Intro To Earth Science and the Scientific Process
Rocks and Minerals
Geologic Time and Earth's History
Earth's Layers and Earthquakes
Plate Tectonics and Mountain Building
100
Name two important components of the Scientific Method
Hypothesis, Data, Revision, Peer-Review, Observations, Testing
100
What are the three major types of rocks?
igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic
100
Which era took up most of Earth's History? What is the most common fossil of this era?
Precambrian. Stromatolites
100
What is the inner most layer of the earth? What is it made out of?
The inner core is made out of solid iron and nickel
100
What are the three types of plate boundaries? Describe the motion of each?
Convergent-come together Divergent- move apart Transform-move side by side
200
Name the 4 spheres of Earth science
Hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, atmosphere
200
What is the difference between intrusive and extrusive igneous rocks?
Intrusive are rocks that form when magma hardens beneath earth's surface. Extrusive rocks form when lava hardens.
200
What is uniformitarianism?
the theory that changes in the earth's crust during geological history have resulted from the action of continuous and uniform processes.
200
Which layer of the earth is responsible for the movement of the plates through convection currents? What is this layer made out of?
The mantle is made out of molten rock (magma)
200
What is formed at convergent boundaries? What is different between the formation of the geologic features at continental-continental boundaries and continental-oceanic boundaries?
Mountains are formed at convergent boundaries. At continental-continental boundaries, the two crusts push up against each other making tall, steep mountains. At continental-oceanic boundaries a subduction zone is created when the oceanic plate is pushed under the continental plate. This causes the formation of volcanoes because the magma is displaced towards the surface.
300
What is the difference between a theory and a hypothesis?
A hypothesis is a plausible explanation. This is that statement that an experiment or study is based upon. A theory is a well developed explanation that is supported by large amounts of evidence and is widely accepted by the scientific community.
300
Sedimentary rocks are formed by these two processes... What is each process?
Cementation- dissolved minerals are deposited in tiny spaces among sediments. Compaction is the process that squeezes and compacts sediments.
300
What is superposition?
a basic law of geochronology, stating that in any undisturbed sequence of rocks deposited in layers, the youngest layer is on top and the oldest on bottom, each layer being younger than the one beneath it and older than the one above it.
300
Where are earthquakes found most often, and what causes them?
Earthquakes occur on faults, especially at plate boundaries. Earthquakes are caused by the release of energy when faults slip past each other.
300
What causes dome mountains to form? What type of rock is formed? Give an example.
A dome mountain is formed when magma is pushed up towards the crust creating a bubble. When the magma breaks the crust is forms a dome of igneous rock.
400
What is the difference between a renewable and a nonrenewable resource. Give an example of each.
A renewable resource is a resource that can be replenished within a short period of time (human's lifetime). Examples include wood, sunlight, wind, and food animals. Non-renewable resources are resources that take millions of years to replenish. Examples include oil, natural gas, coal, and metals.
400
How do metamorphic rocks form? What is parent rock?
Metamorphic rocks form when the parent rock (the sedimentary rock or igneous rock that is changed) is altered by heat or pressure.
400
What caused earth's atomosphere to change into something breathable for other life? When did this happen?
Organisms that used photosynthesis and release oxygen evolved at the end of the Precambrian and started the Paleozoic era.
400
What are the three types of waves? Which arrives first? What do they look like on a seismograph? What type of damage does each do?
P-waves are compression waves that cause cracks and buckling of the ground. They have short amplitude and arrive first. They travel through Earth's interior. S-waves arrive second and cause the shaking of the earth side to side and up and down. These are taller on the seismograph than the P wave, but shorter than Surface waves. S-waves do minimal damage. Surface waves travel along earth's surface and cause the most damage to buildings because they shake the surface of the earth.
400
What is a fault-block mountain. Give an example.
Fault-block mountains are formed by the movement of large crustal blocks when forces in the Earth's crust pull it apart. Some parts of the Earth are pushed upward and others collapse down. Sierra Nevada
500
Describe an aspect of the Nature of Science through the discovery of how the dinosaurs went extinct (Hint Walter Alvarez Warm-Up).
Possible Answers: Science takes a lot of revision. Scientific questions are based on observations. It requires evidence to support or reject hypotheses. It is important to use scientific literature for your research.
500
What is a mineral, and what are three properties of minerals?
a naturally occurring inorganic substance (see inorganic molecules) with a definite chemical composition and a regular internal structure. Note: Most minerals are crystals, like salt and diamonds. Color, streak, luster, hardness, density, fracture
500
The ____________ ended the ___________ era and started the __________ which is know as the age of Mammals.
extinction of the dinosaurs, Mesozoic, Cenozoic.
500
How do you find the epicenter of an earthquake?
The lag time will be used to tell you how far your seismograph is from the epicenter of the earthquake. Measure the distance between the first P wave and the first S wave to get the lag-time and use the relationship between lag-time and distance to figure out the distance to the epicenter. Do this for three seismic stations to triangulate the epicenter.
500
What are folded mountains? give an example.
Fold mountains are mountains that form mainly by the effects of folding on layers within the upper part of the Earth's crust. Himalaya, Andes, Rockies
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