Exam 1 Flashcards
Geology
The study of Earth
Geologist also study…
Rocks, water, soil, & the atmosphere
Natural Disaster
A naturally occurring event that has a negative effect on humans
What makes a natural disaster?
A disaster that happens in nature by nature
What makes a natural event a disaster?
The destruction of homes and loss of lives
“Great” Natural Disaster
A natural disaster that kills 1,000s of people & require international aid
Why are “Great” Natural Disasters increasing?
Because Earth’s population is increasing
“Return Time”
The average # of years between same-sized events
Gas giant planets
Large, low density balls of gas
Terrestrial planets
Small, more dense balls of gas
Earth’s constant changing surface
.Internal heat from radioactive decay
.K, Th, & U isotopes
.”Tectonic system”
.”Hydrologic system”
Scientific Method
Analyze scientific problems in a way that leads to verifiable results
Hypothesis
A possible explanation, involving naturally occurring processes
Theory
Scientific ideas that are tested and could be proved wrong
Law
Scientific ideas that are absolutely correct
Uniformitarianism Principle
.Traditional: The present is the key to the past
.”Actualism: The laws of nature do not change through time
Application of uniformitarianism
Traditional
Principle of Cross-Cutting Relationships
Any geologic phenomenon that cross-cuts something is younger than whatever it is cross-cutting
Hydrologic System
Water in solid, liquid, & gas form
Tectonic System
Moving plates
Tectonic plates control
Mountain ranges, position of continents, earthquakes, & volcanoes
Seismologists
Study earthquakes
Volcanologist
Study volcanoes
Scientific Method Steps
- Identify problem
- Collect data
- Propose hypothesis
- Test hypothesis
Everyday Theory
A “hunch”
4 common elements on Earth
Iron, Oxygen, Silicon, & Magnesium
Mineral
Solid substances of specific chemical composition, w/ arranged atoms in an orderly pattern
Rock
Aggregates of minerals
3 types of rocks
Sediment, Metamorphic, & Igneous
Igneous rock
.Granite
.Intrusive/Extrusive
.Solidification (Crystallized) from magma/Consolidation
Sedimentary rock
.Conglomerate .Metamorphism .Lithification .Deposited by water, wind, glaciers, or landslides .Compacted/cemented .Forms near the surface
Metamorphic rock
.Former igneous/ sedimentary rock
.Changes due to high temperature and pressure
.Compresses
.Foliation/banding
Intrusive
.aka plutonic
.Rocks forming deep underground
Extrusive
.aka volcanic
.Rocks forming from lava cooling quickly
Foliation
Pressure squeezes mineral crystals into layers
Banding
Separation of minerals into light & dark layers
Silicate minerals
.Minerals that contain silicon & oxygen and aluminum of iron
.Found in the Earth’s crust
Mohorovicic discontinuity
Boundary between crust & mantle, where velocity of earthquakes waves change
Crust
.Outermost layer
.Continental crust less dense than oceanic crust
Mantle
.Below the crust to 2900km
.More dense
.Composed of silicates minerals w/ more Fe & Mg
Core
.Most dense
.Composed mostly of Fe & no silicates
.2900km to the center
Atmosphere
Mostly gas
Hydrosphere
Water originated from volcanic activity