Chapter 1 - Introduction to Geology and Plate Tectonics Flashcards
What are the two main branches of geology?
Physical geology and historical geology.
What is the difference between catastrophism and uniformitarianism?
Catastrophism explains Earth’s changes by sudden, violent events; uniformitarianism explains changes through continuous, gradual processes.
What is the law of superposition?
Younger rock layers are deposited over older rock layers.
How old is the Earth?
Approximately 4.6 billion years.
What is the Big Bang Theory?
A large explosion that sent matter in the universe flying outward at incredible speeds.
What is continental drift?
The hypothesis that continents move about the Earth’s surface.
What drives the movement of lithospheric plates?
Mantle convection.
Name the three types of plate boundaries.
Divergent, convergent, and transform.
How do the law of superposition, the principle of original horizontality, and the principle of cross-cutting relationships work together to determine the relative age of rock formations?
These principles allow geologists to order layers chronologically by observing rock deposition, deformation, and subsequent intrusions or faults.
How does the theory of plate tectonics explain the distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain ranges?
Plate tectonics outlines that the movement and interaction of lithospheric plates at their boundaries cause earthquakes (especially at transform and convergent boundaries), form mountains (convergent boundaries), and create volcanic activity.
