Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

PHY S 100 > Units 28-29 > Flashcards

Units 28-29 Flashcards

1
Q

What is deep time?

A

Time that stretches back a LOOOONNNG time ago. billions of years

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Uniformatarianism

A

The idea that the laws of nature do not change with time.

aka. Time symmetry

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Occam’s razor

A

If two or more explanations exist for the same physical phenomenon, we choose the simplest that satisfies all the observations.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Relative time

A

The determination of the sequence in which events occurred, relative to each other.
Think “timeline” game

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Absolute time

A

A numeric or quantitative measure of time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is another name for absolute time?

A

Numeric or quantitative time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 5 principles of relative dating that we will talk about in class?

A
  1. Original horizontality
  2. Superposition
  3. Inclusions
  4. Cross-cutting relationships
  5. Faunal succession
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Original horizontality

A

Sedimentary rocks are deposited in horizontal layers. They are FORMED horizontally

So we can analyze ancient sediment to determine age

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Principle of superposition

A

In a stack of sedimentary layers (split by different composition), the oldest layer will be on the bottom and the youngest on the top

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Principle of inclusions

A

Inclusions within the rock.

Solid materials (like pebbles) enclosed within another solid are OLDER than the rock that encloses them.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Inclusions

A

Rock, fragment of rock, or fossil enclosed within another rock.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Ammonites

A

The name given to the fossil shell remains of animals that lived in the oceans millions of years ago, but are now extinct.

Squidlike (nautilus stuff)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Fault

A

A break in earth’s lithosphere where rocks on one side of the break have slipped past the rocks on the other side.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

True or False: Faults are CREATED by earthquakes.

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Principle of cross-cutting relationships

A

Rocks are OLDER THAN the features (like faults) or rocks that cross-cut them.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Trilobites

A

A common animal that lived in earth’s oceans during the paleozoic era. Horseshoe crab, pillbug features

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Principle of faunal succession

A

Within stacks of sedimentary rocks, there is a pattern of change in the types of fossils the layers contain.

The fossils can therefore help us determine the relative age of different layers.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

True or False: Rock layers often have distinct groups of fossils.

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Unconformity

A

A break or gap in the geologic record

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

What kinds of unconformities are found in our geologic history?

A

Sedimentation stopped in some areas, sedimentary layers formed many feet below the surface of the ocean and were then lifted high above sea level to be eroded away, natural events destroyed layers, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Parent and daughter isotopes

A

The result of radioactive decay, in which one element decays to form another element.

The starting element = parent
New element formed from decay process = daughter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Why do geologists use two or more isotopic systems to date rocks?

A

For greater accuracy, to verify results

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Where does carbon-14 come from?

A

Once living organisms

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

True or False: the different minerals within the same rock can be formed at different times

A

True

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Events

A

A happening that occurs at a particular point in space at a definite time.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Fission-track dating

A

A type of radioactive decay clock that uses the trails or tracks created by uranium fission decay to determine the age of geologic events.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Period

A

A subdivision of geologic time. Smaller than an era, but still several tens of millions of years long.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

True or False: The ages obtained by these methods represent the ages of the elements that make up the rocks or minerals

A

FALSE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Geologic column

A

A chart that shows the subdivisions of geologic time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Era

A

The largest subdivision of geologic time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

How many eras are there?

A

4

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What are the four eras?

A
  1. Cenozoic
  2. Mesozoic
  3. Paleozoic
  4. Precambrian
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

What does cenozoic mean?

A

Recent life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

What does mesozoic mean?

A

middle life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What does paleozoic mean?

A

ancient life

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

What was the era of dinosaurs?

A

Mesozoic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

What is magma?

A

Molten rock, under the crust

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Igneous

A

the type of rocks produced when melted material solidifies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Sedimentary

A

The type of rocks created from sediments weathered from other pre-existing rocks.

38
Q

Metamorphic

A

The type of rocks produced when pre-existing rocks are altered without melting by pressure and heat.

39
Q

Protolith

A

A pre-existing rock from which other rocks are formed

40
Q

What does protolith mean?

A

Precursor rock

41
Q

Rock cycle

A

the transformation of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks from one type to another.

42
Q

True or False: All three types of rocks can transform into the other two rock types OR into another version of itself.

A

True

43
Q

Minerals

A

the basic building blocks of rocks - elements joined together naturally

44
Q

True or False: All materials in a rock are classified as minerals

A

False

45
Q

Characteristics of a mineral:

A
  1. naturally occurring
  2. inorganic solid
  3. has a fixed or narrowly limited chemical composition
  4. has a definite internal crystal structure
  5. exists within a defined range of pressure, temperature, and moisture
  6. Has a unique set of physical properties
46
Q

True or False: Ice is a mineral

A

True

47
Q

True or False: glacial ice can be considered a rock

A

True

48
Q

What is the most abundant mineral group in the Earth’s crust?

A

Silicates

49
Q

True or False: The mantle does not melt at one temperature and pressure, it melts over a RANGE of temperature and pressure combinations.

A

True

50
Q

Why does the mantle melt at a range of different temperatures and pressures?

A

Because it’s made up of many different materials, each of which has a different melting temperature

51
Q

True or False: In addition to the decompression, a solid rock can melt into magma if the chemistry of the rocks change.

A

True

52
Q

How do you change a rock’s chemistry?

A

Add water

53
Q

How is water added to the mantle?

A

Oceanic crust descending down into the mantle, bringing minerals that have water in their crystal lattices. When the minerals heat up, they break down and release the water.

54
Q

Plutonic

A

Pertaining to igneous rocks formed beneath Earth’s surface

55
Q

Volcanic

A

Pertaining to igneous rocks formed ON earth’s surface

56
Q

Physical weathering

A

Breaking down rocks through physical processes like freezing and thawing.

57
Q

Talus

A

A sloping mass of rocky fragments at the base of a cliff. Cone shaped

58
Q

How is physical weathering usually accomplished?

A

Through water and ice, freezing and expanding.

But also wind, falling rocks, roots of trees and shrubs, etc.

59
Q

Chemical weathering

A

Breaking down rocks through chemical processes like acidic reactions.

60
Q

Metastable

A

A mineral that is unstable when subject to temperatures and pressures different from those of its formation but not liable to spontaneously change.

61
Q

Dissolution

A

To break apart or dissolve in solution.

62
Q

True or False: Water in soils or shallow rocks is often acidic because of water’s reaction with carbon dioxide.

A

True

63
Q

Fun fact: CO2 is often 25 or more times higher in soils than in the air we breathe

A

woah

64
Q

Clasts

A

A grain of rock material weathered from a pre-existing rock

65
Q

Strata

A

A layer of material, often one of several layered upon one another.

66
Q

True or False: All clastic rocks require cement

A

True

67
Q

True or False: Clastic sedimentary rocks are classified according to the size of their grains.

A

True

68
Q

What size clasts are needed for a rock to be “conglomerate”?

A

> 2 mm in diameter

69
Q

What size clasts are needed for a rock to be “sandstone”?

A

<2 but > 1/16 mm

70
Q

What are the smallest types of clastic sedimentary rocks?

A

Shale

71
Q

True or False: Virtually all fossil fuels are formed in and extracted from igneous rocks

A

FALSE

72
Q

What type rocks do we find fossils in?

A

Sedimentary

73
Q

Foliation

A

The structural or chemical arrangement into layers of materials in a rock.

Like physically visible I think

74
Q

Do metamorphic rocks transform in a solid or liquid state?

A

Solid

75
Q

Where do metamorphic rocks come from in the crust?

A

Deep, where temps and pressure are highest.

76
Q

How do deeply buried metamorphic rocks get to the surface of earth?

A

Tectonic movements

77
Q

True or False: Examining the layers of foliation in metamorphic rocks can provide us with information about past tectonic events

A

True

78
Q

True or False: The rock cycle is responsible for the soil that provides roots for ALL LIFE

A

True

79
Q

Why are volcanoes formed at subduction points?

A

Because when the oceanic plate goes underneath another one, it creates pressure. Pressure supplies energy (electrical that leads to chemical reactions). Enough pressure leads to the water molecules being torn apart and interacting with other minerals in the area. This lowers the melting temperature. When temp is lowered, the rock melts and comes bubbling up to form volcanoes (like that video of Tonga volcano).

80
Q

What do all rocks within the type of rock (igneous, sedimentary, metamorphic) have in common?

A

Minerals

81
Q

Precipitate

A

A solid formed inside a liquid by a chemical reaction.

82
Q

Hydrothermal circulation

A

Movement or circulation of hot water.

83
Q

Hydrolysis

A

A type of chemical weathering in which water interacts with the minerals in the rock to form new minerals and leave ions in the water. Silicate-rich rocks and carbonate-rich rocks often experience this type of chemical weathering.

84
Q

Oxidation

A

A type of chemical weathering in which water interacts with the minerals in the rock to form new minerals and leave ions in the water. Metal-rich rocks often experience this type of chemical weathering.

85
Q

True or False: Many rocks don’t form on the surface of the earth. They’re formed within the crust or mantle and then pushed up to the surface to be eroded.

A

True

86
Q

Why do igneous rocks have large mineral deposits?

A

Because they form underground so the cooling time is longer.

87
Q

True or False: Igneous rocks can form above ground

A

True

88
Q

What happens to igneous rocks that cool above ground?

A

They cool and solidify very quickly, so there’s no time for large minerals to form and they’re often microscopic. Sometimes, like in the case of obsidian, there are no minerals at all.

89
Q

What is responsible for making most limestone?

A

Organisms making CaCO3

90
Q

Why does foliation occur?

A

Pressure is typically being applied in one direction, not uniformly in all directions (cuz gravity always pulls down)

91
Q

True or False: All metamorphic rocks are foliated

A

False

92
Q

True or False: Foliation always manifests PERPENDICULAR to the force.

A

True

93
Q
A

PHY S 100 (18 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions