Chapter 1: Physical Processes

Question 1

The study of the distribution of phenomena on the Earth’s surface

Answer 1

geography

Question 2

The study of the Earth’s crust and the processes that operate on it

Answer 2

geology

Question 3

Large, fragmented slabs of the Earth’s crust

Answer 3

tectonic plates

Question 4

Movement of the lighter continental plates atop heated magma

Answer 4

continental drift

Question 5

Occurs when heavier crustal material is pushed under lighter crustal material

Answer 5

subduction

Question 6

The uplift of the continental material by pressure from the mantle

Answer 6

isostatic readjustment

Question 7

Solid, 1% of Earth’s mass

Answer 7

crust

Question 8

Liquid, 10% of Earth’s mass, 4700F

Answer 8

outer core

Question 9

Solid, 5% of Earth’s mass, 7600F

Answer 9

inner core

Question 10

Flowing solid, 84% of Earth’s mass, 3800F

Answer 10

mantle

Question 11

Saturated oceanic crust forces water into the mantle during subduction, facilitating melting and thereby keeping the mantle fluid

Answer 11

plate convergence

Question 12

When two tectonic plates move away from each other. Along these boundaries, earthquakes are common and magma rises from the Earth’s mantle to the surface, solidifying to create new oceanic crust.

Answer 12

Plate divergence

Question 13

The supercontinent that existed during the Paleozoic and Mesozoic eras approximately 250 million years ago

Answer 13

Pangaea

Question 14

The northern super landmass comprising Asia and North America

Answer 14

Laurasia

Question 15

The southern super landmass comprising Africa, South America, Australia, and Antarctica

Answer 15

Gondwana

Question 16

The super ocean that became the Pacific Ocean with the breakup of Pangaea

Answer 16

Panthalassa

Question 17

The large structural deformation of the crust during plate interaction that leads to mountain building

Answer 17

Orogeny

Question 18

List the four types of volcanoes

Answer 18

1. shield
2. ash-cinder
3. composite/stratovolcano
4. caldera

Question 19

Type of fault that is caused by tension at a high angle

Answer 19

normal fault

Question 20

A type of fault that is caused by compression at a high angle

Answer 20

reverse fault

Question 21

A type of fault that places older rocks above younger rocks at a shallow angle, uses compression

Answer 21

thrust fault

Question 22

A type of fault caused by lateral movement

Answer 22

strike-slip fault

Question 23

The means of measuring earthquake magnitude

Answer 23

Richter scale

Question 24

The breakdown of either natural or man-made surface material

Answer 24

weathering

Question 25

the transporting of weathered materials from one location to another

Answer 25

erosion

Question 26

The action of running water that removes loose material

Answer 26

fluvial

Question 27

When freezing water expands and breaks apart rocks, freezing and thawing cycles

Answer 27

mechanical

Question 28

The action of slightly acidic water

Answer 28

chemical

Question 29

Wind and glacial erosion

Answer 29

abrasive

Question 30

Erosion from blowing particles (wind)

Answer 30

aeolian erosion

Question 31

scouring of material

Answer 31

glacial erosion