geoscience *****ass

isotope

Different forms of the same element that contain equal numbers of protons but different numbers of neutrons in their nuclei

Which of the following statements are true about Earth's atmosphere? (Choose all that apply)

Earth's atmosphere during the Hadean was dominated by water vapor and carbon dioxide. Over geologic time, Earth's atmosphere evolved from a water vapor and carbon dioxide rich atmosphere to an oxygen-rich atmosphere. Stromatolites began photosynthesis on Earth about 3.5 billion years ago. Earth's second atmosphere was made mostly of nitrogen and methane.

radiometric dating

A method of dating geological specimens by determining the relative proportions of particular radioactive isotopes present in a sample

subduction zone

A region of the Earth's crust where tectonic plates meet with the edge of one crustal plate descending below the edge of another

craton

A stable, relatively immobile area of the earth's crust that forms the nuclear mass of a continent or the central basin of an ocean

seismic waves

Waves of energy that travel through the Earth's layers, and are a result of earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, magma movement, large landslides and large man-made explosions that give out low-frequency acoustic energy

continental-continental collision

A boundary along which two plates carrying continental crust push together.

topography

A detailed description or representation on a map of the natural and artificial features of an area

lithospheric plates

A massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock; Plates size can vary greatly, from a few hundred to thousands of kilometers across; Also called a tectonic plate

Coevolution

The close relationship of two or more factors that cause them to impact how each other change over time

Which of the following affects the amount of destruction caused by earthquake vibrations? (Choose all that apply)

The intensity of vibrations The duration of vibrations

convection

The movement caused within a fluid by the tendency of hotter and therefore less dense material to rise, and colder, denser material to sink under the influence of gravity, which consequently results in transfer of heat

The distance between a seismic station and the earthquake epicenter is determined from the ____.

arrival times of p and s waves

The movement of hotter matter rising and cooler matter sinking is called?

convection

What is the cause of the plate tectonic activity?

convection of liquid metal in the core

Which of the following make up the main divisions of Earth's layers? (Choose all that apply)

crust core mantle

What is the determining factor that separates the Earth's layers?

density

Felsic and Rhyolitic Volcanoes

extremely explosive

All mountain ranges are continuously growing taller because of constructive forces at the plates.

false

Because of tectonic activity, all of Earth's land masses are static and do not move.

false

Hot matter sinks because it is more dense than cooler matter.

false

The closer contour intervals are to one another the less step the slope.

false

The law of uniformitarianism, states that the laws of nature may change with time and that the rates at which things happen on Earth today are different than they were in the past.

false

The oldest rocks are found farthest from the center of the core and get younger as you decrease the distance away from the center of the core.

false

When an earthquake occurs, energy radiates in all directions from its source, which is called the ____.

focus

Magma is formed when solid rock in the crust and upper mantle_____.

melts

Which of the following is a reliable way to date the age of the Earth?

meteorites

Andesitic Volcanic

moderately explosive

These cover the largest area of the Earth's surface?

ocean basins

If half of a radioactive isotope decays in one hour, how much of the original isotope will remain after three hours?

one eighth of it

Which of the types of waves created by earthquakes are used to determine the interior structure of the Earth? (Choose all that apply)

p waves s waves

What landform is a flat, elevated landform that rises sharply above the surrounding area on at least one side?

plateaus

radioactive decay

process where the nucleus of an unstable atom loses energy by emitting radiation

oceanic plate with continental plate convergent plate boundary

the oceanic plate is always pulled under and subducted because it is denser than the continental plate. The continental plate then overrides the oceanic plate

As you move closer to the boundary the rock is younger in age. This means the rocks that a farther away from the place where the plates meet are older.

true

Energy is transmitted in waves.

true

It is difficult to assign an age to Earth by dating materials formed on Earth because Earth materials are constantly cycled by the tectonic forces, volcanic acitivity, erosion and other parts of the rock cycle.

true

Rocks and natural minerals, including those found from outside of Earth (e.g. asteroids and meteors) contain a specific set of elements, some of those have unstable atomic nuclei called isotopes.

true

Tectonic plate activity generates seismic waves which travel through the Earth's interior giving scientists data to build a model of Earth's layers.

true

The continents are driven by forces inside Earth.

true

The creation of new crustal material takes place at mid-ocean ridges, where the oceanic crust is rifted open and magma wells up to fill the opening.

true

The mantle layer is solid but because it is so hot it actually acts a viscous fluid.

true

The movement of the hotter material up towards the crust and the cooler material sinking back towards the core is called convection.

true

When subduction takes place, partial melting of the crust generates a silica-rich magma.

true

biotic

Living factor such as bacteria, plants, and animals

anaerobic

The absence of oxygen

Mafic and Basaltic Volcanoes

intermediate

A volcano is a vent through which molten rock and gas escape from a magma chamber.

true

What fraction of the substance would be left after 5 half-lives?

1/32

If you start with 100 grams of hydrogen-3, how many grams will you have after 24.6 years?

25 g

What is the minimum number of seismic stations that is needed to determine the location of an earthquake's epicenter?

3

If you start with 100 grams of carbon-14 atoms, how many grams will you have in 5,730 years?

50g

meteorite

A meteor that survives its passage through the earth's atmosphere such that part of it strikes the ground

divergent plate boundary

A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving away from each other and new crust is forming from magma that rises to the Earth's surface between the two plates; The middle of the Red Sea and the mid-ocean ridge (running the length of the Atlantic Ocean) are divergent plate boundaries

convergent plate boundary

A tectonic boundary where two plates are moving toward each other; If the two plates are of equal density, they usually push up against each other, forming a mountain chain; If they are of unequal density, one plate usually sinks beneath the other in a subduction zone

transform plate boundary

A tectonic boundary where two plates slide against each other in a sideways motion; Neither plate is added to at the boundary, nor destroyed

plate tectonics

A theory explaining the structure of the earth's crust and results of the interactions of rigid plates that move slowly over the underlying mantle

What causes Earth's magnetic field?

Convection of iron in the core

How is soil created? (Choose all that apply)

Climate Erosion Biological Factors

By using a topographic map, you can tell... (Choose all that apply)

How steep a mountain is The natural features of the area Flood plain locations

How is the Earth's core still warm? (Choose all that apply)

Leftover heat from the formation of Earth The movement of liquid metal in the core Radioactive Decay Contraction in size of Earth when it was forming

The Richter magnitude of an earthquake is determined from the ____.

Measurement of the amplitude of the largest seismic waves

Which of the following are built by constructive forces? (Choose all that apply)

MountainsPlateaus

abiotic

Non-living factor such as soil, weather, and amount of water and acidity

constructive forces

Processes that help build up the earth, either by depositing soil or silt in a river, or by volcanoes and lava flows that generate new land

seismology

The branch of science studying earthquakes

Paleomagnetism

The branch of science studying the magnetism in rocks that was caused by the earth's magnetic field

aerobic

The presence of oxygen

destructive forces

The process by which rock is broken down, such as erosion and weathering either through the violent actions of volcanoes and earthquakes or by the steady flow of a river

relative dating

The science of determining the relative order of past events or objects, without necessarily determining their absolute age

half-life

The time taken for the isotope to decrease into to half its original value; It doesn't disappear but rather decays into a different isotope

absolute age

The true age of a rock or fossil

ocean-ocean convergent boundary

Where ocean lithosphere meets ocean lithosphere, one plate is subducted under the other forming a deep-sea trench between the two and a volcanic island arc on the overriding plate

A contour line that bends to form a V shape indicates a

valley