PHYS203 Exam 1

What is the definition of a rock? (a) another name for a mineral (b) a naturally-occurring inorganic solid object that is an aggregate of minerals (c) a man-made solid object that is an aggregate of minerals (d) a solid substance that costs at least $1000.00 per gram (e) any solid object found on the surface of the geosphere

(b) a naturally-occurring inorganic solid object that is an aggregate of minerals

What is the definition of a mineral? (a) another name for a rock (b) a naturally-occurring inorganic solid object with a definite chemical structure (c) a man-made inorganic solid object with a definite chemical structure (d) a solid substance that costs at least $1000.00 per gram (e) any solid object found on the surface of the geosphere

(b) a naturally-occurring inorganic solid object with a definite chemical structure

Which bonds are stronger? A. Covalent bonds similar to those between Na and Cl B. Covalent bonds similar to those between Si and O C. Ionic bonds similar to those between Na and Cl D. Ionict bonds similar to those between Si and O

B. Covalent bonds similar to those between Si and O

What type of plate boundary is between the South American and African plates? A. Convergent B. Divergent C. Transform

B. Divergent

What happens to the age of seafloor rocks moving away from a mid-ocean ridge? A. The rocks get older B. The rocks get younger C. The rock ages do not change.

A. The rocks get older

What must happen to the tilt angle of Earth's axis in order to have vertical rays where you live on the summer solstice (June 21)? Sun is directly overhead in Newark. A. Tilt would increase B. Tilt would decrease C. Tilt would stay the same

A. Tilt would increase

Lower viscosity lava can travel farther from the source when compared to higher viscosity lava, and therefore, results in more gentle volcano slopes. A. TRUE B. FALSE

A. True

Minerals have specific chemical compositions and describable structures. A. TRUE B. FALSE

A. True

Subduction zones are found near passive margins. A. True B. FALSE

A. True

The sun is located approximately 150,000,000 km from Earth. All disturbances travel with the speed of light - 300,000 km/s. How long would it take energy released by a solar flare to affect electrical systems on Earth? A. A few minutes (~8 min) B. A few hours C. A few days D. A few weeks

A. a few minutes (~8 mins)

If Earth's biosphere were younger, we would have _____ oxygen in the atmosphere. (Oxygen in atmosphere is a result of life.) A. less B. more

A. less

Hawaii formed A. over a hot spot B. on a convergent plate boundary C. on a divergent plate boundary

A. over a hot spot

What would happen to the average temperature at the equator during our summer if the tilt angle of Earth's axis increased to 27º? A. Temperatures would decrease (power density decreases) B. Temperatures would increase C. Temperatures would stay the same

A. temp would decrease (power density decreases)

Where would you most likely find regional metamorphism? A. Associated with a volcano B. Associated with a mountain belt C. Associated with a fault

B. Associated with a mountain belt

Where would you most likely find contact metamorphism? A. Associated with a mountain belt B. Associated with a volcano C. Associated with a fault

B. Associated with a volcano

Which of the following would be a small grained igneous rock? A. Limestone B. Basalt C. Marble D. Quartz

B. Basalt

Which two ideas were combined to form the theory of plate tectonics? A. Continental drift and the scientific process B. Continental drift and seafloor spreading C. Continental drift and the Big Bang

B. Continental drift and seafloor spreading

What would happen to the average temperature in Newark during our summer if the tilt angle of Earth's axis increased to 30º from the current 23.5o? A. Derease B. Increase C. Same

B. Increase

All other factors being equal, which magma would flow the fastest? A. High viscosity magma B. Low viscosity magma C. Neither, magma does not have viscosity

B. Low viscocity magma

How would the elevations of mountains differ if Earth's crust was composed of denser rocks? Mountains would be A. Higher B. Lower (Root deeper and elevation above Earth's surface lower) C. Unchanged in elevation

B. Lower (Root deeper and elevation above Earth's surface lower)

Magma cooling as it rises to the Earth's surface at continental volcanos is an example of A. Neptunism B. Plutonism.

B. Plutonism

An earthquake occurred on the Erie fault 5 kilometers beneath San Gabriel. Damage from the earthquake was greatest in nearby Fremont. The farthest report of shaking was recorded in Stockton. Where was the earthquake's epicenter? A. The Erie Fault B. San Gabriel C. FremontD. Stockton

B. San Gabriel

Which of the following statements is true? A. All stars and planets are about the same age. B. Stars are approximately the same age as their orbiting planets - a little older C. The number of stars is declining as stars burn out.

B. Stars are apporximately the same age as their orbiting planets - a little older

What type of volcano is Mount St. Helens? A. Shield volcano (gentle slope) B. Stratovolcano (steeper slope)

B. Stratovolcano (steeper slope)

Why does the Earth has seasons? A. The distance of the Earth's orbit around the Sun changes. B. The tilt axis of the Earth points towards or away from the Sun. C. The tilt angle increases or decreases from the current 23.5o.

B. The tilt axis of the earth points towards or away from the sun

How would the viscosity of motor oil in your car's engine change from the time you turn the key in the ignition to when you have driven 50 km (30 miles)? Viscosity decreases as temp. increases A. Viscosity would increase B. Viscosity would decrease C. Viscosity would stay the same

B. Viscosity would decrease

How is sedimentary rock formed from igneous rock? A. Cementation and compaction (lithification) B. Weathering, transportation, and compaction (lithification) C. Heat and pressure D. Cooling and solidificationE. Melting

B. Weathering, transportation, and compaction (lithification)

If Earth were farther from the sun, the planet would be, __________. A. warmer B. colder

B. colder

If Earth were smaller, its atmosphere would be ________. (Gravitational force keeps atmosphere size. Larger mass has more gravitational force.) A. thicker B. thinner

B. thinner

How much would ground motion increase between a magnitude 4.5 and 5.5 earthquakes? A. No increase B. 5 times as much C. 10 times as much D. 30 times as much

C. 10 times as much

A hypothesis can be improved or rejected based on which of the following? A. New data B. New observations C. Experiments D. Any of the choices are correct

D. Any of the choice are correct

Geologists sometimes find a type of igneous rock known as porphyry, which contains both large and small crystals. Which is the best explanation for the formation of this rock? The rock experienced a two-stage cooling process . . A. . . with initial slow cooling at depth followed by rapid cooling at the surface. B. . . with initial rapid cooling at depth followed by slow cooling at the surface. C. . . with initial rapid cooling near the surface followed by slow cooling at depth. D. . . with initial slow cooling near the surface followed by rapid cooling at depth.

A. .. with initial slow cooling at depth followed by rapid cooling at the surface

Concrete is formed by adding cement and water to a mixture of sand and gravel. This could be seen as an analog for the formation of what type of sedimentary rock? A. Clastic rock. B. Chemical rock. C. Biochemical rock.

A. Clastic rock

The conversion from bread to toast can be seen as an analog for the formation of a metamorphic rock by: A.Contact metamorphism B.Regional metamorphism

A. Contact metamorphism

According to the Theory of Plate Tectonics, what drives the motion of the tectonic plates? (a) convection cells in the asthenosphere (b) lava flows in trenches along the sea floor (c) the Coriolis force (d) the Earth's magnetic field (e) gravitational tidal forces from the Moon

A. Convection cells in the asthenosphere

. The moon has what type of orbit? A. Geocentric B. Heliocentric

A. Geocentric

What technology allows scientists to precisely measure plate motions? A. Global positioning system B. Global seismometers C. Global satellite imagery

A. Global Positioning system

Which one of these is a high silica rock that cooled slowly? A. Granite B. Rhyolite C. Gabbro D. Basalt

A. Granite

What are the principal components of the sun? A. Hydrogen and helium B. Carbon and oxygen C. Silicon and nitrogen D. Nickel and iron

A. Hydrogen and Helium

Three sites (L1, L2, L3) record earthquake magnitude and earthquake intensity for the same earthquake. L1 is located closest to the focus and L3 is farthest away. Where is the intensity greatest, and what happens to the earthquake magnitude calculated at the different sites? A.Intensity is greatest at L1; calculated magnitude is the same at each site B.Intensity is greatest at L3; calculated magnitude is the same at each site C.Intensity is greatest at L1; calculated magnitude decreases with distance from the focus D.Intensity is greatest at L3; calculated magnitude decreases with distance from the focus

A. Intensity is greatest at L1; calculated magnitude is the same at each site

What part of the process of science are "fit of the continents," matching fossils on different continents and similarities in structures that were used to develop the ideas about continental drift? A. Observations B. Theories C. Hypotheses

A. Observations

If the San Andreas fault moves 500 cm per big earthquake, and fault movement is equivalent to plate motion (2.5 cm/yr): How many years of plate motions must accumulate to produce one big earthquake? A. 2 years B. 20 years C. 200 years D. 2000 years

C. 200 years

What best describes basalt? A. A rock formed at low temperature with ~70% silica content B. A rock formed at moderate temperature with ~60% silica content C. A rock formed at high temperature with ~50% silica content

C. A rock formed at high temprature with -50% silica content

What type of magma is associated with Mount St. Helens? A. Basaltic B. Rhyolitic C. Andesitic

C. Andesitic

Where are most volcanoes located? A. At mountain ranges B. At divergent plate boundaries C. At convergent plate boundaries

C. At convergent plate boundries

What type of plate boundary is between the Nazca and South American plates? A. Divergent B. Transform C. Convergent

C. Convergent

Why does Earth have a magnetic field? A. Due to content of atmospheric gases B. Due to the types of rocks found in the lithosphere C. Due to the Earth's liquid outer core D. Due to the proximity to the Sun

C. Due to the earths liquid outer core

Which part of the earth system includes ice on Antarctica? A. Atmosphere B. Biosphere C. Hydrosphere D. Geosphere

C. Hydrosphere

How would the amount of incoming solar radiation (power density watts/m2) change at the equator if Earth's axis was vertical instead of tilted? A. Incoming solar radiation would decrease. B. Incoming solar radiation would be the same as at present. C. Incoming solar radiation would increase. (same power but area decreases - higher power density higher temperature)

C. Incoming solar radiation would increase. (same power but area decreases - higher power density -> higher temp)

Predict which product of the volcanic eruption traveled farthest from Mount St. Helens? A. Pyroclastic flow B. Lava C. Lahar

C. Lahar

Which processes would change a metamorphic rock to an igneous rock? A. Weathering, transport, and lithification B. Increased temperature and pressure C. Melting and crystallization

C. Melthing and crystallization

Cooking an egg could be seen as an analog for the formation of : A. Igneous rock. B. Sedimentary rock. C. Metamorphic rock.

C. Metamorphic rock

A large earthquake occurred along a fault and was recorded at a seismograph station 300 km away. The next day, a smaller earthquake occurred at the exact same location on the fault. Which statement is most accurate? A. P-waves would have traveled to the seismograph station more quickly following the first earthquake B. P-waves would have traveled to the seismograph station more quickly following the second earthquake C. The P-waves would have taken the same time to reach the station after each earthquake

C. The P-waves would have taken the same time to reach the station after each earthquake

Why is the Earth a system? A. The earth has several separate components like any system. B. The earth has multiple interactions like any system. C. The earth has interacting components like any system.

C. The earth has interacting components like any system.

What type of plate boundary is between the North American and Pacific plates along the San Andreas Fault? A. Divergent B. Convergent C. Transform

C. Transform

Which type magma most likely has the lowest viscosity? A. High silica, high temperature B. High silica content, low temperature C. Low silica content, high temperature D. Low silica content, low temperature

C. low silica content, high temp

What conditions are required to form parallel alignment of minerals sometimes found in a metamorphic rock? A. Either heat or pressure B. Pressure only C. Heat only D. Both heat and pressure

D. Both heat and pressure

Which of the lines of evidence were not used to support Wegener's continental drift hypothesis? A. The distribution of fossils. B. Fit of continents. C. Match of mountain belts. D. Earthquake locations. E. Paleoclimate data.

D. Earthquake locations

Suppose you were near an epicenter of an earthquake and felt the earth move as if you were in the ocean. What type of seismic wave would you have experienced? A. P-wave B. S-wave C. Rayleigh wave (up-down surface motion) D. Love wave (sideways surface motion)

D. Love wave (sideways surface motion)

How would you classify the viscosity of the magma that produced the eruption of Nyiragongo and the violence of the eruption? A. Low-viscosity magma; violent eruption B. High-viscosity magma; violent eruption C. High-viscosity magma; mild eruption D. Low-viscosity magma; mild eruption

D. Low-viscosity magma; mild eruption

Which statement is TRUE about the relationship between age and topography of the ocean floor? A. Deeper regions of the ocean floor are younger B. The Pacific Ocean is larger than the Atlantic Ocean because it contains older oceanic floor C. Oldest oceanic crust is only present near trenches D. Youngest seafloor rocks occur near oceanic ridges

D. Youngest seafloor rocks occur near oceanic ridges

What happens when an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate? A. The continental plate is subducted. B. The oceanic plate is subducted. C. The denser plate is subducted. D. Both A and C E. Both B and C

F> Both B and C

What type of magma corresponds to volcanoes along the ring of fire? a. andesitic b. basaltic

a. andesitic