EAPS 106 - Homework 1-3

What is planetary differentiation? a. The process by which planets accrete material to grow. b. The process by which the chemical elements of a planetary body accumulate in different areas of that body. c. The process by which the solar nebula was organized chemically such that terrestrial planets formed near the Sun while giant planet formed further away. d. The process by which continents and oceans separated themselves when our planet first cooled.

b. The process by which the chemical elements of a planetary body accumulate in different areas of that body.

True or False: Building codes are designed to make buildings earthquake proof in the sense of them suffering zero damage.

False

True or false: The north pole of Earth's magnetic field is located in Earth's northern

False

Where do reverse faults (also known as thrust faults) occur? a. In areas where the crust is being extended such as a divergent boundary. b. In areas where the crust is being shortened such as at a convergent boundary. c. Where the two sides of the fault slip horizontally past each other, such as at transform boundaries.

b. In areas where the crust is being shortened such as at a convergent boundary.

In Wikipedia, look up "Shadow zone" and answer this question: Look at the figure which shows some of the paths that P waves travel from an earthquake that occurs at 0 degrees through the Earth and explain what causes the P-wave shadow zone (region where no direct P waves are observed)? a. P-waves are not transmitted through the liquid outer core b. P-waves are refracted (their direction is altered) because they slow down when they encounter the liquid outer core c. P-waves dissipate before the reach the other side of the Earth d. P-waves are not transmitted through the mantle.

b. P-waves are refracted (their direction is altered) because they slow down when they encounter the liquid outer core

Which of the following is not true? a. An estimated 85% of buildings in the region collapsed. b. The earthquake was predicted, leading to a major evacuation prior to the quake. c. Some estimates placed the death toll at more than half a million people. d. All the above are true

b. The earthquake was predicted, leading to a major evacuation prior to the quake.

What happens when the wire turns are wound around a ferromagnetic material? a. The magnet gets weaker b. The magnet gets stronger c. The wire ceases to be a magnet d. The magnetic north and south poles reverse themselves

b. The magnet gets stronger

What is a mantle convection? a. The process by which oceanic lithosphere subducts back into the mantle. b. The slow creeping motion of Earth's solid mantle caused by currents carrying heat from the interior to the planet's surface. c. The process by which heat is transferred through a solid by the passage of vibrations. d. The process by which heat is transfer from the base of the lithosphere to the surface through volcanism.

b. The slow creeping motion of Earth's solid mantle caused by currents carrying heat from the interior to the planet's surface.

Which of the following is a property of S waves? a. They are the fastest traveling seismic wave. b. They cannot travel through liquids (assume low viscosity). c. They are the first signal from an earthquake to arrive at any affected location. d. All the above

b. They cannot travel through liquids (assume low viscosity).

What is the objective of seismic base isolation? a. To simulate the magnitude of shaking that a building will experience. b. To decouple a building from the shaking ground during an earthquake. c. To determine who much a particular foundation will shake because of its geology. d. To prevent the rock beneath a building from shaking during an earthquake.

b. To decouple a building from the shaking ground during an earthquake.

How does the Earth generate its magnetic field? a. From the passage of the Earth through the Sun's solar wind. b. Through frictional interactions between its tectonic plates. c. Through the rotation, convection, and electrical conduction within its liquid iron outer core. d. From radioactive decay of Uranium and Thorium in Earth's crust and mantle.

c. Through the rotation, convection, and electrical conduction within its liquid iron outer core.

Which of the following statements is not true? a. There were a series of several large earthquakes in this region in 1811-1812. b. The 1811 earthquake causes the Mississippi River to appear to run backwards. c. West Lafayette, Indiana is within a couple of miles to the center of this seismic zone. d. All the above are true

c. West Lafayette, Indiana is within a couple of miles to the center of this seismic zone.

Where do strike-slip faults occur? a. In areas where the crust is being extended such as a divergent boundary. b. In areas where the crust is being shortened such as at a convergent boundary. c. Where the two sides of the fault slip horizontally past each other, such as at transform boundaries.

c. Where the two sides of the fault slip horizontally past each other, such as at transform boundaries.

What is liquefaction? a. The process by which buildings slowly sink into wet sediments over a long period of time. b. The process by which non-reinforced concrete shatters during earthquake shaking. c. The process by which soils become as a hard as concrete during earthquake shaking. d. The process by which water-saturated sediments act like a liquid during an earthquake.

d. The process by which water-saturated sediments act like a liquid during an earthquake.

True or False: Of the top 10 deadliest earthquakes, a majority were smaller than M8.

True

True or False: Rocks hotter than about 300 °C (572 °F) flow in response to stress; they do not rupture in earthquakes.

True

True or false: The northern and southern lights are caused by emission of photons in Earth's upper atmosphere from ionized (excited) nitrogen and oxygen atoms caused by the solar wind. (Be sure to read both the intro to Auroras as well as the Atmosphere section to answer this question).

True

What is a transform fault or transform boundary (sometimes called a strike-slip boundary)? a. A fault along a plate boundary where the motion is predominantly horizontal. b. A fault where one tectonic plate goes beneath another. c. A boundary where continental crust transforms into ocean crust. d. A boundary where new ocean crus is created.

a. A fault along a plate boundary where the motion is predominantly horizontal.

How did the Earth form? a. By accretion from the solar nebula b. From material thrown out by a fast-spinning new Sun c. From a collision between two giant planets d. It is a rogue planet captured by the Sun

a. By accretion from the solar nebula

How does a geode form? a. By the filling of vesicles (voids) in rocks by minerals deposited from the passage of fluids. b. By the solidification of volcanic gases in cooling lava. c. From high pressure that causes quartz to separate itself from other rocks. d. By the formation of a cobalt shell around an existing pocket of crystals.

a. By the filling of vesicles (voids) in rocks by minerals deposited from the passage of fluids.

Where do normal faults occur? a. In areas where the crust is being extended such as a divergent boundary. b. In areas where the crust is being shortened such as at a convergent boundary. c. Where the two sides of the fault slip horizontally past each other, such as at transform boundaries.

a. In areas where the crust is being extended such as a divergent boundary.

What is the difference between an earthquake magnitude and its intensity? a. Magnitude describes the size of an earthquake and intensity describes the severity of shaking. b. Magnitude describes the severity of shaking and intensity describes the size of an earthquake. c. The two terms mean the same thing.

a. Magnitude describes the size of an earthquake and intensity describes the severity of shaking.

Which of the following will strongly amplify surface ground motion during an earthquake? a. Sediments b. Water c. Hard rock d. Lava

a. Sediments

What is the theory (or hypothesis) of continental drift? (Note: this question is purely about continental drift, not plate tectonics.) a. That over time the continents move relative to each other. b. That ocean crust is created at mid-ocean ridges and destroyed at subduction zones. c. The entire outer shell of the Earth is divided into plates that move relative to each other. d. That topography on continents drifts up and down over time.

a. That over time the continents move relative to each other.

What is the largest earthquake by magnitude to ever be recorded? a. The 1960 Valdivia, Chile earthquake b. The 1964 Prince William Sound, Alaska, earthquake c. The 2004 Sumatra, Indonesia earthquake d. The 2011 Tohoku, Japan earthquake

a. The 1960 Valdivia, Chile earthquake

How can seismograms be used to locate an earthquake? a. The time difference between the P wave and S wave arrival times indicated distance b. The recorded magnitude of shaking indicates distance c. The sign of the first arrival (up versus down) indicates direction d. All the above

a. The time difference between the P wave and S wave arrival times indicated distance

Currently, what do most scientist say about earthquake prediction? a. They are pessimistic and many think earthquake prediction is inherently impossible. b. Prediction may someday be possible. c. We can accurately predict a few earthquakes, but not most. d. We can accurately predict most earthquakes to within several years.

a. They are pessimistic and many think earthquake prediction is inherently impossible.

Which of the following is a property of P waves? a. They are the slowest traveling seismic wave. b. They cannot travel through liquids. c. They are the first signal from an earthquake to arrive at any affected location. d. All the above

c. They are the first signal from an earthquake to arrive at any affected location.

What is the difference between a hypocenter and an epicenter? a. An epicenter is the location an earthquake initiates at depth, while a hypocenter is the location above the epicenter at the surface. b. A hypocenter is the location an earthquake initiates at depth, while an epicenter is the location above the hypocenter at the surface. c. The two terms mean the same thing.

b. A hypocenter is the location an earthquake initiates at depth, while an epicenter is the location above the hypocenter at the surface.

What is an earthquake early warning system? a. A system to designed to predict earthquakes days or weeks before they occur. b. A system devised for notifying adjoining regions of a substantial earthquake while it is in progress. c. A system designed to alert state and federal authorities that a major earthquake has just occurred, and an emergency response is required. d. All the above

b. A system devised for notifying adjoining regions of a substantial earthquake while it is in progress.

In Wikipedia, look up "Earthquake" and answer this question: Look at the figure showing earthquake epicenters: where do most earthquakes occur? a. In the interior of tectonic plates b. Along the boundaries between tectonics plates c. Uniformly around the globe d. Only within continents

b. Along the boundaries between tectonics plates

Why might foreshock detection be useful in predicting earthquakes? a. Because they occur prior to every major (M>7) earthquake. b. Because they occur prior to most major (M>7) earthquakes. c. Because they occur prior to a small percentage of major (M>7) earthquakes. d. Because they occur prior to no major (M>7) earthquakes.

b. Because they occur prior to most major (M>7) earthquakes.

At what depth do most diamonds originate from and how do they get to the surface? a. Near the core-mantle boundary and come to the surface at volcanic hotspots. b. Near the core-mantle boundary and come to the surface in Kimberlite volcanic eruptions. c. Between 150 and 250 km depth and come to the surface in Kimberlite volcanic eruptions. d. Between 150 and 250 km depth and come to the surface at mid-ocean ridges.

c. Between 150 and 250 km depth and come to the surface in Kimberlite volcanic eruptions.

Which of the following is not used in these experiments? a. Dynamite b. Seismic vibrator c. Earthquakes d. Air gun

c. Earthquakes

What does a single seismogram record? a. The location of an earthquake b. The depth of an earthquake c. Ground motion at a measuring station as a function of time d. All the above

c. Ground motion at a measuring station as a function of time

At what scale level will damage be great in substantial buildings, with partial collapse? a. VII Very strong b. VIII Severe c. IX Violent d. X Extreme

c. IX Violent

What is asthenosphere? a. It is the mechanically weak crust that enables the surface of the Earth to flow like a fluid, b. It is the mechanically weak uppermost mantle that lies just below the crust. c. It is the mechanically weak layer of the upper mantle that lies just below the lithosphere. d. It includes the crust and the uppermost mantle, which constitutes the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth.

c. It is the mechanically weak layer of the upper mantle that lies just below the lithosphere.

What is a subduction? a. It is where seafloor spreading takes place along a divergent plate boundary. b. It is a plate boundary where the motion is predominantly horizontal. c. It is where oceanic lithosphere is recycled into the Earth's mantle at convergent boundaries. d. It is the transition between oceanic and continental lithosphere that is not an active plate margin.

c. It is where oceanic lithosphere is recycled into the Earth's mantle at convergent boundaries.

The San Andreas Fault is the boundary between which tectonics plates? a. The Pacific and Juan de Fuca plates b. The Juan de Fuca and North American plates c. The Pacific and North American plates d. Actually, the San Andreas Fault is not a plate boundary

c. The Pacific and North American plates

What do Mercalli intensities measures (don't worry about difference to modified intensities)? a. The peak acceleration caused by an earthquake b. The amount of seismic energy released by an earthquake c. The effects of an earthquake at a particular location d. The amount of a fault is displaced at a particular location

c. The effects of an earthquake at a particular location

Which of the following statements about Earth magnetic field is true? a. The magnetic poles and the geographic poles are located the exact same place. b. The magnitude of the Earth's magnetic field is a constant, never changing. c. The magnetic poles slowly and continuously move. d. The magnetic poles never switch places.

c. The magnetic poles slowly and continuously move.

Which layer of the Earth is a liquid? a. The crust b. The mantle c. The outer core d. The inner core

c. The outer core

What is an earthquake forecast? a. The outlook for an earthquake occurring the next day (like a weather forecast) b. The determination of the maximum size and earthquake can be on a particular fault c. The probabilistic assessment of earthquake hazards over years or decades d. A prediction of when an earthquake will occur on a particular fault

c. The probabilistic assessment of earthquake hazards over years or decades

What is seafloor spreading? a. The process by which the total area of ocean crust increases, while the total area of continental crust decreases. b. The process by which the seafloor expands due to erosion of the continents. c. The process causes continents to drift by forcing them to move away mid-ocean ridges. d. A process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge.

d. A process that occurs at mid-ocean ridges where new oceanic crust is formed through volcanic activity and then gradually moves away from the ridge.

During the Sichuan earthquake, also known as the Wenchuan earthquake, which of the following statements is true? a. An unusually large number of school buildings collapsed killing many children. b. It was the largest and deadliest earthquake in China since the 1976 Tangshan earthquake. c. It left about 5 million people homeless. d. All the above

d. All the above

How did the Earth obtain the heat in its interior? a. From radioactive decay b. Residual heat from planetary accretion c. Latent heat from core crystallization d. All the above

d. All the above

In Wikipedia, look up "Seismic hazard", read the intro then scroll down to the US seismic hazard maps and enlarge the map of peak ground acceleration, and answer this question: This map shows where seismic hazards are considered high (red/yellow regions). Which regions contain high seismic hazards? a. The west coast b. The midwest c. The southeast coast d. All the above

d. All the above

In the context of earthquake, what does elastic rebound accomplish? a. It allows rocks to deform between earthquakes without breaking. b. It allows for the release of accumulated energy during an earthquake. c. It allows the two sides of a fault to move with respect to each other during an earthquake. d. All the above

d. All the above

What is the evidence that the Earth cannot be hollow inside? a. The passage of seismic waves requires the Earth to be non-hollow. b. Gravity does not allow for a planet to form with a hollow interior c. Ordinary matter is not strong enough to support a hollow space of planetary size d. All the above

d. All the above

Which of the following are true? a. The Haitian government's death toll estimates were far higher than other estimates. b. It had been more than 150 years since the last major (M>7) earthquake in the country. c. An estimated 3 million people were affected by the quake d. All the above

d. All the above

Which of the following can be imaged by seismic tomography? a. Subduction zones b. High velocity (cold) structures beneath continental shields (thick centers of continents) c. Low velocity (warm) structures beneath ocean spreading centers d. All the above

d. All the above

Which of the following can earthquakes trigger? a. Tsunami b. Landslides c. Volcanic eruptions d. All the above

d. All the above

Which of the following is a property of Rayleigh waves? a. They can travel around the Earth several times before dissipating. b. They are the slowest moving seismic wave. c. They tend to cause more damage than P and S waves. d. All the above

d. All the above

Which of the following is true about the 1906 earthquake? a. Potentially more than 3,000 people died, the most ever due to an earthquake in the U.S. b. Devasting fires broke out after the earthquake that were even more destructive c. Areas situated in sediment-filled valleys sustained stronger shaking than nearby bedrock sites. d. All the above

d. All the above

Which of these statements about mechanical resonance (also known as forced resonance) is true? a. Avoiding resonance disasters is a major concern in every building, tower, and bridge construction project. b. Buildings in seismic zones are often constructed to take into account the oscillating frequencies of expected ground motion. c. Mechanical resonance is the tendency of a mechanical system to respond at greater amplitude when the frequency of its oscillations matches the system's natural frequency of vibration. d. All the above

d. All the above

Which of these statements applies to stick-slip behaviour? a. It explains the behavior of seismically active faults. b. Surfaces alternating between sticking to each other and sliding over each other. c. If an applied force is large enough to overcome the static friction between two surfaces, they will slide relative to each other. d. All the above

d. All the above

Which statement about plate tectonics is correct? a. The Earth's lithosphere is comprised of a number of large tectonic plates which have been slowly moving since about 3-4 billion years ago. b. Where the plates meet, their relative motion determines the type of plate boundary: convergent, divergent, or transform. c. Tectonic plates are composed of the oceanic lithosphere and the thicker continental lithosphere, each topped by its own kind of crust. d. All the above

d. All the above

In Wikipedia, look up "2009 L'Aquila earthquake", read the intro then scroll down to "Prosecutions", and answer this question: Why were 6 seismologists thrown in jail? a. For looting after the earthquake b. For creating inadequate building codes c. For leaving town before the earthquake d. For not predicting the earthquake

d. For not predicting the earthquake

Which statement about Earth's lithosphere is correct? a. It includes only the crust, which constitutes the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth. b. It includes only the uppermost mantle, which constitutes the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth just below the crust. c. It includes the crust and the uppermost mantle, which constitutes the weak and pliable outer layer of the Earth. d. It includes the crust and the uppermost mantle, which constitutes the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth.

d. It includes the crust and the uppermost mantle, which constitutes the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth.

Which of the following appears to be a reliable earthquake precursor? a. Foreshocks b. Changing in groundwater levels c. Observed acceleration of ground deformation d. None have been found to be reliable for the purposes of earthquake prediction

d. None have been found to be reliable for the purposes of earthquake prediction