Earth Science D2l Questions

Question 1

3. What is a mineral?

Answer 1

naturally occurring, inorganic solid, with a definite chemical composition.

Question 2

7. What are the two characteristics of rocks that geologists examine in order to determine the processes and history recorded in the rock?

Answer 2

Texture and color, crystals. Chemical and physical properties.

Question 3

8. What are some of the differences between mafic and felsic silicate minerals?

Answer 3

Mafic is darker in color, and is oceanic crust. Felsic is lighter in color and contentinal crust

Question 4

9. What is the rock cycle?

Answer 4

Rocks start out as minerals and then turn into magma which turns into igneous rocks and crystalizes, then the Igneous gets broken down into sedimentary rock, and then the sedimentary rock gets exposed to heat and becomes metamorphic. If it gets to hot it turns back into sedimentary or igneous rock.

Question 5

10. Where do igneous rocks form and what determines their texture?

Answer 5

The surface; the heat engine starts to make it melt.

Question 6

13. Why are silicate minerals the most common minerals?

Answer 6

Because they make up 75% of earth’s crust. It is made up of Si and O

Question 7

14. What does the crystal size of an igneous rock tell us about the origin of the rock?

Answer 7

It tells us how fast it cooled. So where it came from.

Question 8

15. Why do the three major rock types have different properties, and what are a few of these properties?

Answer 8

They form in different places. Igneous- big crystals, formed slowly. Sedimentary- grainy, sandish. Metamorophic- texture, compresstion, mountains.

Question 9

16. What are the two ways to melt rocks to produce magma? Where does the heat come from?

Answer 9

Convection or conduction; the outer core

Question 10

17. Why are theories not considered to be absolute truths (why do theories change)?

Answer 10

Things change over time like technology.

Question 11

20. Why are the ocean basins situated at lower elevations than the continents?

Answer 11

The texture and composition is how they got there.

Question 12

21. What are the layers of earth? Also, what are some of the differences between the layers?

Answer 12

Crust, Mantle, core, inner core, outer core. Crust-we stand on. Mantle- ooy gooey, most of the planet, Core- inner part inner core-very hot outer core- internal heat engine.

Question 13

23. What type of information can geologists read from sedimentary rocks?

Answer 13

Texture and composition

Question 14

24. What are the four agents that can transport sediments across the surface of the earth?

Answer 14

Water, air, Ice, gravity

Question 15

25. What are the two types of weathering

Answer 15

Chemical and mecahinacal

Question 16

26. What are the final two steps for converting sediment into sedimentary rock

Answer 16

Deposition, Lithlfication

Question 17

29. How are the textures of sedimentary rocks different from igneous rocks?

Answer 17

Sedimentary is grainy, igneous has crystals.

Question 18

31. What is sediment?

Answer 18

Lose solid particles that can originate by one weathering and erosion of pre existing rocks.

Question 19

32. Why are minerals important, and why are rocks important

Answer 19

Minerals are used in everything we use, and rocks can tell the history of our life.

Question 20

18. The source of energy for internal earth processes is the internal heat engine. What is the source of energy that powers surface processes?

Answer 20

The sun

Question 21

11. How does loose sediment become sedimentary rock?

Answer 21

Lithlfication

Question 22

12. What are the four parts of the Earth System, and do they interact?

Answer 22

Solid earth, hydrosphere, atmosphere, biosphere

Question 23

27. What are the three layers that make up the internal structure of earth?

Answer 23

Core, inner core, outer core

Question 24

28. If you apply too much heat to a metamorphic rock what does it become?

Answer 24

Igneous rock

Question 25

Why are controversial theories some of the strongest scientific theories?

Answer 25

they are tested the most

Question 26

What are the two properties of an igneous rock which allow us to determine information about its origins

Answer 26

composition and texture

Question 27

where on earth is weathering generally more intense

Answer 27

the mountains and the tropics

Question 28

How does heat and pressure influence the texture of metamorphic rocks?

Answer 28

the heat causes new mineral growth, and because of the pressure the minerals grow perpendicular to the stress direction to produce foliation