Introduction to Science & Soil
The organized, step-by-step procedure scientists use to gather and pursue scientific knowledge.
What is the scientific method?
The scale considered the most reliable method for measuring an earthquake's magnitude.
What is the moment magnitude scale?
The scale used to rate a mineral's hardness from 1 (Talc) to 10 (Diamond).
What is the Mohs scale of hardness?
The most abundant metal in the earth's crust, refined from bauxite rock.
What is aluminum?
The branch of geology concerned with the origin, composition, and structure of rocks.
What is petrology?
The single factor intentionally changed by an experimenter to test a hypothesis.
What is the independent variable?
In earthquake-resistant construction, this system allows a building to rest on movable isolators to absorb seismic shock.
What is a base-isolated system?
Scraping a mineral on an unglazed porcelain plate leaves a powder line called this, which is more reliable than surface color.
What is streak (or streak color)?
An alloy made by combining iron and carbon.
What is steel?
An amorphous, smooth volcanic glass that has the same chemical composition as granite.
What is obsidian?
Question: This type of logic uses general evidence to make a specific inference.
What is deductive reasoning?
Symmetrical, wide-based volcanic mountains made of alternating layers of lava and cinders are called by this term.
What are composite volcanoes (stratovolcanoes)?
The largest group of minerals in the earth's crust, composing over 90% of it.
What are silicates?
The white-gray metal considered more valuable than gold because of its many uses.
What is platinum?
Metamorphic rock formed in layers like the leaves of a book.
What is foliated rock?
The branch of science dedicated to studying soil.
What is pedology?
The central channel through which gases, ash, and rock are ejected from a volcano.
What is a vent?
The tendency of a mineral to break readily along smooth, flat planes.
What is cleavage?
Lab-created gemstones that look like natural gems but have completely different chemical and physical properties.
What are simulant gemstones?
This law states that in undisturbed rock layers, the bottom strata were laid down first and are the oldest.
What is the law of superposition?
The upper 5 to 15 cm layer of soil that contains most of the organic material.
What is topsoil?
A fracture zone formed when a layer of rock breaks and moves under force.
What is a fault?
This mineral test compares the mass of a mineral sample to the mass of an equal volume of water.
What is specific gravity?
Ruby and sapphire are colored, gem-grade forms of this mineral.
What is corundum?
The highest-quality, hardest form of coal that burns slowly and cleanly.
What is anthracite coal?