Geology 001 final

Using the scientific method, it has been deduced that the Earth is ________ years old . ~ 13 billion ~ 4.5 billion ~ 2.0 million ~ 3.8 billion ~ 200 million

4.5 billion

Which of the following explains best the difference between a hypothesis and a theory? A hypothesis is a series of observations, and a theory is a model that explains them. A hypothesis is a model that requires testing, but a theory is a fact. A hypothesis is the same as a theory, just named by different scientists. A hypothesis is developed to explain observations, but a theory is a hypothesis that has passed a series of tests. A hypothesis is a model that has passed a series of tests, but a theory explains a set of observations.

A hypothesis is developed to explain observations, but a theory is a hypothesis that has passed a series of tests.

Which of the following best explains the principle of superposition? Strata with fossils are generally deposited on strata with no fossils. All sedimentary deposits accumulate on older rock or sediment layers. Older strata generally are deposited directly on younger strata without intervening, intermediate age strata.

All sedimentary deposits accumulate on older rock or sediment layers.

All of the following observations and conclusions are consistent with the concept of "uniformitarianism" except ______. Layers in sandstone found at the top of a mountain that are similar to layers at a sandy beach illustrate that the sandstone used to be sand at sea level some time ago. Layers in sand that compose a modern beach today that are similar to layers in sandstone formed millions of years ago illustrate that there have been similar beaches in Earth's past. Sand rolling along a stream bottom shows that sediment is moving downstream. Along a coastline, wave-cut erosional features now well above sea level indicate that the land was uplifted. An erupting volcano proves that burning subterranean coal beds provide the heat.

An erupting volcano proves that burning subterranean coal beds provide the heat.

Which of the following is true about the Earth system? a.If something is changed about one part, nothing happens to the other parts. b. If something is changed about one part, all of the parts are affected. c. If something does not change about a particular part, changes occur in each other part. Both a and c Both b and c None of these All of these

Both b and c b. If something is changed about one part, all of the parts are affected. c. If something does not change about a particular part, changes occur in each other part.

Why are volcanoes and landslides considered "hazardous" natural Earth processes? [Hint] These processes are often catastrophic (very fast and full of destructive energy). These fairly violent processes can occur where people live. These processes are fairly slow and relatively non-violent. Both the first and second combined. Both the first and third combined. Both the second and third combined.

Both the first and second combined.

The letters A through D appear on an image associated with this question. Cooling of the nebula causes condensation of dust into solid particles. Accretion of planets. Contraction of the nebula into a rotating disk. The early solar system is a dust and gas cloud (nebula).

Cooling of the nebula causes condensation of dust into solid particles C. Accretion of planets. D. Contraction of the nebula into a rotating disk. B. The early solar system is a dust and gas cloud (nebula). A.

What is the primary principle used by geologists to separate periods of geological time, and ultimately construct the geological time scale. Why? Superposition --- This allows accurate ages to be placed upon individual rock layers across the Earth. Uniformitarianism --- This allows accurate ages to be placed upon individual rock layers across the Earth. Uniformitarianism --- This allows correlations of similar age rock strata found in different locations across the Earth. Superposition --- This allows correlations of similar age rock strata found in different locations across the Earth. Fossil succession --- This allows accurate ages to be placed upon individual rock layers across the Earth. Fossil succession --- This allows correlations of similar age rock strata found in different locations across the Earth.

Fossil succession --- This allows correlations of similar age rock strata found in different locations across the Earth.

Geological time should be considered when examining Earth's natural processes for all of the following reasons except _____. Natural phenomena occur over such a long time span that "human" time is insufficient to understand them. Most processes can be seen directly, but in part only, not in total. Most phenomena are too slow to perceive. Geological processes are usually too fast to be seen.

Geological processes are usually too fast to be seen.

Which of the following accurately states the basic differences between the disciplines of physical and historical geology? Physical geology is the study of fossils and sequences of rock strata, whereas historical geology is the study of how rocks and minerals were used in the past. Historical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils and geologic events, utilizing the geologic time scale as a reference, whereas physical geology includes the study of how rocks form and of how erosion shapes the land surface. Physical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils and deposition in relation to plate movements in the geological past, whereas historical geology charts how and where the plates were moving in the past.

Historical geology involves the study of rock strata, fossils and geologic events, utilizing the geologic time scale as a reference, whereas physical geology includes the study of how rocks form and of how erosion shapes the land surface.

Which of the following best describes Earth-system science? So that geologists may make predictions about the Earth's future, they must describe the Earth as a system. In order to comprehend geological time, geologists must integrate the different Earth systems under one science. In order to more fully understand our planet, geologists must learn how the Earth's individual components are interconnected. Before geologists can understand the Earth, they must first condense all Earth science into a single system.

In order to more fully understand our planet, geologists must learn how the Earth's individual components are interconnected.

Why would a ballooning Earth population be an issue for geologists? The number of people on earth affects the number of minerals that are formed in a year. Natural resources include minerals, and as demand increases, supply diminishes, and eventually is exhausted. The orbit of the Earth is affected by the size of the human population. None of these.

Natural resources include minerals, and as demand increases, supply diminishes, and eventually is exhausted.

Which of the following best explains why "geological time" is difficult for people to understand? Geological time includes most of the age of the Earth, a length of time that is simple to comprehend for most people. People are accustomed to dealing with increments of time that are measured in hours, days, weeks and years, but Geological Time is measured in millions of years. Geological time includes the entire age of the Earth, a length of time that is difficult to understand for most people. People are accustomed to dealing with increments of time that are measured in millions of years, but Geological Time is measured in hours, days, weeks and years.

People are accustomed to dealing with increments of time that are measured in hours, days, weeks and years, but Geological Time is measured in millions of years.

Which of the following is one of the most important fundamental discoveries about the Earth? The Earth is unchanging, and what we see today has always looked that way throughout Earth history. The Earth's continents are today as they have always been. The Earth is constantly changing, even as you take this quiz. The Earth is a dead planet.

The Earth is constantly changing, even as you take this quiz.

Why is the hydrologic cycle a good example of Earth as a system? [Hint] The hydrologic cycle represents the unending circulation of water among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and solid Earth. The hydrologic cycle relates the fundamental processes of the solid Earth to the atmosphere. The hydrologic cycle is a description of the interworkings of the hydrosphere. All of these.

The hydrologic cycle represents the unending circulation of water among the hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere and solid Earth.

5. In the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, scientists used the scientific method to explain the movement of glaciers in Switzerland. Which of the below statements best explains the observation that follows: The glacier is shown to be flowing in the downhill direction. At the same time, the glacier's snout (terminus) is shown to be retreating in the uphill direction and the glacier's ice volume is decreasing. Cooler temperatures meant slower forward glacier flow resulting in snout retreat uphill. The glacial hypothesis was finally accepted as scientific theory. Rocky debris in the valley downhill from the snout was deposited by Noah's flood. The melting rate of ice in the glacier exceeded the rate at which new snow and ice were added to the glacier.

The melting rate of ice in the glacier exceeded the rate at which new snow and ice were added to the glacier.

Each of the following statements about the early formation of the Earth is true except ________. [Hint] Buoyant masses of molten rock rose to the surface to produce a primitive crust. The primitive core and crust melted to form the early Earth's mantle and hydrosphere. A primitive atmosphere evolved as gaseous materials escaped from Earth's interior. Chemical differentiation established the three basic shells of Earth's interior. High velocity impacts caused the temperature to increase and iron and nickel to sink to the center.

The primitive core and crust melted to form the early Earth's mantle and hydrosphere.

Refering to the Geological Time Scale below, why do the "periods" represent different spans of time? The separation of "periods" is based upon fossil succession only. The separation of "periods" is based upon superposition and fossil succession both. The separation of "periods" is based upon absolute dating of strata. The separation of "periods" is based upon superposition and relative dating of strata.

The separation of "periods" is based upon fossil succession only.

In our solar system today, the inner four planets are not gas-ice giants like the outer ones. Why? The solar system dust from the nebula contracted due to gravity of the sun, whereas gases were expelled. The solar system gas from the nebula contracted due to gravity of the sun, whereas dust was expelled. The solar system dust from the nebula were expelled due to gravity of the sun, whereas gases were contracted. None of these.

The solar system dust from the nebula contracted due to gravity of the sun, whereas gases were expelled.

Which observation below makes the universe a feasible outcome of the Big Bang? The universe is currently exploding, illustrated by shifts on space images in the visible light spectrum. The universe is currently expanding away from a point area, illustrated by light shifts in space images. The universe is currently contracting toward a point area, illustrated by light shifts in space images. We just know this as a fact.

The universe is currently expanding away from a point area, illustrated by light shifts in space images.

All of the following are ways that humans affect natural geological processes except River flooding increases due to the clearing of forests. Volcanic activity increases due to the building of cities. Flooding increases due to the building of cities. Soil erosion increases due to the clearing of forests.

Volcanic activity increases due to the building of cities.

All of the following are true about the scientific method except ______. hypotheses necessarily allow predictions to be made hypotheses are constructed to explain observations a hypothesis that passes a test is considered a fact hypotheses explain observations, but must be tested for validity a hypothesis is different from a theory

a hypothesis that passes a test is considered a fact

Relative dating involves __________. placing events in their proper sequence or order without knowing their numerical ages in years using the law of superposition to compare the ages of rock layers comparing fossils found in rock layers all of the above none of the above

all of the above

Earth-system science is the part of Geology that involves _____. the study of the interaction of the hydrosphere and the atmosphere, and how changes in Earth's landscape may influence this interaction. the study of the interconnectedness of all of Earth's systems the study of the changes caused in systems by the changes occurring in other systems all of these

all of these

The scientific method is the standard used by scientists so that when hypotheses "pass tests, we should devise additional tests until the hypothesis fails observations are used to make hypotheses that are required to be "testable we ask a question based upon our observations all of these

all of these

The letters A through D appear on an image associated with this question. atmosphere [Hint] solid Earth [Hint] hydrosphere [Hint] biosphere [Hint]

atmosphere B. solid Earth A. hydrosphere D. biosphere C.

Catastrophism is the idea that _______. a. Earth's landscapes have been shaped by sudden worldwide disasters b. Earth's landscapes have been shaped suddenly by unknown forces not in operation today c. physical, chemical and biological laws that operate today have also operated in the past d. Earth's landscapes have been shaped by the influence of the Moon, planets, stars and the Sun e. catastrophies will happen more often each century until Earth experiences a worldwide disaster both a and b both a and d both b and e

both a and b

All of the following statements describe the effect of global warming on the Earth system except ______. a. Glacial ice in the hydrosphere diminishes, causing an increase in ocean water volume. b. The change in temperature causes less ice and snow accumulation in the hydrosphere, thus less reflectance of the Sun's radiation, contributing to higher global atmospheric temperatures. c. Glacial ice in the hydrosphere increases, causing a decrease in ocean water volume. d The change in temperature causes more ice and snow to accumulate in the hydrosphere, and thus there is more reflectance of the Sun's radiation, contributing to a lowering of global atmospheric temperatures. both a and b both a and d both c and d

both c and d c. Glacial ice in the hydrosphere increases, causing a decrease in ocean water volume. d The change in temperature causes more ice and snow to accumulate in the hydrosphere, and thus there is more reflectance of the Sun's radiation, contributing to a lowering of global atmospheric temperatures.

The Earth is today divided into three basic concentric spherical shells. What is the process by which this "shell" configuration emerged. What caused it to happen? differentiation / inertia differentiation / gravity concretion / inertia concretion / gravity

differentiation / gravity

Using the pulldown boxes, match each item on the left to the corresponding item at right. A. Earth's surface features and Earth's interior B. all life on Earth C. a dynamic mass of water that is continually on the move D. a life-giving gaseous envelope hydrosphere atmosphere biosphere solid earth

hydrosphere C. a dynamic mass of water that is continually on the move atmosphere D. a life-giving gaseous envelope biosphere B. all life on Earth solid Earth D. A. Earth's surface features and Earth's interior

Geology is considered a(an) _______ science, because ______. "outdoor"; a great deal of geology is based on laboratory experiments "exciting"; all geological processes are so rapid and hazardous to humans "dull"; geological processes occur over such long time spans "indoor"; all geological investigations are performed in the laboratory "indoor"; a great deal of geology is based upon observations of rocks and processes in the field "outdoor"; a great deal of geology is based on observations in the field

outdoor"; a great deal of geology is based on observations in the field

Hutton's idea of Earth's uniformitarianism is that _______. a. Earth's landscapes have been shaped by sudden worldwide disasters b. Earth's landscapes have been shaped suddenly by unknown forces not in operation today c. physical, chemical and biological laws that operate today have also operated in the past d. Earth's landscapes have been shaped by the influence of the Moon, planets, stars and the Sun e. catastrophies will happen more often each century until Earth experiences a worldwide disaster both a and b both a and d both d and e

physical, chemical and biological laws that operate today have also operated in the past

Currently, the nebular theory is the accepted model to explain the formation of our solar system. All of the following statements support this idea except _______. the planetary system is disc-shaped in total the planets orbit each other as they orbit the Sun the Sun is at the center of a disc-like planetary system all planets (except Pluto) orbit the Sun in the same plane

the planets orbit each other as they orbit the Sun