P1 - The Earth in the Universe Flashcards
How old is the Earth?
4500 million years old.
How old is the Solar System?
5000 million years old.
How old is the Universe?
1400 million years old.
How many years older is the Sun than the Earth?
500 million years older.
Can you name the 6 ways scientists can use rocks as evidence of the Earth’s age?
- Erosion - Compacted layers, produced by weathering and erosion. Older layers at the bottom.
- Craters - Evidence on Moon, not on Earth due to erosion.
- Mountain formation - If new mountains weren’t being formed, the Earth’s surface would have eroded down to sea level.
- Folding - Folding rocks requires huge force over a long time.
- Fossils - Shows how life has changed.
- Radioactivity - Lower radioactivity means older.
What is the Earth’s core made from?
Nickel and iron.
How is the Earth’s core still hot?
From the decay of radioactive elements.
Why was Wegener’s theory not immidiately accepted?
- He wasn’t a geologist, and was seen as an outsider.
- The supporting evidence was limited.
- It could be explained more simply. e.g: A bridge connecting continents could have eroded over time.
- The movement of the continents wasn’t detectable.
What is a geohazard?
A natural hazard.
How often does the Earth’s magnetic field change polarity?
Every million years.
Which plate is denser? Oceanic or continental?
The Oceanic plate is denser.
How are metamorphic rocks formed?
When due to extreme heat, the minerals in sedimentary or igneous rocks are changed chemically.
They do not melt however, that would form an igneous rock.
If a wave is travelling at a constant speed…
If frequency increases, the wavelength will _________.
If frequency increases, the wavelength will decrease.
and vice-versa (If frequency decreases, wavelength will increase).
If a wave is travelling at constant frequency…
If the wave speed decreases, the wavelength will _________.
If the wave speed decreases, the wavelength will decrease.
and vice-versa (If wave speed increases, the wavelength increases).
What are the units for wave speed?
m/s.
What are the units for frequency?
Hz.
What are the units for wavelength?
m.
What are the units for distance?
m.
What are the units for time?
s/secs.
How was the Solar System formed?
- The solar system started as dust and gas clouds, pulled together by gravity.
- This created intense heat and nuclear fusion began, hence a star was born! That’s the sun by the way…
- The remaining dust and gas formed smaller masses, which were attracted to the sun.
Name the 5 smaller masses of our solar system.
- Planets.
- Moons.
- Asteroids.
- Comets.
- Dwarf planets.
Compare asteriods and comets.
Asteroids are rocky and comets are icy.
What shape are orbits?
They are elliptical.
Comets are highly elliptical.
What is the speed of light?
The speed of light is 300,000km/s through space (a vacumn).

