Geol ch 1

The two most common gases of the Earth's atmosphere, and their percentages, are

nitrogen (N2) at 78%, and oxygen (O2) at 21%.

Which of the following pairs of elements composes most of the Earth's crust?

silicon and oxygen

Peridotite is

the most abundant rock in the Earth.

Which of the following traps cosmic rays and shields life on the Earth from excessive radiation?

magnetosphere

Which of the Earth's layers accounts for most of the volume of the Earth?

mantle

Humans are part of the

biosphere.

Physicists have shown that the 92 naturally occurring elements in the universe form during the life cycle of stars. During what stellar process are the very large elements (those heavier than iron) created?

a supernova explosion

The Big Bang theory states that Choose one: A. all matter and energy in the Universe were once packed into a single point. B. temperatures had to remain above 1 billion degrees in order for atoms to form. C. all of the possible answers are correct. D. the process of atom creation, termed Big Bang nucleosynthesis, produced all known natural elements.

all matter and energy in the Universe were once packed into a single point.

Which of the following is caused by the interaction of charged particles, magnetic lines of force, and the atmosphere in polar regions?

aurorae

The Earth's average density

can be deduced from its volume and gravitational pull.

Our Solar System

completes one rotation around the center of the Milky Way every 250 million years.

The ------------ concept placed Earth at the center of the Universe, with the other planets and the Sun revolving around it. The concept placed the Sun as the center, with Earth and the other planets revolving around it.

geocentric; heliocentric

The earliest nebulae to form in the Universe were made almost entirely of

hydrogen and helium.

Differentiation of large planetesimals and protoplanets

is caused by heat created by the transformation of kinetic energy from collisions into thermal energy.

The boundary between the lithosphere and the asthenosphere

is the boundary between rigid mantle and plastic mantle.

The geothermal gradient

is the rate of change in temperature with depth within the Earth.

The Earth is round because

its interior rock is warm enough to flow slowly in response to gravity.

The crust

. is separated from the mantle by the Moho.

Which of the following statements regarding the Big Bang theory are true? A. Earth and the Universe formed at about the same time. B. Meteors were responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs. C. Earth is much older than the rest of the Universe. D. Earth formed through a series of violent collisions. E. All matter in the Universe was once confined to a single point. F. All stars will end their lives explosively as supernovae. G. The Universe is considerably older than Earth. H. There is no way of knowing how old the Universe might be.

E. All matter in the Universe was once confined to a single point. G. The Universe is considerably older than Earth.

Identify the statement that is true about the Big Bang. Choose one: A. It is the explanation for how our Solar System developed. B. It began with all matter and energy concentrated in an infinitesimally small point. C. The Big Bang theory states that at the instant of explosion, atoms of all major elements came into existence. D. It occurred less than 13 million years ago.

It began with all matter and energy concentrated in an infinitesimally small point.

Which statement is true about the formation of the Moon? A. The Moon formed from debris created when Earth suffered a catastrophic protoplanet collision. B. The Moon is a comet that was captured by Earth's orbit. C. Early in its formation, fission reactions split the Earth into two bodies, creating the Moon. D. The Moon and Earth formed together simultaneously.

The Moon formed from debris created when Earth suffered a catastrophic protoplanet collision.

Identify the true statement. Choose one: A. The composition of the giant (Jovian) planets is mainly gas and "ice." B. The Sun accounts for almost 50% of the Solar System's mass. C. The only two planets with moons are the Earth and Jupiter. D. Our Sun is the only star we know of that has planets associated with it.

The composition of the giant (Jovian) planets is mainly gas and "ice."

Which of the following statements about differentiation are true? A. The mantle formed as a result of differentiation. B. The core formed as a result of differentiation. C. The Moon formed as a result of differentiation. D. The Earth is round because of differentiation.

The mantle formed as a result of differentiation. The core formed as a result of differentiation.

The heliocentric model

was supported by observations that planets follow an elliptical orbit.

The heavier elements on the Earth (those with atomic numbers greater than 5)

were formed by stellar nucleosynthesis during the life cycles of older stars and supernovae.