Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

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


See full index

Astronomy 2201B > Chapter 10 > Flashcards

Chapter 10 Flashcards

1
Q

What may cause motion in the crust floating on top of the liquid layer of a planet?

A

Convection generated by internal heating

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

What determines the amount of geological activity a planet produces?

A

The size of the planet is the determining factor

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

What determines the amount of heat inside each planet?

A

It is a function of mass (approx r^3)

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

What determines the amount of heat lost by a planet?

A

The internal temperature and the surface area of the planet

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

What event is caused by tectonic plates “sticking” and then suddenly “slipping”?

A

An earthquake

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

What is a volcanic hotspot?

A

An area in which molten lave rises up through a hole in the tectonic plate or at a plate boundary

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

As plate tectonics move towards each other and uplift, what geological feature forms?

A

Mountain ranges

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

When plate tectonics move away from each other, what geological feature forms?

A

Volcanoes (and hotspots)

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

What does the Richter scale measure?

A

The energy released by an earthquake (not the damage produced)

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

How much more energy is there is an earthquake one degree higher on the Richter scale?

A

10x more

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

What Earthen feature allowed the continents to break apart?

A

The lubrication from the water

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

How do we know that the magneitc north pole of Earth changes location?

A

From the alternating polarity patter we observe in the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

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

What evidence do we have for tectonic activity on Mars?

A

The Acheron Fossae region shows rifting across older impact craters with at least 3 alternating horsts and grabens

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

The process in which material is brought from the interior of the planet to the surface is called what?

A

Volcanism

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

Where can one expect to find shield volcanoes?

A

Above hot spot regions of the mantle where hot material rises

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

How are shield volcanoes formed?

A

Lava erupts repeatedly from a fluid magma chamber and builds up on the surface

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

How are volcano chains formed?

A

Tectonic plates moving over a hotspot produce a line of volcanoes

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

What are the two types of lava flows?

A

Pahoehoe (smooth) and A’a’ (jumbled)

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

Where is a wrinkle ridge usually found?

A

In mare lava plains

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

How are wrinkle ridges formed?

A

From tectonic stresses associated with the cooling and contracting of lava that flooded a mare lava plain

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

What is the difference between a sinuous rill and a linear rill?

A

Sinuous: winding valley (resembles a channel cut by a river or lava flow), linear: straight sided (like a graben)

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

Wind carrying small particles, which bounce on the surface and dislodge larger particles, is called what?

A

Saltation

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

Why is it that some regions of Mars look similar to an Earthen desert?

A

This id due to the wind erosion on Mars which is similar to that of Earth

24
Q

How is dust deposited on the upwind side of Martian craters?

A

By wind streaks across the Martian plane

25
Q

What is a geologic cycle?

A

On planets with atmospheres, the surface may be transformed in even more ways (ex. the rock cycle)

26
Q

What is the name of the reaction that is the geothermal link between rocks and the atmosphere and what does it do?

A

The Urey Reaction (volcanic gas dissolves in rainwater/oceans, forms weak carbonic bonds which can form rocks)

27
Q

What drives the unusual chemical reactions on Venus?

A

Its thick atmosphere

28
Q

The red soil on Mars is due to what?

A

The oxidization of iron atoms in the minerals (same process as that on Earth)

29
Q

The study of the evolution and configuration of landforms is called

A

Morphology

30
Q

What evidence to we have of global shrinkage on Mercury?

A

Surface ridges indicate some degree of planetary cooling

31
Q

“The zone in the early SS in which Mercury formed was unusually rich in Fe” is which formation theory for Mercury?

A

Selective accretion

32
Q

“Intense solar heating drove off most silicates after Mercury formed” is which formation theory for Mercury?

A

Postaccretion vaporization

33
Q

“Single large impactor collided with fully formed and differentiated Mercury and explosively removes most of the outer silicate crust” is which formation theory for Mercury?

A

Giant Impact hypothesis

34
Q

What is the primary mineral found in the lunar highlands?

A

Anorthosite (related to feldspars)

35
Q

Deep craters in the highlands imply what about the anothosite layer?

A

That is layer must be at least tens of km deep

36
Q

What does the large amount of anorthosite on the lunar surface imply about past events?

A

That a large fraction of the moon was once entirely melted (perhaps during its formation in a grazing impact with the Earth) to allow the anorthosite to float up

37
Q

Why are the lunar mare dark in colour?

A

The large presence of basalt

38
Q

The lave outflows were to result of which two possible

A

Either large impacts several hundred Myr after lunar formation or a buildup of delayed localized heating by radioactive decay

39
Q

Explain the lunar formation “fission theory”

A

The breaking up of early, rapidly rotating Earth or initially double-planet (pro - the earth’s outer layers and moon have similar densities, con - the earth and moon have fairly different compositions, con - the earth-moon system has too little L to support theory)

40
Q

Explain the lunar formation “Capture Theory”

A

Moon formed elsewhere and is somehow captured by the Earth (con - capture is very difficult, con - the moon’s composition is not consistent with the formation anywhere is in the SS)

41
Q

Explain the lunar formation “Co-Accretion Theory”

A

Both bodies formed in the same disk of material (con - they are fairly chemically different, con - too much L in the moon for this theory)

42
Q

Explain the (best) lunar formation theory “Impact hypothesis”

A

One large Mars-sized body grazed Earth and subsequent mixed material went into orbit about a proto-Earth to form the moon (pro - explains the chemical differences between earth and moon, pro - explains lack of volatiles in the moon and small amount of Fe)

43
Q

What geological feature dominates the surface of Venus?

A

Vast “mare”-like lava plains

44
Q

Do we have any evidence for ongoing volcanic activity on Venus?

A

We have no unambiguous direct evidence

45
Q

Is there tectonic activity on Venus?

A

Yes, but not to the same degree as we see on Earth (no plate subduction or movement evident)

46
Q

What is the age of Venus’ surface?

A

300-750 Myrs (much younger than the other terrestrial worlds, and closer to Earth)

47
Q

What are the three main theories for the young age of the surface of Venus?

A
  1. Resurfacing from lava flows, 2. plate tectonics are active, 3. Catastrophic Mantle Break up
48
Q

Which region of Mars has the highest impact crater density?

A

The southern “highlands”

49
Q

What is the only type of volcano found on Mars?

A

Shield volcanoes

50
Q

What evidence has been gathered to prove extensional tectonics on Mars?

A

The way the Martian crust is rifted (“split”) on broad regional scales

51
Q

What are the two large volcanic provinces on the Martian surface?

A

Tharsis (containing Olympus Mons) and Elysium

52
Q

What did the two moons of Mars (Demios and Phobos) start their life as?

A

Most likely as asteroids, later captured by Mars

53
Q

What are 4 large scale Martian surface features that suggest water was once present?

A

River like valley networks, outflow channels, waterflow features (ex. teardrop islands), and splash craters

54
Q

What feature, found on Mars, suggests a more recent presence of water?

A

Gullies (originally thought of as seepage of ground water, now through to have formed by snow and ice melting)

55
Q

What was found in evaporite beds on Mars

A

Salts and hydrated minerals

56
Q

What does the presence of hematite “blueberries” on Mars indicate?

A

These form in the presence of water on Earth, therefore, mars probably had at least a few salty water bodies that have evaporated

Astronomy 2201B (11 decks)

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