GEO 101 Exam 1

How was our moon formed?

A mars-size object hit the earth, and the ejected material coalesced to form the moon

What are the planets in the Solar System?

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune

What are the characteristics of gas/ice giants?

Mostly gas/ice, very large. No liquid. (Saturn, Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune)

What are the main differences between continental crust and oceanic crust?

Oceanic crust is denser, younger, more symmetrical, basalt, and the sediment is thinner. Continental crust is less dense, older, and granite.

What are the energy forces that drives the interactions between the hydrosphere and biosphere?

Plate tectonics

What are the characteristics of terrestrial planets?

Shell of rock around metallic iron alloy core. Fosters liquids. (Mars, Venus, Earth, Mercury)

How do we form elements?

Stars (nuclear fusion)

What are the main parts of the Earth?

crust, inner core, outer core, mantle

Where did the early atmosphere come from?

gases released by volcanoes

Why isn't Pluto a planet?

it has not cleared its neighboring region of other objects

What are the major gases in the atmosphere today?

nitrogen and oxygen

What is the aesthenosphere?

plastic solid capable of flow. composed of the only rock in the mantle (lower portion of upper mantle)

What is the Big Bang Theory?

the idea that all matter and energy in the universe began in an unimaginably dense state, and then space itself began expanding

What is the difference between crust and lithosphere?

the lithosphere consists of crust and part of the upper mantle.

About how old is the solar system?

4.5 billion years

About how old is the Earth?

4.6 billion years old

What evidence is used to support the Big Bang?

Hubble's law, discovery and measurement of cosmic microwave background, and light travel

What are the main interacting spheres of the Earth?

Hydrosphere and biosphere

When was the Big Bang?

13.7 billion years ago