Chp.1) Intro to Earth Science

Question 1

what is earth science?

Answer 1

all the sciences that collectively
seek to understand Earth and its neighbors in space

Question 2

what is geology?

Answer 2

literally “study of Earth,” both physical
and historical

Question 3

what is Oceanography?

Answer 3

study of the ocean

Question 4

what is meteorology?

Answer 4

the study of the atmosphere and the
processes that produce weather

Question 5

what is astronomy?

Answer 5

the study of the universe

Question 6

what is Geologic Time?

Answer 6

span of time since Earth’s formation

Earth is 4.6 billion years old

concept of “recent” is different

Question 7

a geologic time scale divides…

Answer 7

earth into different units

Question 8

science assumes the natural world is (___) and (___)

Answer 8

consistent, predictable

Question 9

the goal of science to discover (___) and to use that knowledge to (___)

Answer 9

patterns, predict

Question 10

what is a hypothesis?

Answer 10

tentative or untested explanation

Question 11

what is a theory?

Answer 11

tested and confirmed hypothesis

Question 12

what a paradigm?

Answer 12

a theory that explains a large number of interrelated aspects of the natural world

Question 13

the scientific method gathers facts through observation to formulate (___) and (___)

Answer 13

hypotheses, theories

Question 14

what are the (7) frequently followed steps in scientific investigations?

Answer 14

1) raise a question about the natural world
2) background research (collect data)
3) construct hypothesis
4) develop observations and/or experiments to test hypothesis
5) analyze data
6) results do/do not support hypothesis
– try again, if they do not
7) share with scientific community for critical evaluation and additional testing

Question 15

the universe began with the Big Bang (___) billion years ago

Answer 15

13.7

Question 16

true or false:

the Earth and the other planets formed at essentially the
same time?

Answer 16

true

Question 17

this theory states that the Solar system evolved from an enormous
condensing, rotating cloud of gas (mostly helium and hydrogen) and dust 5 billion
years ago

Answer 17

Nebular Theory

Question 18

large, outer planets form from fragments with a high percentage of (___)

Answer 18

ice

Question 19

what are earth’s 4 major spheres?

Answer 19

hydrosphere

atmosphere

biosphere

geosphere

Question 20

the most prominent feature of the hydrosphere is the (___) which covers 71% of the earth’s surface and contains 97% of earth’s water

Answer 20

ocean

Question 21

true or false:

freshwater makes up streams, lakes, glaciers as well as underground water

Answer 21

true

Question 22

the atmosphere is thin, tenuous blanket of air and 1/2 lies below (___) kilometers

Answer 22

5.6km (3.5 miles)

Question 23

what percent of the atmosphere is below 16 km (10 mi)?

Answer 23

90%

Question 24

what sphere includes all life and is concentrated near the surface in a zone that extends from
the ocean floor upward for several kilometers into the
atmosphere

Answer 24

biosphere

Question 25

this sphere is the largest of earth’s 4 spheres and extends from the center of the planet to the surface

Answer 25

geosphere

Question 26

the geosphere consists of these 3 components:

Answer 26

crust, mantle, and core

Question 27

true or false:

divisions of the portion of the geosphere are based on how materials behave?

Answer 27

true

Question 28

what are the layers of the earth starting from the inner core?

Answer 28

CORE
–inner core (solid)
–outer core (liquid)

MANTLE
–lower mantle (solid)
–upper mantle (solid)
–asthenosphere (solid, but mobile)

CRUST
–lithosphere (solid and rigid)

Question 29

explain the 3 major steps of the hydrologic cycle

Answer 29

Evaporation is when liquid water turns into water vapor because of heat from the sun

Condensation is when water vapor cools down and becomes liquid water again. This forms clouds in the sky

Precipitation is when water falls from the clouds as rain, snow, hail or sleet

Question 30

what are the major features of Ocean Basins?

Answer 30

average 3.8 kilometers (2.8 miles) below sea level

basaltic rocks

Question 31

what are the major features of continents?

Answer 31

–Flat features that average 0.8 kilometers (0.5 miles) in
elevation

–Granitic rocks

Question 32

Continental (___) is a gently sloping platform extending
seaward from shore

Answer 32

shelf

Question 33

Continental (___) is a steep drop off at edge of
continental shelf

Answer 33

slope

Question 34

Continental (___) is a more gradual incline; continental
slope merges with thick accumulation of sediments

Answer 34

rise

Question 35

(___) are portions of seafloor adjacent to major landmasses that include continental shelfs, slopes, and rise

Answer 35

continental margins

Question 36

features of DEEP ocean basins

Answer 36

–Between continental margins and oceanic ridges

–Abyssal plains—flat features of deep-ocean basins

–Deep-ocean trenches—deep depressions in ocean floor

–Seamounts—submerged volcanic structures

Question 37

what are the major features of continents?

Answer 37

*Mountain Belts
–-Principally the circum-Pacific belt and the Alps/Himalayas

*Stable Interior
–-Shields—expansive, flat regions of deformed crystalline rock
–-Stable platforms—deformed rocks covered by sedimentary rocks

Question 38

young mountain belts are less than (___) million years old

Answer 38

100

Question 39

what are the components of Mountain Belts