Environmental science

Question 1

At its center, Earth is as hot as the Sun’s surface

Answer 1

true

Question 2

Earth’s atmosphere is a mixture of gases, mostly nitrogen and hydrogen

Answer 2

false; it is a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen

Question 3

Each of Earth’s spheres is an independent system with unique cycles that has minimal interaction with other spheres

Answer 3

false

Question 4

Earth’s layers formed due to density differences in materials. Less dense materials sank, while more dense materials rose to the surface

Answer 4

False

Question 5

A threshold effect begins with a rapid and dramatic change in response to an event, then after the threshold is crossed additional small perturbation causes further little or no effects

Answer 5

false

Question 6

As we move from the surface of Earth to the interior,

Answer 6

temperature increases

Question 7

The lithosphere consists of

Answer 7

crust and upper mantle

Question 8

the crust is the

Answer 8

thinnest layer of the earth

Question 9

the consequence of the vastness of geologic time is that

Answer 9

events occur slowly and become more significant

Question 10

Our solar system formed from

Answer 10

coalescing frigid cloud of dust and gas

Question 11

a tectonic plate is composed of

Answer 11

cool rigid rock that rides on a plastic mantle layer

Question 12

ground water saturating rock underground is a component of the

Answer 12

Hydrosphere

Question 13

During formation of the solar system, rocky clumps called ____ which would ultimately collide to form planets

Answer 13

planetismals

Question 14

systems are driven by the flow of matter and energy

Answer 14

true

Question 15

earth’s core consists mostly of

Answer 15

iron and nickel

Question 16

The majority of earth’s freshwater is found in

Answer 16

glaciers

Question 17

A(n) ____ occurs when the initial response to a change is minor, but any additional change results in a rapid and dramatic response

Answer 17

threshold

Question 18

oceans cover about 71 percent of the earth

Answer 18

true

Question 19

Earth’s surface systems are ultimately powered by the

Answer 19

sun

Question 20

according to current trends in Earth’s population development, it is likely that pressure will

Answer 20

increase

Question 21

____ means that the geologic processes operating today also worked in the best

Answer 21

uniformitarianism

Question 22

geologists estimate that Earth was formed _____ yrs ago

Answer 22

4.6 billion

Question 23

A ____ is an example of a catastrophic event

Answer 23

tsunami

Question 24

____ are large segments of the lithosphere that float on the asthenosphere

Answer 24

tectonic plates

Question 25

What percentage of earth is freshwater?

Answer 25

2.5%

Question 26

a stream’s ___ is the volume of water floating downstream over a given period of time

Answer 26

discharge

Question 27

The region that is drained by a single river is a

Answer 27

drainage basin