An Introduction to Geology and Plate Tectonics

Question 1

Physical Geology

Answer 1

Studies Earth materials; seeks to understand processes that operate on and beneath its surface

Question 2

Historical Geology

Answer 2

Seeks to understand the origin of Earth and its development through time

Question 3

Relationships between people and the environment include…

Answer 3

Natural Hazards, Resources, Worl Population Growth, Environmental Issues

Question 4

Natural Hazards

Answer 4

Affects millions of people worldwide
Volcanoes, Floods, Earthquakes, Landslides, Tsunamis

Question 5

Resources

Answer 5

• Water and soil, metallic and non-metallic minerals, energy
• Formation and occurrence of vital resources
• Maintaining these supplies and the environmental impact of their extraction and use

Question 6

World Population Growth

Answer 6

• Increased demand for resources
• Growing pressure for people to live in dangerous environments
• Human activity has an impact on the environment (clearing forests, building cities, building dams)

Question 7

Environmental Issues

Answer 7

Affected by human activities
Alterations to the environment that are supposed to be beneficial often have the opposite effect

Question 8

Catastrophism

Answer 8

In the 17th and 18th century it was believed sudden disasters formed Earth’s landscapes
Ex: Noah’s flood

Question 9

Uniformitarianism

Answer 9

“The present is the key to the past”. States that the processes we observe on our planet today have been shaping our planet throughout time.

Question 10

Who proposed Uniformitarianism?

Answer 10

James Hutton in the late 18th century. He believed that the Earth was very old.

Question 11

When was radioactivity discovered?

Answer 11

1896

Question 12

When was the use of radioactivity for dating first attempted?

Answer 12

1905. It has been going under refinement ever since.

Question 13

Relative Dating

Answer 13

Events are placed in their proper sequence or order without knowing their age in years

Question 14

Law of Superposition

Answer 14

Younger rock layers are deposited over older rock layers

Question 15

Principle of Fossil Succession

Answer 15

Fossil organisms succeed each other in a determinable order

Question 16

Briefly describe the importance of the magnitude of geologic time

Answer 16

• Involves vast times – millions or billions of years
• The Earth is 4.6 billion years old!
• An appreciation for the magnitude of geologic time is important because many processes are very gradual
  -Vast times are needed for significant changes