Earthquakes
at which plate boundary(s) are earthquakes generated?
convergent, divergent AND transform
Describe the process of photosynthesis
Plants absorb the Sun's energy and CO2 from the atmosphere and convert it into O2 and food (glucose)
What are the three types of plate boundaries
convergent, divergent, transform
This element is useful in dating organic materials less than 70,000 years old
Carbon-14
Which plate is more dense? The Philippine Plate or the Pacific Plate
Pacific Plate (it's subducting)
Explain how we know the layers of Earth, and their states of matter
P-waves can travel faster and through solids and liquids, whereas S-waves travel slower and only through SOLIDS
There are 4 characteristics fossils must possess to be considered an index fossil. Name two.
1. abundant
2. geographically widespread
3. distinct appearance
4. existed for a short period of time
What three land features are created at convergent plate boundaries
mountains, trenches, volcanoes
What is a half life?
the amount of time it takes for a radioactive element to decay by half its amount
This fossil group went extinct at the end of the Permian?
ABULATE/RUGOSE CORALS
what is the shadow zone?
A area on earth that receives no waves, because P-waves get refracted and S-waves get absorbed by the liquid outer core.
What is coevolution?
Two or more Earth spheres cause changes to each other simultaneously.
Biosphere and Atmosphere: photosynthesis and gas concentrations
What causes the plates to move above the mantle?
convection currents!
After 3 half lives, this percentage of the parent isotope remains, AND this percentage of the daughter isotope is present
12.5% of parent remains
87.5% of daughter is present
(it equals 100%!!!!)
What is the numerical time period of the Fifth largest extinction event?
201 million years ago
Why do earthquakes occur at varying depths?
Earthquakes can originate along the subducting plate
Name a VERTEBRATES species
Bothriolepis or Atreipus
Two plates are colliding. How do we know if they will subduct or build up?
If the plates are different densities, the more dense plate will subduct. If they are both continental plates, they will build up mountains
A rock containing 75% N-14 is found in a sample. How long has that sample existed?
11,460 years
75% N-14 means 25% C-14 = 2 half lives
5,730 years * 2 half lives = 11,460 years
The Arabian Plate is diverging from the African Plate at a rate of
1.6cm/yr
What type of wave is an S-waves and what type of wave is a P-wave?
S-waves: shear waves
P-waves: compressional waves
How was oxygen introduced into our early atmosphere?
Oxygen was produced by photosynthesizing cyanobacteria in our oceans during the Precambrian
What two land features are created at divergent plate boundaries?
mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys
Explain how we know the Earth is 4.5 billion years old using a radioactive element to support your answer
Rocks have been found to contain 50% U-238 and 50% Pb-206, indicating the rock, and therefore Earth, has been around for 4.5 billion years (1 half life)
The geology of Elmira, NY consists of this age of rocks
Devonian