Geology

Question 1

Study of the Earth, including its history and physical properties

Answer 1

Geology

Question 2

Earth’s two weak spots in its “cosmic suit of armor”

Answer 2

North & South Poles

Question 3

Radiation funneling down through to the Earth near the north pole

Answer 3

Aurora Borealis

Question 4

Radiation funneling down through to the Earth near the south pole

Answer 4

Aurora Australis

Question 5

Layers of the Earth (outer to inner)

Answer 5

• Crust (Continental & Oceanic)
• Mantle (Upper & Lower)
• Outer Core
• Inner Core

Question 6

Layer made mostly of molten liquid iron and nickel

Answer 6

Outer Core - Liquid due to extremely high temperatures

Question 7

Layer mostly made of iron and is solid

Answer 7

Inner Core - Hotter than other layers but solid due to extremely high pressures, which prevent the iron from melting

Question 8

The 3 categories of rocks

Answer 8

• Sedimentary
• Metamorphic
• Igneous

Question 9

Formed of pebbles, sand, shells and other X, these form by accumulating laters that form and fuse together over very long periods of time

Answer 9

Sedimentary Rocks

Question 10

Soft by comparison to other rocks and can break apart easily. Examples include limestone, shale, coal, and sandstone

Answer 10

Sedimentary Rocks

Question 11

Formed below the Earth’s surface and created by intense heat and pressure

Answer 11

Metamorphic Rocks

Question 12

Very hard rocks that often have ribbons of color from the different layers of various materials and minerals. Examples include slate and marble

Answer 12

Metamorphic Rocks

Question 13

Formed by the hardening of molten magma from deep within the Earth as it cools. Includes lava that erupts from volcanoes

Answer 13

Igneous Rocks

Question 14

Depending on how quickly it cools, this rock can either be shiny and smooth or bumpy and rough from gas bubbles erupting as it cooled more slowly. Examples include granite, pumice, basalt, and obsidian

Answer 14

Igneous Rocks

Question 15

When the Earth’s plates move, one of three types of plate boundaries occurs:

Answer 15

• Transform
• Divergent
• Convergent

Question 16

Boundaries that occur when two plates slide past each other, which neither created nor destroys plate material

Answer 16

Transform Boundaries

Question 17

Boundaries that occur when two plates move away from each other, which creates new plate material

Answer 17

Divergent Boundaries

Question 18

Boundaries that occur when two plates move toward each other, which destroys existing plate material

Answer 18

Convergent

Question 19

Earthquakes occur along ____ ____ (also called ____ ____), which are mostly found at transform plate boundaries

Answer 19

Fault Lines (also called Fault Zones)

Question 20

The Richter Scale starts at 1 and increases by a power of __ to each subsequent number

Answer 20

10 (i.e., a score of 2 is 10x more powerful than a score of 1 and a score of 3 is 100x more powerful than a score of 1)

Question 21

Used by scientists to better study and understand the history of the Earth and events of life and organisms that took place at certain times

Answer 21

Geologic Time Scale

Question 22

Geologic Time Scale is measured by studying different strata of the Earth’s crust for ____, ____ __ ____, and ____ ____ (__ ____ __ ____ ____)

Answer 22

Fossils, types of rocks, and other indicators (of events in Earth’s history)

Question 23

Approximate age of the Earth

Answer 23

4.5 Billion Years Old

Question 24

Approximately when life on Earth first appeared

Answer 24

3.5 Billion Years Ago

Question 25

Time that ended approximately 542 million years ago (cannot be defined for certain)

Answer 25

Precambrian Time

Question 26

About 90% of Earth’s history occured in this time

Answer 26

Precambrian Time

Question 27

Era that began 542 million years ago and lasted about 291 million years. Sea-life and other reptile life started during this period

Answer 27

Paleozoic Era

Question 28

Era that began 251 million years ago and lasted about 186 million years. This was the age of reptiles, when dinosaurs lived

Answer 28

Mesozoic Era

Question 29

Era that began 66 million years ago and includes the geological present time. This is the age of mammals, including homo sapiens

Answer 29

Cenozoic Era