GEOLOGY CH. 1-3
How do the rates and scales in geology compare to the human view of the Earth?
a human lifespan is much quicker in pace than most geological processes so you will never be able to fully view the geological processes around you.
How does PT theory help explain the distribution of surface features (like mountain belts, trenches,and volcanic arcs) and geologic activity (earthquakes and volcanic eruptions)?
based on divergent, convergent and transform movment of the plates it will create different land forms such as a convergent movement may create a mountain belt.
How are minerals ID?
can be id'd by its physical properties like color, luster, hardness, cleavage magnetism
sediments to sedimentary rock?
compaction and cementation
Compare and contrast (similar and different) continental crust with oceanic crust.
continental crust is less dense and is granatic oceanic crust is denser and basaltic, floats lower cause ocean basins both float on the asthenosphere
What other driving mechanisms are there, and how do each of them contribute to plate tectonic motion?
convection, ridge push, slab pull,
Compare and contrast the three different types of convergent boundaries.
convergent- the plates are moving toward one another transform- the plates are moving past one another divergent-the plates are moving away from one another
how does magma turn into indigenous rock?
cooling
What are the four major layers of the Earth that are defined by their chemical composition?
core- iorn and nickle mantel- high density rock crust- low density rock
How do the details of geologic activity and characteristic surface features vary by tectonic setting (i.e., what characteristic landforms and activity do we observe at a location with specific types of relative motion and lithosphere interaction)?
divergent mantel material wells up to create a new land forms on the surface between old land forms moving away from each other , the formation of volcanoes, shallow earthquake activity transform creates ocean basins and ocean ridges convergent both earthquakes and volcanoes are created due to the pressure of the convergence causeing things to heat up
how does ingenious rock turn into metamorphic rock?
heat and pressure
sedimentary rock to metamorphic rock?
heat and pressure
List and describe Earth's four spheres.
hydrosphere- the water portion atmosphere- the gaseous envelope biosphere-all plant and animal life geosphere-the solid earth
What is the difference among a hypothesis, theory, and law/principle?
hypothesis- a tentative but testable explanation about observable phenomena. It is tested and then either accepted, modified or denied theory- a hypothesis that is never rejected. Its widly accepted among the scientific community that best explains a phenomena. Law\principle- statements (typically mathmatic equations) that describe or predict certain phenomena.
What is the role of buoyancy as a driving mechanism of plate tectonics?
it determines which plates are going to submerge
Compare and contrast lithosphere & asthenosphere. The outer & inner core.
litosphere is stronger and located above the asthenosphere, the lithosphere is also the cool rigid outer shell where as the asthenosphere is cooler. the outer core is a liquid layer and the inner core is a solid layer. they are both made of an iorn nickle alloy
how does ingenious rock turn into magma?
melting
how does metamorphic rock turn into magma?
melting
What is the difference between an element and a mineral?
naturally occuring elements can be considered minerals
What is the difference among observations, inferences, and conclusions/interpretations?
observations- things you know based on the 5 senses inferences- what you can say about something based on your logic and understanding of how things typically work conclusion- what you can guess based on your observations and inferences
what are mineral properties and what determines those properties?
occasionally color, streak, hardness, luster, specific gravity, cleavage, magnatism
What does plate tectonic theory have to do with rocks and the rock cycle?
plate techtonic movement causes the construction and destruction of the rocks in the earth
How are minerals formed?
precipitation, crystallization, recrystallization, deposition as a result of natural process
What is the difference between qualitative and quantitative data?
qualitative- descriptions, it can be observed but not measured quantitative- numbers that can be measured
How do we accomplish this goals?
scientific method, communication with other people, basic tools of science, measurements& observations, graphs, conversions, inferences, scientific notation, significant figures,known versus estimated digits, specialized vocabulary of agreed upon definitions
How do we know what the interior of the Earth looks like, since we can't go there?
scientists infer based on seismic waves and critical thinking about the composition of rocks, lab studies, a few examples mantel material found on the surface, meteorites and density studies.
How did the internal structure of the Earth form, and how do we know about it?
tectonic plates We know based on seismic waves from earthquakes.
What are the main ideas of the theory of plate tectonics?
that the earth surface is broken into rigid plates. the plates move relative to each other in the asthenosphere. most geologic activity happens where the plates react with each other but vary depending on the motion of the plate. 13 main tectonics move relative to one another on the asthenosphere
What is the principle of uniformitarianism, and what is it used for in geology?
that the way the earth currently acts follows the same processes as it did all throughout time.
Other than the non-random patterns seen in surface features and geologic activity, what other data do we have that supports plate tectonic theory? How do each of those lines of evidence support the theory?
the age of rocks and where they appear oceanic drilling measurment of plate motion from space
What is density? Buoyancy?
the degree of compactness in an object the level of ability to float in a fluid
What is Archimedes principle of buoyancy, and what does it have to do with Earth's internal layered structure?
the difference in density explains why and how bouyant an object is. It explains why the different layers are where they are and how they stay in place. the densest layer is the core and then it continues to the least dense being the crust and everything inbetween.
How are minerals classified?
they are assigned mineral classes and then further into mineral varieties
What determines the physical properties of minerals?
they are the things about the mineral that you can observe
What does Archimedes principle of buoyancy have to do with Earth's surface features (highmountains versus ocean basins)?
to float on the water an object must be less dense than the water. relating to the other land forms the that are floating on a liquid which ever form is more dense will be on top of the less dense object and the less dense will fall benethe and this can cause ocean basins. where as if they are the same density+bouancy they will converge and create mountain ranges.
how does ingenuous rock turn into sediment?
weathering and erosion
sedimentarty rock to sediments?
weathering and erosion
metamorphic rocks to sediments?
wethering and erosion
Explain how the different types of crust affect surface feature and their fates over time. What happens to ocean basins over geologic time? Continents over time? How do we know?
when two continetal plates diverge it creates a continental rift over time and later will create a basin between two land forms. An ocean basin will over time become an ocean and continents on two convergent plates will become smaller and create mountain ranges on the meeting spot. Divergent continents will become further apart. we know because there is evidence in
How old is Earth? Why is an understanding of the magnitude of geologic time important?
4.6 billion years the planet has undergone many changes since it was formed gives an application of the magnitude of the time bc the processes occur so gradually over an extended period of time.
What is geology and why is it important?
Geology is the study of the Earth Its important because we live here and want to understand how the world around us works so we can predict what will happen in the earth= natural disasters make it easier to find useful naturally occurring marterials protect these resources human interest
Why are minerals important?
Humans depend on mineral resources for raw materials People prize them for beauty We need to understand them to understand earth
What are the major types of rocks and other earth materials? What do geologists use to delineate the groups?
Indigenous rocks, sedimentary rocks, metamorphic rock, sediments, magma based on the processes of formation
What are the five major layers of the Earth that are defined by their physical properties?
Lithosphere (solid)- consist of the entire crust plus the uppermost mantle and forms Earth's relatively cool, rigid outer shell. asthenosphere (solid)-A weaker layer below the Lithosphere that has a top layer that is low enough temp and pressure that it results in a small amount of melting. the two layers can move on their own mantel (solid)- a solid, rocky shell that extends to a depth of about 2900 km. The dominant rock type in the uppermost mantle is peridotite outer core(liquid)- a liquid layer tht the movement of metallic iron within this zone that generates Earths magnetic field inner core (solid) -a sphere that has a higher temperature however the iorn is solid due to pressures at the center of the planet
Why does oceanic lithosphere subduct while continental lithosphere does not?
Oceanic lithosphere is denser than continental lithosphere
What is a mineral?
Solid substance naturally occuring generally inorganic orderlly crystalline structure definitive chemical compostion Certain physical properties
What is the goal of geology?
To discover patterns and nature that will allow us to make predictions.