporation formation of sea ice global temperature increase

icebergs melting

On a map, lines connecting points of equal temperature are ________. isogrades isotherms contour lines temperature gradients

isotherms

Relative to lower temperatures, high temperatures require ________ moisture to fully saturate the air. less more the same amount of no

more

Which one of the following is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere? carbon dioxide ozone oxygen nitrogen

nitrogen

When elevated terrain such as a mountain range causes air to rise, this is called ________. orographic lifting frontal wedging adiabatic cooling convergence

orographic lifting

Which type of basaltic lava flow has a fairly smooth, unfragmented, ropy surface? aa pahoehoe pumice scoria

pahoehoe

Which of the following principles addresses rock fragments being enclosed within another rock layer? principle of superposition principle of original horizontality principle of cross-cutting relationships principle of inclusions

principle of inclusions

If you want to melt a rock, even partially, there are three methods you can employ. Which of the following is not a way that melting is triggered in rocks in the Earth? adding heat releasing pressure adding water removing water

removing water

Solar radiation is ________, as compared to the ________ emitted by Earth. long-wave radiation; short-wave radiation short-wave radiation; long-wave radiation infrared radiation; visible light heat; electromagnetic radiation

short-wave radiation; long-wave radiation

Ozone is concentrated in the middle part of the ________.

stratosphere

Composite volcanoes are also known as ________. shield volcanoes stratovolcanoes cinder cones hot spots

stratovolcanoes

Most volcanoes along the Ring of Fire are made from ________. subducting ocean crust subducting continental crust hot-spot volcanism decompression melting

subducting ocean crust

The principle of ________ states in an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks each bed is older than the one above and younger than the one below. cross-cutting relationships lateral continuity superposition original horizontality

superposition

An unconformity is a buried ________. fault or fracture with older rocks above and younger rocks below surface of erosion separating younger strata above from older strata below fault or fracture with younger strata above and older strata below surface of erosion with older strata above and younger strata below

surface of erosion separating younger strata above from older strata below

A light-year is ________. a long time the distance light travels in one (Earth) year a kind of super-dense star near the end of its life-cycle the wavelength of electromagnetic radiation between ultraviolet and infrared

the distance light travels in one (Earth) year

In the Northern Hemisphere, the Coriolis effect causes surface currents in the ocean to be deflected slightly ________ compared to the winds that cause them. to the left to the right to the north to the south

to the right

The lowest layer of the atmosphere is the ________. troposphere stratosphere ionosphere mesosphere

troposphere

Gases like water vapor or carbon dioxide that get released from lava or magma are referred to as ________. aa volatiles pumice scoria

volatiles

Carbon dioxide and ________ are the most important heat absorbing gases in the lower atmosphere. carbon monoxide argon nitrogen water vapor

water vapor