Earth 110 Midterm Questions

Which statement below best compares the lithosphere to the asthenosphere according to the lecture?

The lithosphere is a brittle solid and the asthenosphere is a ductile solid.

Which statement below best compares the crust to the lithosphere according to the lecture.

The lithosphere is defined by its physical property of being brittle. The crust is defined by its composition (felsic, intermediate and mafic

Which type of wave below can travel through solids and liquids and is similar to a sound wave?

P-waves

What are the key differences between a scientific theory and a scientific law/principle according to the lecture?

A law explains the process of a phenomenon, but not why it occurs like a theory does.

What is a silicon-oxygen tetrahedron?

A silicon surrounded by four oxygen

What are the key differences between a scientific hypothesis and a scientific theory according to the lecture?

A theory is an accumulation of many well-proven and well-accepted hypotheses that explain why phenomenon occurs.

Which layer(s) from the choices below are defined by physical properties and could be considered a ductile solid?

Asthenosphere & Mesosphere

Of the choices below, which one represents 100% of the Earth's mantle?

Asthenosphere, Mesosphere and the ultramafic section of the Lithosphere

A long, narrow linear or gently curving deep trench, earthquakes to depths of several hundred kilometers, and volcanoes paralleling the trenches on continents.

Continent-Ocean Convergent Boundary

According to Chapter 1 in the text, within the section called "The Earth in Time and Space", what does Figure 1.3 try to explain?

Contraction of a nebula rotating into a flat disk that eventually produced our solar system

Which of the layers listed below is defined as a layer by composition?

Core

A long, linear rise in the sea-floor with earthquakes and volcanic activity found along its ridge.

Divergent Boundary

A line in which two plates move away from one another

Divergent boundary

How many iron cations were you able to draw in for the single silicon-oxygen tetrahedron (Figure 1)?

Four

which definition below would be the best definition of Geology?

Geology is the scientific study of the nature, origin and evolution of the Earth and other terrestrial bodies

What is the magnitude of an earthquake?

It is an estimate of the total amount of energy released by an earthquake.

What does the S-P interval represent exactly?

It is the time interval between the arrival of the P-wave and the arrival of the S-wave at a seismic station.

Which of the layers listed below is defined as a layer by its physical properties?

Lithosphere

The Richter magnitude determination is based on measurements made on seismograms. Two measurements are needed. What are they?

Maximum amplitude of the seismic waves and the S-P time interval.

A long, narrow linear or gently curving deep trench, earthquakes to depths of several hundred kilometers, and volcanoes paralleling the trenches as islands.

Ocean-Ocean Convergent Boundary

What mineral does Figure 1 represent?

Olivine

Which layer defined by physical properties is considered a liquid?

Outer Core

Which layer from the choices below generates Earth's magnetic field?

Outer Core

Why are there more silicon relative to oxygen in Figure 2?

Polymerization has occurred in Figure 2, where the oxygen are being shared between tetrahedrons

What mineral does Figure 2 represent?

Pyroxene

Which of the following minerals from the choices below share all oxygen in the silicate structure.

Quartz

What is a single-chain silicate?

Silicon-oxygen tetrahedrons that are connected in a chain because they are sharing oxygen.

According to the lecture, what energy source is Earth using primarily for its external/surficial processes?

Solar energy

Where do earthquake waves originate from?

The Focus

What are the epicenter circles themselves individually depicting?

The distance between the seismic recording station and the possible earthquake epicenter.

A land or seafloor region with many quakes right along the boundary line. Depth of the earthquakes are shallow and the topography is not impressive (no real large mountains or valleys). Volcanic activity is not common along this boundary.

Transform Boundary

A line in which two plates laterally slide by one another.

Transform Boundary

According to Chapter 1 in the text, within the section called "Science and Scientific Thought", the author points out that the methods of science are very different than argumentative reasoning.

True

Look at Figure 2. How many iron cations were you able to draw in for each silicon-oxygen tetrahedron (not the entire chain)? Choose a silicon-oxygen tetrahedron that is sitting in the middle of the chain, not the ends.

Two

A line in which two continental plates converge.

continent-continent convergent

A line in which an continental plate and a oceanic plate converge.

continent-ocean convergent

A line in which two oceanic plates converge.

ocean-ocean convergent boundary

The silicates are the most common minerals in the Earth.

true