Interactions in the Physical Environment - Part 1

Question 1

Outline one characteristic (i.e. composition) of each layer of the Earth.

Answer 1

• Inner core = Made of iron and nickel.
• Outer core = Is the only liquid layer.
• Mantle = Made up of semi molten rock.
• Crust = 2 types, continental and oceanic.

Question 2

Who contrived the theory of continental drift and what evidence was put forth?

Answer 2

Alfred Wegner contrived the theory of continental drift around the fact that the continents all seemed to fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. He claimed that continents were once joined together into one supercontinent called Pangea, and they are now drifting away from each other. The evidence he proposed was that there were rocks in Newfoundland that are the same kind and age of those found in Scotland. Fossils of similar plants and animals have also been found in Africa and South America.

Question 3

Explain what plate tectonics are?

Answer 3

Plate tectonics is a theory that the Earths’ crust is divided into a number of large, platelike sections that move as distinct masses.

Question 4

What are convection currents and where do they exist?

Answer 4

Convection currents are heat driven cycles that occur in the air, ocean, and the mantle.

Question 5

Using an example, explain the difference between weathering and erosion?

Answer 5

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks and minerals on the Earth’s surface, like iron rusting. Whereas, erosion is when earthern materials are worn away by natural forces, like streams of water creating paths down a hill.

Question 6

List the four geologic eras and provide two significant events/features that occurred during each era.

Answer 6

• Precambrian = The Canadian shield was formed, and life appears in the ocean.
• Paleozoic = The Applachian moutains and Pangea was formed.
• Mesazoic = Pangea breaks up, and dinosaurs roam around.
• Cesozoic = The Rocky mountains are completed, and humans evolved.