Earth Science

Question 1

Outermost Layer of the Earth. 70km

Answer 1

Crust

Question 2

2 Varieties of Earth’s Crust

Answer 2

Continental Crust - Felsic (rich in Silica) 20 - 70km thick.
Oceanic Crust - Mafic (rich in Iron and magnesium) 5 - 10km thick. More dense

Question 3

The process where a piece of oceanic crust collides with continental crust, the oceanic crust slides beneath the continental crust.

Answer 3

Subduction

Question 4

Widest section of the Earth. Solid but malleable.
Mainly composed of _________.

Answer 4

Mantle: lower - soft; upper - hard, rigid
Peridotite (ultramafic rock)

Question 5

The layer surrounding the inner core. Composed of liquid iron and nickel. Exhibits convection which carries heat to the mantle.

Answer 5

Outer Core

Question 6

Center and the hottest part of the Earth. Made up of solid iron and nickel. Rotates faster

Answer 6

Inner Core

Question 7

Boundary between the crust and the mantle. Who was named after this boundary?

Answer 7

Mohorovičić Discontinuity (Moho) by Andrija Mohorovičić

Question 8

Boundary that seperates the mantle from the outercore. Who was named after this boundary?c

Answer 8

Gutenberg Discontinuity by Beno Gutenberg

Question 9

Boundary between inner and outer core. Abrupt increase of P-wave and S-wave velocities. Who was named after this boundary?

Answer 9

Lehmann Discontinuity by Dr. Inge Lehmann

Question 10

What are the Subsystems of Earth?

Answer 10

Lithosphere - solid structure of the Earth (30%)
Hydrosphere - liquid portion of the Earth (70%)
Atmosphere - blanket of air (78% Nitrogen, 21% Oxygen, 1% other gases)
Biosphere -all living things/organism

Question 11

Mechanical Layers of the Earth

Answer 11

Litosphere
Asthenosphere - part of the upper mantle located below the crust of the Earth
Mesosphere
Outer Core
Inner Core

Question 12

What are the layers of the Atmosphere?

Answer 12

Troposphere - lowest layer, where weather takes place (clouds)
Stratosphere - where the ozone layer is found
Mesosphere - where most meteors burn up
Thermosphere - absorbs high-energy x-rays and UV radiation from the sun (spacecraft)
Exosphere - outermost layer (satellites)

Question 13

What are Rocks?

Answer 13

Generally made up of two or more minerals, mixed up through geological processes.

Question 14

A naturally occuring crystallime solid, formed by geological processes, composed of elements or compounds, and characterized by a chemical formula

Answer 14

Minerals

Question 15

What are the types of Rocks?

Answer 15

Igneous Rocks - formed by cooling of molten magma in the Earth’s surface.
- Intrusive rocks: rocks formed in magma
- Extrusive rocks: rocks formed in lava

Sedimentary Rocks - By deposition and cementation of mineral or organic particles on the ocean floor. Formed through weathering and erosion.

Metamorphic Rocks - From pre-existing rocks which undergo changes due to high temperature, pressure, or chemical reactions.

Question 16

What are fossils?

Answer 16

Remnants or impressions of ancient organisms that are naturally preserved in stone. Are formed in sedimentary rocks. Body Fossils and Trace Fossils.

Question 17

A temporary condition of atmosphere at any given time amd place

Answer 17

Weather

Question 18

Describes the typical weather conditions in an entire region for a very long time - 30 years or more

Answer 18

Climate

Question 19

What are the Oceans in our Planet?

Answer 19

Pacific - largest
Antlantic
Indian
Arctic
Antarctic

Question 20

The tendency of water molecules to acttract one another or same kind of molecule

Answer 20

Cohesion

Question 21

The tendency of water molecules to attract on other kind of molecule

Answer 21

Adhesion

Question 22

The tightness in the droplet of water that surrounds it

Answer 22

Surface Tension

Question 23

The rise of water in a narrow space

Answer 23

Capillarity

Question 24

Energy that comes from heat deep below Earths’ surface

Answer 24

Geothermal Energy

Question 25

Mechanical energy that comes from fast moving water that turns it to electricity

Answer 25

Hydroelectric Energy

Question 26

Energy harnessed from the flow of the air

Answer 26

Wind Energy

Question 27

Energy derived from the sun

Answer 27

Solar Energy

Question 28

Energy from biological plants and animal materials

Answer 28

Biofuel Energy

Question 29

A hard, black, colored subst made up of C, H, O, N, S. A mineral that doesn’t produce heat and takes years to produce.

Answer 29

Coal

Question 30

Organic material, mostly algae, buried in mud at the bottom of sea and lakes. “Oil” “Crude Oil”

Answer 30

Petroleum

Question 31

Naturally occuring hydrocarbon gas with methane. From sedimentary rock formation by forcing chemicals, water, and sand down a well under high pressure.

Answer 31

Natural Gas

Question 32

A theory that explained how continents shift position on the Earths’ surface

Answer 32

Continental Drift Theory by Alfred Wegener

Question 33

Who opposes Alfred Wegener’s Theory of Continental Drift

Answer 33

Harold Jeffrey

Question 34

States that the Earth’s crust is made of about 20 separate pieces, called tectonic plates, that slowly move due to currents of hear from the planet’s core.

Answer 34

Theory of Plate Tectonics

Question 35

The areas in which tectonic plates meet

Answer 35

Plate boundaries

Question 36

What are the three kinds of plate tectonics?

Answer 36

Divergent Boundary - plates move away from each other Convergent Boundary - plates collide with one another Transform Boundary - plates slide past each other

Question 37

P Waves and S Waves

Answer 37

Primary Waves - can travel through liquids, solids, gases Secondary Waves - only travel through solids