Spinning Plates
Crustal formation, which may cause the widening of an ocean, is most likely occurring at the boundary between the
(1) African Plate and the Eurasian Plate
(2) Pacific Plate and the Philippine Plate
(3) Indian-Australian Plate and the Antarctic Plate
(4) South American Plate and the North American Plate
(3) Indian-Australian Plate and the Antarctic Plate
Which statement correctly compares seismic P-waves with seismic S-waves?
A) P-waves travel faster than S-waves and pass through Earth’s liquid zones
B) P-waves travel faster than S-waves and do not pass through Earth's liquid zones
C) P-waves travel slower than S-waves and pass through Earth's liquid zones
D) P-waves travel slower than S-waves and do not pass through liquid zones
A) P-waves travel faster than S-waves and pass through Earth’s liquid zones
Which is the best example of physical weathering?
A) the cracking of rock caused by the freezing and thawing of water
B) the transportation of sediment in a stream
C) the reaction of limestone with acid rainwater
D) the formation of a sandbar along the side of a stream
A) the cracking of rock caused by the freezing and thawing of water
As the gradient of a stream increases, the stream's ability to carry sediment
A) decreases
B) increases
C) remains the same
B) increases
Which rock was most likely formed from pebble sized sediment deposited in shallow water at an ocean shoreline?
A) shale
B) basalt
C) siltstone
D) conglomerate
D) conglomerate
Compared to the surrounding material, mantle plumes rise toward Earth’s surface from the core-mantle boundary because they are
(1) cooler and less dense
(2) cooler and more dense
(3) hotter and less dense
(4) hotter and more dense
(3) hotter and less dense
At which depth below Earth’s surface is the boundary between Earth’s outer core and stiffer mantle located?
(1) 700 km
(2) 2000 km
(3) 2900 km
(4) 5100 km
(3) 2900 km
Which factor has the least effect on the weathering of a rock?
A) composition of the rock
B) exposure of the rock to the atmosphere
C) the number of fossils found in the rock
D) climatic conditions
C) the number of fossils found in the rock
As the gradient of a stream decreases, the stream's ability to carry sediment
A) decreases
B) increases
C) remains the same
A) decreases
The obsidian's glassy texture indicates that it formed from a magma that cooled
A) slowly, deep below Earth's surface
B) slowly, on Earth's surface
C) quickly, deep below Earth's surface
D) quickly, on Earth's surface
D) quickly, on Earth's surface
Which tectonic feature is associated with a complex or uncertain plate boundary?
(1) Southwest Indian Ridge
(2) East African Rift
(3) Mariana Trench
(4) Galapagos Hot Spot
(2) East African Rift
Which evidence recorded at seismic stations following an earthquake supports the inference that Earth’s interior changes from solid rock to molten iron and nickel at the mantle-core boundary?
(1) P-waves arrive earlier than S-waves.
(2) P-waves and S-waves are both recorded at all stations.
(3) Only S-waves are recorded at all stations.
(4) Only P-waves are recorded on the opposite side of Earth.
(4) Only P-waves are recorded on the opposite side of Earth.
A large rock is broken into several smaller pieces. Compared to the rate of weathering of the large rock, the rate of weathering of the smaller pieces is
A) the same
B) less
C) greater
C) greater
A river’s current carries sediments into the ocean. Which sediment size will most likely be deposited in deeper water farthest from the shore?
A) pebble
B) sand
C) silt
D) clay
D) clay
The recrystallization of unmelted material under high temperature and pressure results in
A) metamorphic rock
B) sedimentary rock
C) igneous rock
D) volcanic rock
A) metamorphic
Earth’s magnetic field has reversed itself several times during the past. This pattern of magnetic reversal is best preserved in
(1) metamorphic bedrock in mountain ranges
(2) bedrock with fossils containing radioactive carbon-14
(3) layers of sedimentary bedrock of the Grand Canyon
(4) igneous bedrock of the oceanic crust
(4) igneous bedrock of the oceanic crust
An earthquake’s first P-wave arrives at a seismic stationat 12:00:00. This P-wave has traveled 6000 kilometers from the epicenter. At what time will the first S-wavefrom the same earthquake arrive at the seismic station?
A) 11:52:20
B) 12:07:40
C) 12:09:20
D) 12:17:00
B) 12:07:40
Which is the best evidence that erosion has occurred at Plumb Beach?
A) a large number of fossils embedded in limestone
B) a soil rich in lime on top of a limestone bedrock
C) sediments found in a sandbar of a river
D) a layer of basalt found on the floor of the ocean
C) sediments found in a sandbar of a river
Trees growing on the edge of a river's meander are most likely to fall into the river due to
A) deposition on the inside of the meander
B) deposition on the outside of the meander
C) erosion on the inside of the meander
D) erosion on the outside of the meander
D) erosion on the outside of the meander
What is one difference between the metamorphic rocks quartzite and hornfels?
A) Hornfels is foliated; quartzite is nonfoliated.
B) Hornfels contains plagioclase; quartzite does not contain plagioclase.
C) Hornfels is produced by regional metamorphism; quartzite is produced by contact metamorphism.
D) Hornfels is medium grained; quartzite is fine
B) Hornfels contains plagioclase; quartzite does not contain plagioclase.