Chapter 3 - Inside The Earth Flashcards
The chemical classification of igneous rocks is based mainly on the proportion of which substance: A) Iron B) Oxygen C) Aluminum D) Silica E) Carbonate
D) Silica
The basic building-block of most minerals in the crust and mantle of earth (as well other planets and most meteorites) is the: A) Carbon atom B) Oxygen C) Carbonate tetrahedron D) Silica tetride E) Silica tetrahedron
E) Silica tetrahedron
The outer core of the Earth is composed mainly of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Solid iron B) Liquid iron C) Solid silicates D) Liquid silicates
B) Liquid iron
Which of the following is true?
A) Earth’s mantle is totally solid
B) Earth’s mantle is liquid rock, totally
C) Earth’s mantle is mostly liquid but has some small patches of solid rock
D) Earth’s mantle is mostly solid except for small patches of magma
E) We do not have the faintest clue which of the above is correct
D) Earth’s mantle is mostly solid except for small patches of magma
The condition of balance or floatational equilibrium of the lithosphere in the asthenosphere is called: A) Convection B) Orogeny C) Sea-floor spreading D) Seismology E) Isostasy
E) Isostasy
The underlying cause of plate tectonics is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ in Earth's mantle. A) Convection currents B) Subduction C) Orogeny D) Isostasy E) Metamorphism
A) Convection currents
The continental crust averages \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ km thick. A) 4 B) 15 C) 35 D) 100 E) 200
C) 35
The depth to the mantle/core boundary is \_\_\_\_\_\_\_ km. A) 900 B) 1900 C) 2900 D) 3900 E) 4900
C) 2900
Bodies in our solar system grew by the colliding of millions of bits of matter, this process is called \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Condensation B) Convection C) Aggregation D) Accumulation E) Accretion
E) Accretion
As one result of the above process (Q3), bodies larger than about 500 km in diameter became very hot, perhaps molten, resulting in a gravity driven separation of material with different densities. This is called \_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Convection B) Differentiation C) Aggregation D) Accretion E) Accumulation
B) Differentiation
The portion of Earth that is broken into tectonic plates is the \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Crust B) Lithosphere C) Lithosphere and asthenosphere D) Mantle E) Crust and mantle
B) Lithosphere
Earth’s lithosphere is composed of the _______.
A) Crust only
B) Crust and all the mantle
C) Mantle and outer core
D) Oceanic crust and mantle
E) All the crust and uppermost 100-150 km of mantle
E) All the crust and uppermost 100-150 km of mantle
The Moho is the base of Earth's \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Crust B) Asthenosphere C) Outer core D) Lithosphere E) Continental crust only
A) Crust
Which of the following is true about Earth’s mantle?
A) It is totally liquid
B) It is liquid except for small solid patches
C) It is totally solid
D) It is solid except for small liquid patches
E) We do not have the faintest clue which is true
D) It is solid except for small liquid patches
The condition of floating equilibrium of the lithosphere in the rest of the mantle is called: A) Convection B) Orogeny C) Sea-floor spreading D) Isostasy E) Subduction
D) Isostasy
Earth’s asthenosphere is:
A) Part of the core
B) A zone of weak rock in the lower part of the upper mantle
C) A zone of strong rock in the lower part of the upper mantle
D) A zone of weak rock just below the crust
E) The strongest part of the mantle, just below the crust
B) A zone of weak rock in the lower part of the upper mantle
Earth's mantle consists mainly of: A) Ultramafic rock B) Mafic rock C) Felsic rock D) Carbon E) Iron
A) Ultramafic rock
Paths, or lines, of ‘apparent polar wandering’ for continents have likely been caused by:
A) Long-term displacement of the continents over the Earth’s interior
B) Frequent reversal of Earth’s magnetic field
C) The ongoing shift of the position of the magnetic poles
D) The solar wind
E) Who knows… Just another of Earth’s mysteries
B) Frequent reversal of Earth’s magnetic field
Regarding Earth’s atmospheric temperature (climate): in the geological past it has:
A) Been constant, very much like it was during the 19th century
B) Been consistently cooler than at present
C) Been consistently warmer than at present
D) Fluctuated numerous times between ice ages and much warmer periods
This question is of considerable importance because of the ongoing scientific/social/political discussion concerning climate warming
D) Fluctuated numerous times between ice ages and much warmer periods
Which of the following statements best describes the long-term, physical states of Earth’s mantle?
A) Mostly liquid rock (magma)
B) Mostly liquid iron
C) Solid, rigid, un-deformable rock
D) Uniform hot ductile rock
E) Its strength varies in layers, but is overall mainly weak, ductile rock
E) It’s strength varies in layers, but is overall mainly weak, ductile rock
Where have we found some of Earth's primitive crust? A) Australia B) Canada C) South Africa D) All of the above E) Nowhere
E) Nowhere
The ages of the oldest known rocks in the continental parts of Earth's crust are just over \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) 16 Ka B) 1 Ma C) 100 Ma D) 1 Ga E) 4 Ga
E) 4 Ga
Earth transformed from a homogeneous planet to a layered planet during: A) The iron catastrophe B) Its accretion phase C) The last few million years D) The Big Bang E) The Mesozoic
A) The iron catastrophe
A journey to the centre of the Earth form Saskatoon will pass through, in order:
A) Asthenosphere - lithosphere - lower mantle - liquid core - solid core
B) Asthenosphere - lower mantle - lithosphere - liquid core - solid core
C) Lithosphere - lower mantle - asthenosphere - liquid core - solid core
D) Lithosphere - asthenosphere - lower mantle - liquid core - solid core
E) Lithosphere - asthenosphere - lower mantle - solid core - liquid core
D) Lithosphere - asthenosphere - lower mantle - liquid core - solid core
Based on their chemical composition, most of the mineral material in Earth's crust are \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Sulfides B) Oxides C) Silicates D) "b" and "c" are about the same E) All three are about the same
C) Silicates
In the chemical classification of igneous rocks, which material is the most important? A) The oxygen content B) The iron content C) The silica content D) The carbon content E) The aluminum content
C) The silica content
Having a crystalline texture is characteristic of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Most sedimentary rocks B) Lava C) Intrusive igneous rocks D) Metamorphic rocks E) b, c, & d
E) b, c, & d
The mantle of Earth is composed mainly of \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Liquid silicates B) Liquid iron C) Solid silicates D) Solid iron E) Solid sulfur
D) Solid iron
What type of rock body forms as an intrusive, approximately verticals, tabular sheet of igneous rock. A) Lava flow B) Batholiths C) Stock D) Dike E) Sill
D) Dike
The rate at which material flow age is occurring in Earth's mantle is closest to \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) 1 kilometre per second B) 1 centimetre per second C) 1 centimetre per year D) 1 centimetre per thousand years E) 1 centimetre per million years
C) 1 centimetre per year
Which of the following is true?
A) The global climate would be constant and fixed were it not for humans burning fossil fuels
B) The global climate was constant after the last ice-age, until the industrial revolution, and now human industry is causing all the glaciers to melt
C) The temperature of Earth’s atmosphere is now warmer than ever before
D) All of the above are true
E) None of the above are true
E) None of the above are true
Which of the following statements is true?
A) Earth’s global climate is thought to be controlled (to a significant degree) by variations in the position of its axis of spin relative to the sun
B) The global climate is controlled (to a significant degree) by carbon dioxide in the atmosphere
C) The temperature of Earth’s atmosphere has been as much as 15 degrees Celsius higher than at present for millions of years at times in the past
D) All of the above are true
E) None of the above are true
D) All of the above are true
Because of the proportions of its layers (ignoring shape and viscosity), the best model of the interior of the Earth would be a cross-section of a(an): A) Hard-boiled egg B) Watermelon C) Onion D) Potato
A) Hard-boiled egg
The inner core of the Earth is composed of mainly \_\_\_\_\_\_\_. A) Liquid silicates B) Liquid iron C) Solid silicates D) Solid iron E) Solid sulfur
D) Solid iron
The atmosphere of the young (early) earth is thought to have had an oxygen content:
A) Similar to that at present
B) Higher than at present
C) Very much lower than present (almost zero)
C) Very much lower than present (almost zero)
