Geology 101 Quiz 1 Flashcards

1
Q

what is often the only way we know countries have developed nuclear capabilities?

A

geophysicists can tell the difference between seismic waves caused by earthquakes vs caused by nuclear blasts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

geological engineers often determine

A

how stable a slope is

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

in places like ?, space is so limited that people build on unstable slopes

A

Hong Kong

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

petroleum geologists

A

find the best places to drill for oil or natural gas

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

hydrogeologists/geochemists

A

determine where groundwater contaminants come from, where and how far they are likely to travel, and how best to clean (this is the professor’s interest)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

paleoclimatologists

A

primary scientists involved in what ancient climate looked like on Earth and why climate changes; info gathered is used to predict how the present climate may be influenced by things

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

volcanologists

A

predict if a volcano will erupt and whether it is likely to be a simple lava flow (like Hawaii) or an explosive eruption (like Mt. St. Helens)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

what gives different types of rocks their unique qualities?

A

they are made of very different materials and by different processes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

which stone is more concerning for a sinkhole? (granite/limestone)

A

limestone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

when making sandpaper, mining for (corundum/gypsum) will be more profitable

A

corundum

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

oil is more likely to be found in (sandstone/basalt)

A

sandstone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

cosmology

A

the study of the origin and makeup of the universe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

in the early 1900s, most thought the universe was

A

static and infinite; motions such as orbits were recognized, but the relative positions of distant galaxies was thought to be fixed (static) and the extent of the universe was thought to be without limit (infinite)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

? developed an elegant mathematical model that allowed accurate prediction of everything from orbital paths to the ability of gravity to bend space (and thus radiation traveling through space)

A

Albert Einstein

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Albert Einstein’s mathematical model indicated an

A

expanding universe

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Einstein inserted the cosmological constant into the equation because

A

the idea of the universe having a beginning was unsettling; seemed to require a non-scientific explanation

later called this constant the biggest mistake of his career

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

over the next 15 years, data from astronomers such as ? showed that distant galaxies were moving ?

A

Edwin Hubble; away from us very fast in every direction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

singularity

A

the universe in a dimensionless point - some debate over nature of initial starting point

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

during the first million years of the universe,

A

subatomic particles combine to make Hydrogen

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

during the first billion years of the universe,

A

gravitational attraction separates matter into galaxies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

in stars, heat is high enough to initiate

A

nuclear ignition

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

3 types of heat generation

A

collisions, compression, radioactive decay

23
Q

nuclear ignition

A

NOT like igniting a fire; intense pressure and heat results in two atoms combining into a singular new atom (fusion); part of the mass of the combining atoms is converted into energy (radiation/heat)

24
Q

collisions

A

particles striking each other increase the kinetic energy which generates heat

25
Q

compression

A

air compressors get hot as the air is compressed; aerosol cans get cold as the gas inside expands

26
Q

radioactive decay

A

planets cool slower than otherwise expected because radioactive elements release heat as they decay

27
Q

supernova

A

collapse and explosion of large stars; heaviest elements produced

28
Q

our solar system is thought to be a second generation system because (2 reasons)

A
  1. lots of elements present are heavier than iron (Fe)

2. the age of the oldest rocks (~4.6 billion yrs) is younger than the calculated age of the universe (~13.8 billion yrs)

29
Q

according to modern cosmology, the universe originated from a

A

void

30
Q

differentiation

A

refers to a separation into layers with unique properties

31
Q

differentiation happens because

A

materials that are more dense will tend to sink toward the core, and materials that are less dense will rise toward the surface

32
Q

Earth’s layers (from outer to inner)

A

continental crust, oceanic crust, mantle, outer core, inner core

33
Q

Earth’s layers - lowest density, solid, rigid

A

continental crust

34
Q

Earth’s layers - high density, solid Fe and Ni

A

inner core

35
Q

Earth’s layers - intermediate density, semi-fluid

A

mantle

36
Q

Earth’s layers - high density, liquid Fe and Ni

A

outer core

37
Q

Earth’s layers - lower density mantle minerals, solid, rigid

A

oceanic crust

38
Q

minerals found in the earth’s crust are grouped into two categories

A

felsic and mafic

39
Q

felsic

A

lower density, lighter in color; continental crust

40
Q

mafic

A

higher density, darker in color; oceanic crust

41
Q

why does the oceanic crust sit lower?

A

its more dense and thinner

42
Q

water is thought to have come from 3 sources:

A
  1. condensation of water vapor as earth cooled (goes to surface during differentiation)
  2. comet collisions with earth (b/c comets contain a lot of water)
  3. volcanism (gas from eruptions is mostly water because water vapor is dissolved into magma)
43
Q

condensed water will accumulate in lowest areas, which is mostly over ?

A

oceanic crust (although oceanic crust is NOT defined by having water over it; water covers edges of continental crust as well, and oceanic continues underneath continental)

44
Q

the ? and ? form a somewhat rigid layer that moves laterally over the rest of the mantle, which is more plastic

A

crust and uppermost portion of the mantle

45
Q

lithosphere

A

the rigid layer that moves as a unit (crust and uppermost mantle)

46
Q

asthenosphere

A

the region of the upper mantle below the lithosphere

47
Q

variances in heat in the mantle cause ? within the asthenosphere

A

convection currents

48
Q

convection refers to

A

the movement of material in response to some force; in this case, movement is caused by the rise of hotter regions of the mantle and falling of cooler regions

49
Q

the crust is solid, so if any portion of the crust moves, it will run into other solid crust, which results in

A

breaks in crust

50
Q

plates

A

portions of unbroken crust

51
Q

plate tectonics (AKA continental drift)

A

the study of the movement of these plates

52
Q

individual plates can be made up of

A

just oceanic crust, just continental crust, or a combination of both

53
Q

there are currently about ? large plates

A

12