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
