OCE 1001 Exam 1
Which is Earth's liquid iron-nickel layer?
Outer core
Which statements are true regarding Earth's core?
- Earth's core is composed of two layers that differ in physical properties. - The outer core is liquid because it is so hot. - The core is composed of mainly iron and nickel, with some sulfur.
On the pie diagram, match the name of the ocean with its correct relative size.
- Arctic Ocean: D - Pacific Ocean: A - Indian Ocean: B - Atlantic Ocean: C
Waters from which ocean basins combine to form the Southern Ocean?
- Atlantic - Pacific - Indian
This map depicts the voyages of some European explorers during the Age of discovery. Match the route with the explorer.
- Columbus: B - Magellan: A
Which statements correctly describe differences between oceanic and continental crust?
- Continental crust is mainly composed of granite, whereas oceanic crust is mainly composed of basalt. - Continental crust is thicker than oceanic crust. - Continental crust floats higher on the mantle than oceanic crust.
Which of the following ideas support our current scientific understanding of the development of life on Earth?
- Early organisms evolved into more-complex organisms over geologic time. - As life evolved it significantly changed Earth's environment. - The "prebiotic soup" of the primitive oceans provided favorable conditions for life to develop. - Primitive life likely existed without the need for oxygen.
Rocks in which layers of Earth are rigid?
- Inner core - Mesosphere - Lithosphere
Radioactive materials can sometimes be used to determine the:
Age of rocks.
Which ocean basin is currently covered by extensive sea ice for much of the year?
Arctic
What is the chemical formula for sugar?
C6H12O6
Which ocean is the deepest ocean in the world?
The Pacific Ocean
What type of organisms utilize photosynthesis?
- Primary producers - Phytoplankton - Autotrophs
A container holds 100 atoms of an isotope. This isotope has a half-life of 1.5 months. How many total atoms will be in the container after 3 months?
100 atoms
A container holds 100 atoms of an isotope. This isotope has a half-life of 1.5 months. How many atoms of the radioactive isotope will be in the container after 3 months?
25 atoms
If you had an equally sized hand sample of each rock shown in the figure above, which would feel the heaviest?
3
Which rock in the figure above is likely high in iron and magnesium?
3
Earth is about:
4.6 billion years old.
When did our Solar System begin to form?
5 billion years ago
Isostatic adjustments are the result of the buoyancy of Earth's lithosphere as it floats on the ____ below which is denser and plastic like.
Asthenosphere
Trilobites were dominant during which geologic period?
Cambrian
The study of the transmission of light and sound in the oceans is an example of _____ oceanography.
Physical
Earth's current atmosphere supports animal life because___.
Plant photosynthesis provides oxygen that is critical for aerobic respiration.
This global map shows the distribution of different types of marine sediment (different colors). Match the correct letter to the sediment type listed below.
- Abyssal clay: B - Calcareous ooze: D - Neritic continental lithogenous: C - Siliceous ooze (radiolarian): E - Siliceous ooze (diatom): A
Where might one find calcareous oozes on the seafloor?
- Buried beneath abyssal clay - Buried beneath siliceous oozes - Along the crests of mid-ocean ridges, above the CCD
This composite photomicrograph image shows various types of calcareous marine microorganisms that are found in sediment. Match the correct letter to the name and correct description of each organism listed below.
- Coccoliths (individual plates): C - Coccolithophore (single): D - Diatom (siliceous): E - Foraminifers: B - Coccolithophores (multiple): A
Which features are found at an oceanic-continental convergent plate boundary?
- Continental arc - Mountains - Trench
What sediment types are included in the pink category labeled "Other" on the map?
- Cosmogenous sediments - Hydrogenous sediments
This composite photomicrograph image shows various types of siliceous marine microorganisms that are found in sediment. Match the correct letter to the name and correct description of each organism listed below.
- Diatom, showing both halves of its test: A - Diatom, top view: D - Radiolarian, showing long appendages: B - Radiolarian, spherical shape: C
Which are microscopic, single-celled floating algae that accumulate to form biogenous sediment?
- Diatoms - Coccolithophores
Which organisms thrive in cold surface waters?
- Diatoms - Siliceous organisms - Radiolarians
Which factors affect the distribution of biogenic oozes on the seafloor?
- Dissolution - Water depth - Biological productivity - Seafloor spreading
Which of the following are examples of neritic sediments?
- Evaporite deposits - Beach sand
Of the following, which energy resource (s) can be extracted from marine sediments?
- Gas hydrates - Petroleum
Imagine that you are enjoying a day at the beach in California, exploring tide pools. You find a California sea hare in the shallow water and gently scoop it into your hand. As you touch it, the sea hare releases purple ink into your hand. You think maybe the sea hare released the ink to scare you (a potential predator) away, but you are not sure. What steps of the scientific method have you performed in your inquiry?
- Hypothesis formulation - Observation
In the cross-sectional view of Earth's interior shown below, correctly match each layer with its appropriate name.
- Inner core: Rigid, iron with nickel and sulfur - Lithosphere: Rigid, under ocean, second layer? - Crust: Rigid, granite and basaltic rocks - Outer core: Liquid - Asthenosphere: Plastic - Mantle: Rigid, silicate materials
What elements are found in high concentrations in oceanic crust?
- Iron - Magnesium
Which sediments are considered hydrogenous?
- Manganese nodules - Coatings of metal sulfides near black smokers
Which geographic examples results from ocean-ocean convergence?
- Marianas Trench - Japan - Aleutian Islands
Match the steps of the scientific method.
- Observation: Collection of scientific facts through observation and measurement - Hypothesis: A tentative, testable statement about the natural world that can be used to build more complex inferences and explanations - Testing: Development of observations, experiments, and models to text (and, if necessary, revise) the hypothesis - Theory: In science, a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world that can incorporate facts, laws, logical inferences, and tested hypotheses
Marine sediments provide valuable clues about which Earth history events?
- Past catastrophes, such as major extinction events - The ancient geographical locations of ocean basins - Previous ocean circulation patterns - The climate of Earth millions of years ago - Movement of the ocean floor
Which of the following sediments would you expect to find in a lagoon?
- Salt - Broken bits of coral
Which statements are true regarding the scientific method?
- Scientists make predictions based on established theories - The scientific method is an ongoing cycle - The scientific method involves repeated testing and adjustment of hypotheses to explain observations
What elements are found in high concentrations in continental crust?
- Silica - Aluminum
On the world ocean pie diagram below, match the percentage to the correct type of sediment.
- Siliceous ooze: C (smallest percentage) - Abyssal clay: A (middle percentage) - Calcareous ooze: B (largest percentage)
The cross-section below shows an area of the sea floor that is accumulating sediments. Match the type of sediment/feature with the correct letter.
- Siliceous ooze: E - Mid-ocean ridge: C - Calcite compensation depth (CCD): D - Abyssal clay: A - Calcareous ooze: B - Upwelling, cool water: F
Which statements are true regarding Earth's oceans?
- The Southern Ocean is one of the least-studied areas on planet Earth. - Earth's ocean is one big interconnected body of water. - NASA satellites fly over Antarctica.
Which statements about the asthenosphere are true?
- The asthenosphere is very hot and contains areas of partially molten rock. - The asthenosphere is a highly viscous layer located beneath the lithosphere.
Which lines of evidence did Wegener use to support the concept of drifting continents?
- The distribution of species of fossils - The pattern of similar mountain belts on different continents - Evidence of glaciers in areas that are now tropical - The way the shapes of the continents fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle
Which statements about Earth's magnetic field are true?
- The magnetic north pole may reverse so that it is located near the geographic south pole. - The lines of the magnetic force are perpendicular relative to Earth's surface at the magnetic north pole. - The lines of the magnetic force are parallel with Earth's surface at the equator. - The lines of the magnetic force are perpendicular relative to Earth's surface at the magnetic south pole.
Which statements about density stratification are true?
- The origin of Earth's oceans and atmosphere are a result of density stratification. - Density stratification has caused Earth's internal structure to be more layered. - Density stratification has caused the highest-density material to be found at Earth's core. - Outgassing is a direct result of density stratification.
Why does the sea floor have a striped pattern of magnetic anomalies that is symmetric with respect to the mid-ocean ridge?
- The polarity of Earth's magnetic field experiences reversals. - The ocean floor is spreading apart and new sea floor is forming. - The igneous rock of the ocean floor preserves Earth's existing magnetic field as the rock cools.
This map depicts the voyages of the Vikings. Match the correct letter with the statements.
- This is the land discovered by Leif Eriksson: Vinland (Newfoundland) - This was the first new land conquered by the Vikings: Iceland - When Eric the Red was banished from Iceland, he discovered this land, where he later started a colony: Greenland - It is believed that Eric the Red may have discovered this area: Baffin Island
Of the following types of lithogenous sediment, which ones would you expect to find very far from the location of origin?
- Volcanic ash - Quartz silt
Which of the following are examples of pelagic sediments?
- Volcanic dust - Abyssal clay - Biogenic ooze
What mechanisms are responsible for transporting clay to deep ocean basins?
- Wind - Slow-moving ocean currents
What is the approximate depth of the calcite compensation depth (CCD) in the ocean?
3 miles (4.5 kilometers)
The average depth of the world's oceans is approximately____.
3,682 meters (12,080 ft.)
Archeological evidence suggests that boat technology was developed _____ years ago.
40,000
When did the Appalachian Mountains of North America begin to form?
450 million years ago
On average, at what ocean depth does calcite readily dissolve into seawater?
4500 meters (14,764 ft.)
When did the great mountain ranges of southern Europe and Asia begin to form?
50 million years ago
Which type of plate boundary exists between India and Asia today?
A convergent boundary
What is calcareous ooze?
A fine-grained, deep ocean sediment containing the skeletal remains of calcite-secreting microbes.
Sediments that are poorly sorted were most likely deposited by:
A glacier
How did our Solar System begin to form?
A large cloud of dust and gas began to contract under the force of gravity
What is a nebula?
A large, diffuse cloud of dust and gas in space
Which statement is most accurate?
A moving India collided with a stationary Asia about 30 million years ago.
The important contribution to navigation made by Eratosthenes in the third century BC was_____.
A reasonably accurate calculation of the circumference of our planet.
What is a volcanic arc?
A row of volcanoes that forms on the overriding plate near a subduction zone
What was Pangea?
A supercontinent that formed 300 million years ago.
Evidence shows that periodic reversals of Earth's magnetic field have resulted in ___.
A symmetrical pattern of normal and reverse magnetization in ocean crustal rocks
What is a scientific theory?
A well-substantiated explanation that is supported by facts, tested hypotheses, and logical inferences
On average, how long do periods of reverse and normal polarity last?
About 500,000 years
The most likely place to find abundant manganese nodules is on the:
Abyssal plain far from a continent
Which of the following is an example of an oceanic-oceanic convergent plate boundary?
Aleutian Islands
The nebular hypothesis suggests that:
All bodies in the solar system formed from an enormous gas cloud
Where is the youngest ocean floor found?
Along the crest of mid-ocean ridges
What common household item is being used in the vid to demonstrate rotary drilling?
An apple corer
Which of the following is an example of an oceanic-continental plate boundary?
Andes Mountains
Which mountain ranges are examples of continental arcs?
Andes and Cascades
Which of the following is characteristic of oceanic-continental convergent plate boundaries?
Andesitic volcanoes
What factor primarily determines the distribution of radiolarian ooze?
Areas of upwelling
Where are tectonic plates located?
At Earth's surface
Where do most earthquakes occur?
At plate boundaries
Where do magnetic field lines exit the Earth today?
At the South Pole
The four principal ocean basins (plus an additional ocean) on Earth are the:
Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Southern and Arctic Oceans
Oceanic crust is primarily:
Basalt
Why is this drilling process called rotary drilling?
Because the drill bit turns around in a circle.
Why does calcareous material dissolve below the CCD?
Below the CCD, weak acid is formed, which dissolves calcareous material.
According to the fossil record on Earth, the earliest-known life-forms lived in seafloor rocks about 3.5___ years ago.
Billion
Earth's atmosphere became oxygen-rich about 2.45 ____ years ago.
Billion
Evidence suggests that the Sun and the rest of the solar system formed about five____ years ago.
Billion
Sediments produced by plants and animals in the sea are called:
Biogenous
Calcareous ooze is an example of which sediment types?
Biogenous Sediment
Siliceous ooze is an example of which sediment types?
Biogenous Sediment
What would happen if the depth of the CCD were above the top of the mid-ocean ridge?
Calcareous ooze would not be found below the CCD.
Which sediment below cannot accumulate below the CCD?
Calcareous tests
Marine sediments that originate in the warm tropical surface ocean would create deposits in the deep sea composed primarily of ___.
Calcium carbonate
One of the reasons that free oxygen in our atmosphere is important to the development and maintenance of life on Earth is because oxygen:
Can form ozone and block some UV radiation.
Earth's early atmosphere most likely included:
Carbon dioxide, water vapor, ammonia and methane
Although Earth's oceans have existed since early in the formation of the planet, its ___ must have changed.
Chemical composition
The sea floor provides the largest reservoir of usable energy in the ocean, and likely the world, in the form of ___.
Clathrates
What have oceanographers determined from analyzing sea floor cores?
Climate change and past extinctions
Which sediment type dominates in the nerictic environment?
Coarse lithogenous sediment, such as sand and small rocks
The figure above illustrates Earth's major layers. Which layer is represented by letter B?
Continental crust
Which type of plate boundary is most closely associated with uplifting continental regions and mountain building?
Convergent boundaries
Earth has three compositionally distinct layers—the crust, mantle, and core. The core has separate inner and outer sections that are physically different. For the following physical and compositional properties, sort each item into the bins for the layer of Earth that they best characterize. Core
Core: - Contains iron and nickel - Contains a liquid layer and a solid inner layer
Sediments with an extraterrestrial origin are called:
Cosmogenous
Micrometeorites are an example of which of the following sediment types?
Cosmogenous Sediment
Earth has three compositionally distinct layers—the crust, mantle, and core. The core has separate inner and outer sections that are physically different. For the following physical and compositional properties, sort each item into the bins for the layer of Earth that they best characterize. Crust
Crust: - Is Earth's stiff, rigid, rocky shell - Part of this layer has a relatively homogeneous composition, while the other part is less uniform in composition
What three steps are required for calcareous ooze to exist below the CCD?
Deposition of calcite shells above the CCD, cover of these shells by a non-calcareous material, and movement of the sea floor over millions of years.
The separation of the Earth into layers while it was molten was the result of the:
Differing densities of the elements that make up the Earth.
The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is an example of a:
Divergent plate boundary
Plates move apart at ___ boundaries, move together at ___ boundaries, and move side-by-side at ___ boundaries
Divergent, convergent, transform
What are the three types of plate boundaries?
Divergent, convergent, transform
Forams, which are composed of calcium carbonate, ___ above the CCD and ___ below the CCD.
Do not dissolve; dissolve
Diatomaceous earth, which is composed of silica, ___ above the CCD and ___ below the CCD.
Does not dissolve; does not dissolve
How are Earth's geographic and magnetic axes oriented relative to each other?
Earth's geographic and magnetic axes are oriented at a slight angle to each other.
Which of the following statements about earthquakes with magnitude greater than 4.0 is most accurate?
Earthquakes with magnitude greater than 4.0 occur in a pattern that correlates closely with plate boundaries.
Which of the following is an example of an oceanic-oceanic divergent plate boundary?
East Pacific Rise
Which of the following parts of Polynesia was populated last?
Easter Island
Seafloor depth was first determined by what remote sensing technology?
Echo sounder
The first person we were aware of who determined the circumference of the Earth using trigonometry and the angle of sunlight at Alexandria, Egypt, was:
Eratosthenes
Who is credited with being the first person to accurately determine Earth's circumference?
Eratosthenes
A very important way to increase the settling rate of fine particles in the open ocean is via:
Fecal pellets
Who was killed in the Philippines during his last sea voyage after a skirmish with local people?
Ferdinand Magellan
In general, what are the Himalayan mountains composed of?
Folded and faulted rock
The main energy resources associated with marine sediments are petroleum and ___.
Gas hydrates
Which of the following contains the most organic carbon on Earth?
Gas hydrates
The study of the structure of the sea floor and how the sea floor has changed through times is an example of ____ oceanography.
Geological
Which of the following is a hollow steal tube with a heavy weight on top that is to collect sediment samples?
Gravity corer
Why are ocean basins continually being destroyed and created, rather than simply being redistributed around Earth's surface like continents?
High-density oceanic crust subducts beneath low-density continental crust where plates converge.
Which is an example of a continental-continental convergent plate boundary?
Himalaya Mountains
Which phenomenon can explain the presence of volcanoes in the middle of the Pacific Ocean?
Hot spots
A cometary model of the formation of Earth's ocean must include the chemical difference between the ___ in comet ice and that in Earth's water.
Hydrogen
Sediments produced because of chemical reactions in seawater are called:
Hydrogenous
Oolites are an example of which of the following sediment types?
Hydrogenous Sediment
Rock salt (halite) is an example of which of the following sediment types?
Hydrogenous Sediment
A tentative, testable statement about the general nature of a phenomenon is called a/an:
Hypothesis
Coral reefs ___.
Include atolls, barrier, and fringing reefs
What happened to the nebular gas that remained from the formation of the planets and their satellites?
It was blown away by the solar wind.
The explorer who advanced oceanography by introducing systematic soundings, or depth measurements, was ______.
James Cook
Who left Spain in September 1519 and became the first person to complete a circumnavigation of the globe when he returned to Spain three years later?
Juan Sebastian del Caño
Consider the geologic fate of the following seamounts and islands in the Hawaiian Island-Emperor Seamount chain. Assuming conditions remain favorable for coral growth, which would most likely be the next to form from an atoll?
Kauai
High-energy environments are most likely to deposit which of the following?
Large particles such as gravel
Climate distribution on Earth is primarily controlled by:
Latitude
Sediments derived from pre-existing rocks on land are called:
Lithogenous
Abyssal clay is an example of which of the following sediment types?
Lithogenous Sediment
Glacial deposits are an example of which of the following sediment types?
Lithogenous Sediment
Sandstone is an example of which sediment type?
Lithogenous Sediment
Shale is an example of which of the following sediment types?
Lithogenous Sediment
Terrigenous sediment is another name for which of the followoing?
Lithogenous Sediment
Turbidite deposits are an example of which of the following sediment types?
Lithogenous Sediment
The figure above illustrates Earth's major layers. Which layer is represented by letter C?
Lithosphere
Which is Earth's rigid layer that includes the crust plus the topmost portion of the mantle?
Lithosphere
Tectonic plates are pieces of the ___ that float on the more fluid ___ below.
Lithosphere; asthenosphere
Earth has three compositionally distinct layers—the crust, mantle, and core. The core has separate inner and outer sections that are physically different. For the following physical and compositional properties, sort each item into the bins for the layer of Earth that they best characterize. Mantle
Mantle: - Contains a weak layer below the lithosphere - Contains rock rich magnesium and iron
What is the basis for relative positions of Earth's physical layers?
Material density, with the least-dense material on the surface and the most-dense material in the center
Which is an example of an oceanic transform plate boundary?
Mendocino Fault
Which of the following natural gasses is most common in gas hydrates from under the ocean floor?
Methane
The ancient remains of which of the following, buried before they could decompose, are the source of today's petroleum deposits?
Microscopic organisms
Which geologic features are associated with divergent boundaries?
Mid-ocean ridges and continental rift valleys
What piece of evidence supports Wegener's hypothesis of continental drift?
Modern-day species that evolved in isolation share a common ancestor.
What percentage of the rocks exposed on the continents originated as sedimentary rocks deposited in ancient ocean environments?
More than fifty percent
The Hawaiian Islands are located where the Pacific plate is:
Moving over a hot spot or mantle plume.
Divergence is to moving away as convergence is to ___.
Moving toward
The type of marine sediment that forms the thickest deposits worldwide is:
Neritic, lithogenous sediment deposits
Which is the first step of the scientific method?
Observation
Which geologic features are associated with convergent boundaries?
Ocean trenches and volcanoes
Where on the ocean floor do abyssal clays develop?
On the deep-ocean floor, far from land
What did the surface of Earth look like 600 million years ago?
One large continent surrounded by ocean.
Earth's second atmosphere formed from___.
Outgassing
What are the reaction products of photosynthesis?
Oxygen gas and sugar
Which tectonic plates are oceanic?
Pacific Plate
The study of historical changes of continental shapes and positions is called:
Paleogeography
In general, how do magnetic objects align relative to Earth's magnetic field?
Parallel
The seafloor magnetic pattern is best described as:
Parallel to and symmetric about mid-ocean ridges
What happens during radioactive decay?
Parent isotopes turn into daughter isotopes.
The first recorded circumnavigation of Africa was made by the _____.
Phoenicians
Fossils of ancient tropical plants are currently found near the poles because the:
Plants lived in the tropics, but landmasses have drifted to current locations.
Which process causes the surface geography of Earth to change over time?
Plate tectonics
Which statement is most accurate?
Prior to 30 million years ago, Tibet was a much thinner landmass than it is today.
When was the Precambrian eon?
Prior to 600 million years ago
The number of organisms present in the surface water above the ocean floor is called ___.
Productivity
Examine the five words and/or phrases and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the one option that does not fit the pattern.
Ptolemy
The method of determining latitude in the Northern Hemisphere by measuring the angle between an observer's line of site to the North Star and line of site to the northern horizon was developed by:
Pythias
Which of the following is an example of a continental-continental divergent plate boundary?
Red Sea
Which of the following is the most advanced technology used to collect sediment samples from the deep ocean?
Rotary corer
Which is an example of a continental transform plate boundary?
San Andreas Fault
Neritic sediments are most likely to be composed of ___.
Sand, silt and gravel
Our world ocean can be divided into four principal oceans plus an additional ocean, based on the____ of the ocean basins and the ____ of the continents.
Shape; position
What common household item is used in this video to demonstrate the properties of the asthenosphere?
Silly Putty
As shown in this video, Silly Putty will flow when stress is applied___ and Silly Putty will fracture when stress is applied ___.
Slowly, rapidly
Deep ocean trenches are associated with:
Subduction zones
Ocean sediments consist of particles that have slowly settled out of the water by which of the following processes?
Suspension settling
Which statement is true regarding tectonic plates?
Tectonic plates may include both oceanic and continental crust.
Imagine that you are enjoying a day at the beach in California, exploring tide pools. You find a California sea hare in the shallow water and gently scoop it into your hand. As you touch it, the sea hare releases purple ink into your hand. You think maybe the sea hare released the ink to scare you (a potential predator) away, but you are not sure. What is the next step you would need to take to advance your understanding to the next level of scientific inquiry?
Testing
Compared to the rest of the planet, an unusually high concentration of hot spots and rifting is located on the continent of Africa. A likely explanation for this is that __________.
The African Plate is essentially stationary with respect to Earth's interior and the thick continental crust acts as a "heat blanket"
Based on definition, it is more appropriate to consider which ocean as a sea?
The Arctic Ocean
Which ocean is the shallowest ocean in the world?
The Arctic Ocean
What would happen to Earth if ocean floor were created at divergent boundaries at a faster rate than it is destroyed at convergent boundaries?
The Earth would increase in volume.
Which mountain belt lies to the north of India?
The Himalayas
How did the Moon form?
The Moon formed due to the impact of a Mars-sized body with the Earth.
Based on paleogeographic records, ___.
The North Atlantic opened before India separated from Antarctica
The largest geographic feature on the surface of Planet Earth is_____
The Pacific Ocean
Which ocean covers more than half of the ocean surface on Earth?
The Pacific Ocean
What is the scientific definition of half-life?
The amount of time over which the number of parent isotopes decreases by half
What is the relationship between the crust and lithosphere?
The crust is part of the lithosphere.
In the demonstration, what does the apple represent?
The deep sea floor
Collecting adequate samples from which of the following is the most difficult?
The deep-ocean floor
What is meant by the term plate boundary?
The edge of a plate, where two plates meet each other.
What prompted the widespread mapping of the ocean floor?
The importance of submarine warfare during World War II.
Which statement is true of the lithosphere?
The lithosphere is composed of the crust and the uppermost portion of the mantle.
Sea floor spreading along the axis of an oceanic ridge results in symmetrical patterns of all of the following EXECPT ___.
The location of subduction zones
Earth's magnetic field is similar to which of the following?
The magnetic field of a bar magnet
What happened when Mr/ Trujillo hit the Silly Putty with his hammer?
The material fractured like a solid
What is the calcite compensation depth, or CCD?
The ocean depth below which calcite is unstable and will dissolve quickly.
What happens when an oceanic plate converges with a continental plate?
The oceanic plate is subducted.
As Heezen and Tharp interpreted the ocean depth data, they identified what unusual feauture that hinted at continental drift?
The oceanic ridges have a cleft, or riff, in the middle rather than a peak
What happens when an oceanic plate meets another oceanic plate?
The older, colder oceanic plate is subducted.
Which statement about the age of the ocean crust is true?
The oldest ocean crust is about 200 million years old and is located near an ocean trench.
Two containers hold the same radioactive isotope. Container A contains 1000 atoms, and container B contains 500 atoms. Which of the following statements about containers A and B are true?
The rate of decay atoms in container A is greater than the rate of decay atoms in container B.
Why didn't India subduct under Asia?
The two continents have similar densities.
What happens when a continental plate meets another continental plate?
The two plates are forces upward, and a large mountain range is formed.
Plate tectonics and evolution, which are held with a high degree of confidence because of rigorous testing and verification, are examples of:
Theories
What did the maps of the ocean floor produced by Bruce Heezen and Marie Tharp reveal about seafloor topography?
There are ridges in the middle of the ocean basin floors.
Why did Heezen and Tharp have to do "inspired guessing" when creating maps of the ocean floor?
There were gaps in the data that were used to make the map because the tracks of the ships collecting the data were widely spaced.
Where did the energy of the Sun come from originally?
Thermal energy that was converted from the gravitational energy of the original nebula collapse
What do all plate boundaries have in common?
They are all associated with zones of earthquakes.
Which statement about sea floor magnetic abnormalities is true?
They are oriented parallel to the mid-ocean ridge.
How do plants and animals gain the energy needed to carry out cellular functions?
They utilize the energy in sugar.
What did the continents that formed during the break-up of the super continent 600 million years ago look like?
They were nothing like the continent shapes we see on Earth today.
Compared to continental crust, oceanic crust is generally ____
Thinner, denser, darker in color, and at lower elevations
Where would the north end of a magnet point during a time of reverse polarity?
Toward the magnetic south pole
Which plate boundary is NOT associated with volcanic eruptions?
Transform
According to the Geologic Time Scale, which selection lists the correct order of coexistence, from earliest to latest?
Trilobites and amphibians, insects and dinosaurs, dinosaurs and birds, flowering plants and fishes, humans and reptiles
Which of the following is characteristic of continental-continental convergent plate boundaries?
Uplifted mountain ranges
Who is credited with being the first European to see the Pacific Ocean?
Vasco Nunez de Balboa
Which of the following is characteristic of oceanic-oceanic convergent plate boundaries?
Volcanic island arcs
Why do some organisms thrive in warm surface waters?
Warm water is generally saturated in carbonate.
What are the reaction products of respiration?
Water and carbon dioxide
What factor primarily controls the distribution of calcareous ooze?
Water depth
Current scientific knowledge indicates that the most likely origin of most of Earth's oceans was due to____.
Water vapor released from volcanic outgassing
What does the term "asthenosphere" literally mean?
Weak sphere
To find the largest area of the ocean with the oldest ocean crust, you should go to the____.
Western Pacific
Did any subduction occur during the collision of India and Asia?
Yes; ocean basin between these two continents subducted under Asia.
Tectonic plates more about as fast as ___.
Your fingernails grow
