Chapter 1

Question 1

Geology

Answer 1

Planetary Science

Question 2

Geological Record

Answer 2

A standard time scale that partitions the Earth’s history into 4 eons and their subdivisions of eras, periods, and epochs
Information preserved in the rocks that have been formed at various times throughout Earth’s history.

Question 3

Principle of Uniformitarianism

Answer 3

A principle stating that the processes we see in action on Earth today have worked the same way throughout the geological past.
1800’s - James Hutton

Question 4

Geodesy

Answer 4

The science of measuring the shape of Earth and locating points on its surface.

Question 5

Earth’s Radius

Answer 5

6370 km

Question 6

Topography

Answer 6

The general configuration of varying heights that gives shape to earth’s surface, which measured with respect to sea level. The arrangement of the natural and artificial physical features of an area.

Question 7

Eratosthenes’s

Answer 7

First to calculate Earth’s circumference (40 000 km). Using the angle in which the sun reflects on the surface of the Earth , he was able to calculate the distance around the equator.

Question 8

Earth’s Circumference

Answer 8

40 075 km

Question 9

Seismic Waves

Answer 9

An electric wave in the Earth produced by an earthquake or other means.

Question 10

P-waves - Longitudinal

Answer 10

One of the two main types of elastic body waves, called seismic waves in seismology. P-waves travel faster than other seismic waves and hence are the first signal from an earthquake to arrive at any affected location or at a seismograph. P-waves may be transmitted through gases, liquids, or solids.

Question 11

S-waves - Transverse

Answer 11

S wave, or secondary wave, is a wave motion in a solid medium where the medium moves perpendicular to the direction of the travel of the wave.

Question 12

Earth’s Layers (Mass)

Answer 12

Crust (0-40 km) - 0.4% of Earth’s Mass
Mantle (40-2890 km) - 67.1% of Earth’s Mass
Outer Core (2890-5150 km) - 30.8% of Earth’s Mass
Inner Core (5150-6370 km) - 1.7% of Earth’s Mass

Question 13

Crust

Answer 13

Thin outer layer of Earth, averaging 8 km (under ocean) and 40 km (under continents).
Oxygen (46%), Calcium (2.4%), Magnesium (4%), Silicon (28%), Aluminum (8%), Iron (6%), and other (6%).

Question 14

Mantle

Answer 14

The main bulk of the Earth, between crust and core.

Oxygen (44%), Calcium (2.5%), Magnesium (22.8%), Silicon (21%), Aluminum (8%), and Iron (6.3%).

Question 15

Core

Answer 15

The dense central part of Earth below the core-mantle boundary.

Question 16

Outer Core

Answer 16

The Layer of the Earth extended from the core-mantle boundary to the inner core (2890 - 5150 km). Molten liquid.
Oxygen (5%), Sulfur (5%), Iron (85%), and Nickle (5%)

Question 17

Inner Core

Answer 17

Central part of Earth consisting of a solid sphere suspended within the liquid outer core (depth of 5150 km)
Iron (94%) and Nickle (6%)

Question 18

Mohorovicic Discontinuity (MOHO)

Answer 18

Moho is recognized as the boundary zone between the Earth’s crust and the mantle (think of the crust as layers).

Question 19

Closed Systems

Answer 19

(heat energy) One where a series of quantities cannot enter or leave the system.

Question 20

Open Systems

Answer 20

(solar energy) One where a quantity or series of quantities can enter or leave the system to a significant degree.

Question 21

Climate system

Answer 21

The climate system is the highly complex system consisting of five major components: the atmosphere, the hydrosphere, the cryosphere, the lithosphere and the biosphere, and the interactions between them. The interactions among these components are needed to determine climate on a global scale and how it changes over time.

Question 22

Climate

Answer 22

The average conditions of Earth’s surface environment and their variations.

Question 23

Plate Tectonics

Answer 23

The lithosphere is not a continuous shell, it is broken into about a dozen large plates that move over Earth’s surface. Each lithospheric plate is a rigid unit that rides on the asthenosphere.

Question 24

Lithosphere

Answer 24

The strong, rigid outer shell of the Earth that comprises of the crust and the upper mantle (Greek: lithos, meaning stone)

Question 25

Asthenosphere

Answer 25

The upper layer of the earth’s mantle, below the lithosphere, in which there is relatively low resistance to plastic flow and convection is thought to occur (Greek: asthenes, meaning weak).

Question 26

Convection

Answer 26

The mechanical transfer of heat energy that occurs as a heated material expands, rises, and displaces cooler material. Circulating the cooler material down to be reheated again in a circular motion.

Question 27

Magnetic field

Answer 27

The region of influence of a magnetized body or an electric current. Interactions that produce a magnetic field.

Question 28

Geodynamo

Answer 28

The process responsible for maintaining the Earth’s magnetic field in which the kinetic energy of convective motion of the Earth’s liquid core is converted into magnetic energy.

Question 29

Hadeah

Answer 29

4560 MA - Earth Forms
4510 MA - Moon
4470 MA - Oldest lunar rocks
4000 MA - Oldest continental rocks

Question 30

Archean

Answer 30

3800 MA - Evidence of water erosion
3500 MA - Record of magnetic field / Fossils of primitive bacteria
2700 MA - Start to the rise of atmospheric oxygen
2500 MA - Major phase of continent formation completed

Question 31

Proterozoic

Answer 31

542 MA -

Question 32

Phanerozonic

Answer 32

542 MA - Big Bang
420 MA - Earliest land animals
125 MA - Flowering Plants
5 MA - First hominids
.2 MA - Homosapiens