Module 1 Quiz Introduction and Time

The ________ proposes that the bodies of our solar system formed at essentially the same time from a rotating cloud of gases and dust.

Nebular hypothesis

The lithosphere and asthenosphere are both layers of Earth defined by their composition.

True

Active mountain belts are most likely to be found ________.

along the margins of continents

All of the following are possible steps of scientific investigation except for ________.

assumption of conclusions without prior experimentation or observation

The ________ is thought to be a liquid, metallic region in the Earth's interior.

outer core

How long has the continental crust been evolving?

over the last 4 billion years

Which of these statements is most consistent with the law of uniformitarianism?

"The present is the key to the past."

The currently accepted age of Earth is ________ years.

4.6 billion

Much of our modeling of Earth's interior comes from the study of seismic or earthquake waves.

True

Which of the following best describes the fundamental concept of superposition?

Any sedimentary deposit accumulates on top of older rock or sediment layers.

________ was the highly influential, ancient Greek philosopher noted for his writings and teachings on natural philosophy and on the workings of Earth.

Aristotle

Igneous rocks are produced largely by the deposition and consolidation of surface materials like sand and mud.

False

The currently accepted age of Earth is approximately 4.5 million years.

False

What are the basic differences between the disciplines of physical and historical geology?

Historical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils, and geologic events, utilizing the geologic time scale as a reference; physical geology includes the study of how rocks form and of how erosion shapes the land surface.

________ rocks always originate at the surface of the solid Earth.

Sedimentary

According to the rock cycle, any type of rock (igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic) may be transformed into another type of rock, given enough time.

True

All of the following provide evidence or clues to the composition of Earth's interior except for ________.

comets

The ________ is the thinnest layer of the Earth.

crust

In correct order from the center outward, Earth includes which units?

inner core, outer core, mantle, crust

A ________ is a well-tested and widely accepted view that best explains certain scientific observations.

theory