Exam 4 Geology Flashcards
(21 cards)
What are the five main sources of energy on the Earth?
A) Solar, Geothermal, tidal, nuclear, and fossil fuels
B) Wind, solar, oil, chemical, and magnetic
C) Electricity, coal, lava, wind and wood
A) Solar, Geothermal, tidal, nuclear, and fossil fuels
What are hydrocarbons, and how do they form?
A) Substances made by combining water and carbon dioxide deep underground
B) Natural elements found in Earth’s core made from volcanic gas
C) They are compounds made of hydrogen and carbon, formed from decayed plants and animals over millions of years
C) They are compounds made of hydrogen and carbon, formed from decayed plants and animals over millions of years
What are reservoir rocks, and what are their characteristics?
A) They are hard, non-porous rocks that prevent fluid movement
B) They are porous and permeable rocks that can store and transmit fluids like oil and gas
C) They are volcanic rocks that trap heat inside the Earth
B) They are porous and permeable rocks that can store and transmit fluids like oil and gas
What are alternative reserves of hydrocarbons?
A) Substances like uranium and solar panels that produce energy without hydrocarbons
B) Sources such as oil shale, tar sands, and gas hydrates that can be used when traditional reserves run low
C) Underground rivers and aquifers that contain dissolved hydrocarbons
B) Sources such as oil shale, tar sands, and gas hydrates that can be used when traditional reserves run low
What is the distribution of coal in the world, and what is coalbed methane?
A) Coal is only found in tropical regions, and coalbed methane is a rare liquid fuel from coal
B) Coal is evenly spread worldwide, and coal bed methane is the oil found below coal seams
C) Coal is found mostly in the U.S., Russia, China, and India; coal bed methane is natural gas trapped in coal seams
C) Coal is found mostly in the U.S., Russia, China, and India; coal bed methane is natural gas trapped in coal seams
How does nuclear fission work? What are the problems with this energy source?
A) Nuclear fission splits heavy atoms like uranium to release energy, but it produces radioactive waste and has the risk of accidents
B) Nuclear fission combines hydrogen atoms, and its only problem is it uses too much water
C) It burns uranium like coal to generate power, but it pollutes the air like fossil fuels
A) Nuclear fission splits heavy atoms like uranium to release energy, but it produces radioactive waste and has the risk of accidents
Be able to describe other alternative energy sources, including their pros and cons: Geothermal, hydroelectric, wind, solar, and ethanol.
A) Geothermal is expensive but clean; hydroelectric is renewable but can harm ecosystems; wind is cheap but unreliable; solar is free but weather-dependent; ethanol is clean and doesn’t affect the food supply
B) Geothermal causes air pollution; hydroelectric requires fuel; wind is reliable everywhere; solar works at night; ethanol is always efficient
C) Geothermal is clean but location-limited; hydroelectric is renewable but disrupts habitats; Wind is sustainable but depends on the weather; solar is clean but needs sunlight; ethanol is renewable but may compete with food crops
C) Geothermal is clean but location-limited; hydroelectric is renewable but disrupts habitats; Wind is sustainable but depends on the weather; solar is clean but needs sunlight; ethanol is renewable but may compete with food crops
What are the environmental issues surrounding various energy resources, especially fossil fuels?
A) All energy resources cause the same level of pollution, so there are no major environmental differences
B) Fossil fuels release greenhouse gases, cause air and water pollution, and contribute to climate change; other sources like wind and solar have much lower environmental impact
C) Fossil fuels are safe for the environment if burned cleanly, and renewable sources like solar increase global warming
B) Fossil fuels release greenhouse gases, cause air and water pollution, and contribute to climate change; other sources like wind and solar have much lower environmental impact
What is an earthquake? Where do they occur, and why are they concentrated there? How does elastic rebound play a role in earthquakes?
A) Earthquakes are cracks in the Earth’s core, found only at volcanoes, and elastic rebound is when magma pushes up
B) Earthquakes are small vibrations caused by wind, mostly in deserts, and elastic rebounds are the effect of water on sand.
C) An earthquake is the sudden release of energy from stress built up along faults, mostly at plate boundaries. Elastic rebound explains how rocks snap back after deforming, causing the quake.
C) An earthquake is the sudden release of energy from stress built up along faults, mostly at plate boundaries. Elastic rebound explains how rocks snap back after deforming, causing the quake.
Why might aftershocks be a problem, even though the intensity is less?
A) Aftershocks are less intense, but they can cause further damage to buildings weakened by the main earthquake and disrupt rescue operations
B) Aftershocks are harmless and are just part of the recovery process, so they don’t pose any significant risk
C) Aftershocks are stronger than the main earthquake and can cause greater destruction
A) Aftershocks are less intense, but they can cause further damage to buildings weakened by the main earthquake and disrupt rescue operations
Is earthquake slippage rapid or slow? Do they last long? Recall that damaging EQs have stronger vibrations and last a long time.
A) Earthquake slippage is slow and occurs over several years, with vibrations lasting only a few seconds
B) Earthquake slippage is rapid, occurring almost instantaneously, and damaging earthquakes produce strong, sustained vibrations that can last for minutes
C) Earthquake slippage is slow and happens over many months, with damaging earthquakes lasting less than a minute
B) Earthquake slippage is rapid, occurring almost instantaneously, and damaging earthquakes produce strong, sustained vibrations that can last for minutes
How do seismographs work? What is the process that occurs as they detect seismic waves?
A) Seismographs use a mass suspended on a spring. When seismic waves pass through, the mass moves and the seismograph records the movement on a rotating drum or digital screen
B) Seismographs use a magnetic sensor that detects vibrations in the Earth’s core and transmits data to satellites
C) Seismographs measure the sound waves produced by earthquakes and convert them into electrical signals that are analyzed by computers
B) Seismographs use a magnetic sensor that detects vibrations in the Earth’s core and transmits data to satellites
What is an epicenter, how is it different from the focus, and how are they found?
A) The focus is the point on the surface directly above the epicenter, and both are found using wind data and satellite imagery
B) The epicenter is the point on the Earth’s surface above the focus, which is the point where the earthquake starts underground; they are found using data from at least three seismograph stations
C) The epicenter is the deepest point underground, while the focus is where waves spread on the surface; both are found by tracking volcano activity
B) The epicenter is the point on the Earth’s surface above the focus, which is the point where the earthquake starts underground; they are found using data from at least three seismograph stations
Why are deep Eqs less damaging than shallow ones? Why do deeper Eqs form along subduction zones?
A) Deep Eqs release more energy, but it reaches the surface more forcefully; subduction zones are shallow so they produce fewer quakes
B) Deep Eqs cause less damage because they are underwater; subduction zones don’t generate Eqs at all
C) Deep earthquakes are less damaging because their energy weakens before reaching the surface; they occur in subduction zones where one plate is pushed deep beneath another
C) Deep earthquakes are less damaging because their energy weakens before reaching the surface; they occur in subduction zones where one plate is pushed deep beneath another
Where do (surface (L & R) and Body (P, and S) waves), travel and what type of motion occurs?
A) Surface waves travel through the Earth’s interior with compressional motion, while body waves travel on the surface with rolling motion
B) Body waves travel through the air, and surface waves travel underground in a circular motion
C) Body waves (P&S) travel through Earth’s interior - S waves compress and expand, S waves mode side to side surface waves (L&R) travel along the surface with rolling and side-to-side motion
C) Body waves (P&S) travel through Earth’s interior - p eaves compress and expand, s waves mode side to side surface waves (L&R) travel along the surface with rolling and side to side motion
How are EQs deadly, and what kind of damage occurs?
A) Eqs can collapse buildings, trigger landslides, tsunamis, fires, and cut off power and water, making rescue and survival hard
B) Eqs mainly cause noise pollution and minor cracks in roads but rarely affect people
C) Eqs create sinkholes that swallow buildings but do not cause injuries or deaths
A) Eqs can collapse buildings, trigger landslides, tsunamis, fires, and cut off power and water, making rescue and survival hard
Can EQs be predicted? What is the difference between short-range and long-range predictions?
A) Earthquakes can’t be precisely predicted, but short-range predictions involve specific warnings just before an earthquake, while long-range predictions estimate earthquake probability over many years
B) Earthquakes can be predicted by tracking animal behavior, and short-range predictions focus on seismic activity near volcanoes
C) Earthquakes are easily predicted by satellite technology and short-range predictions last for decades, while long-range predictions are just for weeks
A) Earthquakes can’t be precisely predicted, but short-range predictions involve specific warnings just before an earthquake, while long-range predictions estimate earthquake probability over many years
In general terms, what IS mass wasting? How does it impact humans?
A) Mass wasting is the process of ocean waves eroding cliffs, and it impacts humans by reducing beach areas for recreation
B) Mass wasting refers to the downslope movement of rock, soil, and debris due to gravity, which can cause landslides, avalanches, and flooding, threatening human lives and infrastructure
C) Mass wasting occurs when volcanoes erupt, causing Eqs and impacting humans by creating new land for agriculture
B) Mass wasting refers to the downslope movement of rock, soil, and debris due to gravity, which can cause landslides, avalanches, and flooding, threatening human lives and infrastructure
Many factors make a slope more likely to experience mass wasting… what are they and what role do they play?
A) Mass wasting is most likely on flat slopes, where water builds up and causes the ground to sink over time
B) Factors such as cloud cover and wind speed make slops more prone to mass wasting, as they change the pressure on the surface
C) Factors like steepness, water content, vegetation, and human activity increase the likelihood of mass wasting. Steep slopes and excess water weaken materials, while a lack of vegetation can remove stabilizing roots.
C) Factors like steepness, water content, vegetation, and human activity increase the likelihood of mass wasting. Steep slopes and excess water weaken materials, while a lack of vegetation can remove stabilizing roots.
What is the difference between a fall, a slide, and a flow?
A) A fall involves free-falling material, a slide is a mass of material moving along a surface, and a flow is a material that moves as a fluid, often with water or air involved
B) A fall is when material moves vertically, a slide is when it moves horizontally, and a flow is a slow-moving river of sediment
C) A fall is a landslide, a slide is an avalanche, and a flow is a volcanic eruption
A) A fall involves free-falling material, a slide is a mass of material moving along a surface, and a flow is a material that moves as a fluid, often with water or air involved
What are some preventative measures and warning signs of mass wasting?
A) Preventative measures involve evacuating areas prone to flooding, and warning signs are the color of the sky, and the speed of winds
B) Preventative measures include building retaining walls, controlling water flow, and planting vegetation. Warning signs include cracks in the ground, tilting trees, and changes in groundwater levels
C) Preventative measures include using large machines to dig through hills, warning signs are animals migrating, and seismic activity
B) Preventative measures include building retaining walls, controlling water flow, and planting vegetation. Warning signs include cracks in the ground, tilting trees, and changes in groundwater levels
