Geology- Chapters 1 & 2
Up to what elevation can you live w/o carrying supplemental oxygen? At 100 km/h how long would it take to drive a distance = to the thickness of the breathable atmosphere?
-5.5 km
What & where is the Kuiper Belt located?
-Donut-shaped ring of particles -outside the orbit of Neptune
Describe the habitable zone
distance from the Sun where temps range b/w 0C (freezing) to 100 C (boiling)
What are comets?
icy object that follow an elliptical orbit
continental crust
layer made of granite rock about 70 km @ thickest
Shatter cones
look at notes
mineral vs glass
minerals have a crystal form; glass does not bc its atoms are not arranged in an orderly manner
What % of the Earth's radius does the thickness of the lithosphere represent?
no more than 1%
oceanic crust
rock layer composed of basalt, about 3-10 km thick
How doesa planetesimal differ from a protoplanet? How does a planet differ from a protoplanet?
- -planet from protoplanet: protoplanet is large, non-spherical body smaller than a planet
How does a planet differ from the moon? Describe hypothesis that explains formation of Earth's moon
-The moon formed from debris created when Earth suffered a catastrophic protoplanet collision ---> protoplanet orbit the sun and moons orbit planets
Statements true about the Big Bang Theory
-The universe is considerably older than the Earth -All matter in the Universe was once confined to one single point
What happens during subduction & the zone within which this activity occurs is known as what? What does this explain about the distribution of earthquakes?
-during subduction, the motion of the downgoing slab causes earthquakes
What are Earth's domains?
-hydrosphere -biosphere -atmosphere
How did ancient philosophers distinguish b/w planets & stars they observed in the sky?
-planets move in complex paths independent of stars -stars appear to revolve around a fixed point
What & where is the Oort Cloud located?
-spherical layer of icy objects -surrounding the solar system
What can be said about temperature & pressure within the Earth?
-temp increases w depth -at greater depths, the pressure is higher
What is differentiation?
-the core & mantle formed as a result of diff
What is the link b/w the observation that the Universe is expanding & the Big Band theory?
-the discovery that all objects in the universe are spreading apart led to the idea that everything must have been together at some point and then began to expand. This idea is the Big Bang theory
Does the crab nebula contain any uranium?
-yes bc the crab nebula represents a supernova explosion whose extreme high temps allowed for the formation of heavier elements
What events led to the formation of the Earth?
1. The Earth cleared its orbit of all other matter, making it a true planet 2. The Moon formed 3. Volcanic activity occurred, releasing gases 4. An atmosphere formed
What events led to life as we know it on Earth?
1. The oceans formed 2. Photosynthetic organisms appeared on Earth 3. Oxygen (O2) accumulated in atmosphere 4. multicellular life developed rapidly on Earth
What are the major stages in the evolution of our Solar System?
1. an accretionary disk formed 2. a protosun formed 3. rings formed in the protoplanetary disk 4. planetesimals collected to form protoplanets
What % of the lithosphere is continenta; & what & is oceanic?
30% continental, 70% oceanic
metamorphic vs igneous rock
I: A rock that forms molten material -M: a rock that forms from a preexisting rock & undergoes changes in heat & pressure
What is the Earth's core comprised mostly of?
Inner Core: solid Outer Core: liquid & responsible for the magnetic field
What did Inge Lehmann discover about the way 2 types of seismic waves travel thro Earth's interior?
P (compression) waves: S (shear) waves:
How does lithosphere differ from asthenosphere? How does lithosphere differ from the crust
Rock composition is same but the temp is diff w litho being cooler than athen -litho is rigid & ashten is plastic
What is the mid ocean ridge system?
a series of divergent plate boundaries where new rock is created
All of the elements occur during life cycles of stars but which process forms very large elements heavier than iron?
a supernova explosion
What does the solar wind consist of?
dangerous radiation
Where are asteroid belts located?
b/w the orbits of Mars & Jupiter
lithosphere
composed of rigid upper mantle & crust
What direction do the planets orbit the Sun?
counterclockwise
What visible evidence illustrates the interaction b/w Earth's magnetic field & solar wind?
the aurora borealis
