Weathering
Plate Tectonics
Earth's Interior
Relative Dating
Misc
100
Describe frost action
Water freezes and expands. While expanding, the ice will eventually crack the rock.
100
An abandoned rift is a former divergent plate boundary that failed to diverge because there was enough outward force. What would be the direction of plate motion for an abandoned rift prior to failing?
Outward because it was still a divergent plate boundary
100
Why does the velocity of P-waves increase as it goes deeper into the Earth?
Body waves increase in velocity as it travels through denser material.
100
Compare the temporal scale of Silurian period to Devonian period using quantitative data.
Silurian is shorter (25 million years) than Devonian (60 million years)
Silurian: 444-419MYA= 25 million years
Devonian: 419-359MYA= 60 million years
100
What are two evidences for the expansion of the Universe?
Red shift- everything moves to a longer, lower energy wavelength which is red
Cosmic microwave background- as the wavelength stretches, it eventually enters the microwave wavelength
200
A more arid environment will favor which type of weathering? Why?
Physical because you need water for chemical weathering
200
Identify two plates between which you would expect to find a volcanic arc.
Any convergent plate boundary between a continental and oceanic plate.
200
How does crustal density lead to mountain ranges?
Since continental plates are lower crustal density (2.7-2.9 g/cm3), they push up instead of down. A denser plate (oceanic 3.0g/cm3) would subduct instead.
200
Which major geologic event/ major life event marks the end of the Triassic period?
Fifth largest mass extinction event,
Intrusion of the Palisades sill
Pangea begins to break up
ESRT pgs 6 and 7
200
Which elements would you find in the core of a massive star as it starts to supernova?
Supernova signals the end of a star, so that is just before core collapse. You would expect mostly iron based on ESRT page 2.
In main sequence stars, you would find hydrogen and helium (think annoying song)
While it is a supergiant, you can find any of the other elements as it slowly progresses towards core collapse.
300
Why do smaller sediments exhibit a greater rate of weathering than larger sediments of the same mass?
Smaller sediments have greater surface area exposed so they are more likely to weather and break down both physically and chemically.
300
Why do volcanoes not inherently indicate a plate boundary?
Hot spot volcanoes can happen in the middle of a plate.
300
Which layer of Earth's interior is partially melted?
Asthenosphere/ plastic mantle/ upper mantle
Partial melting of the layer allows for convection which leads to plate movement
300
Which principle(s) of relative dating is used to sequence the following block diagram? 
Superposition (oldest on bottom, youngest on top)
Crosscutting relationships (in order for something to affect a rock layer, the layer must be there already to start)
300
The emission spectra of the following two elements are found in the cores of two different stars. Compare the ages of the two stars.
The star with the first emission spectra is older because it contains Silicon which is further in progression of star evolution than the second emission spectra because it contains Carbon.
400
Describe the climate of Florida and explain its importance in the context of weathering.
Florida is hot and humid which will lead to increased chemical weathering because you need water (humidity) to dissolve/ dissociate materials. Heat increases rates of reaction.
400
What are the two processes that lead to plate motion
Convection- changes in density due to heating from the bottom, leads to cyclical motion and moves plates above it
Slab pull- when one plate goes down, it drags the rest of the plate with it400
A location 800 km away from an epicenter receives its first P-wave 1 minute and 50 seconds after the earthquake starts. It receives its first S-wave 3 minutes and 20 seconds after the earthquake starts. Which of the following is possible for a location 1500 km away from the epicenter?
a) P-wave: 1 minute and 50 seconds; S-wave: 3 minutes and 20 seconds
b) P-wave: 3 minutes and 20 seconds; S-wave: 1 minute and 50 seconds
c) P-wave: 3 minutes and 20 seconds; S-wave: 6 minutes
d) P-wave: 6 minutes; S-wave: 3 minutes and 20 seconds
e) P-wave: 1 minute; S-wave: 1 minute and 50 seconds
f) P-wave: 1 minute and 50 seconds; S-wave 1 minute
C because
1) If something is further away, then it will take more time to travel there, which leaves only choices C and D
2) P-wave always arrive before S-waves because they are primary
400
Identify the period, epoch and one city wherein one might find ancyocrinus
Ancyocrinus is Fossil L. This matches to late Devonian epoch, Devonian period. Using page 8, that would be Machias/ Elmira...
400
Which moon phases would exhibit the lowest high tides and highest low tides? Why?
Neap tides (lowest high tides and highest low tides) are seen during first and third quarters because the pull of gravity from the Sun and moon is perpendicular to each other, leading to the weakest tides.
Spring tides (highest high tides and lowest low tides) are during full and new moons because it pulls parallel, so it extends the gravitational pull
500
How does the stream weather down the landscape?
The stream carrying sediments will roll sediments along the bottom, cutting into the rock eventually carving out the valley.
500
Compare the spatial and temporal scales of O'ahu and Mauna Loa
O'ahu is smaller (spatial scale) and older (3.4 million years old) than Mauna Loa (which is bigger and younger 0-0.7 million years old)
500
Explain the shadow zone using P and S waves
All waves refract when passing through material. This will cause the waves to bend away. The S-waves then get absorbed and stopped by the outer core, creates a region between ~104° and ~145° from the earthquake without any waves.
500
A fossil layer contains Zitelloceras while one below it contains Atrepius. What is the difference in age between the two layers?
Zitelloceras: 458-444 MYA
Atrepius: 237-201 MYA
Subtract to get a range of between 257 MYA(max difference) and 207 MYA
500
Compare the spatial and temporal scales of Jupiter's orbit to that of Earth and explain using Kepler's laws
Jupiter's orbit is larger (778.5 million km vs 149.6 million km) and therefore takes longer (11.9 years vs 1 year) based on Kepler's third law