part i (1-7) Flashcards
Definition of science
A systematic enterprise that builds and organizes information in the form of TESTABLE EXPLANATIONS and predictions about the universe
Definition of geology
The scientific study of the earth’s structure, history, and origin
Give examples of how science can be useful
Prevent harmful false explanations (“bad blood”, phrenology), has useful applications (phones, modern medicine)
Distinguish between “basic” and “applied” science, and how the former can lead to the ladder
“Basic” science is the fundamental understanding of natural phenomenon
“Applied” science applies existing information to develop practical applications
e.g. theory of relevance = GPS satellites; radio-wave experiments = wireless communication
State different ways in which geology can be useful; give specific examples
- Mitigate natural hazards (predicting earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, landslides)
- Mitigate unnatural hazards (groundwater flow, climate change)
- Extract minerals/resources (iron, oil)
- Environmental consequences (deforestation, burning fossil fuels, overpopulation)
Distinguish between a science (subject), the thing being studied scientifically (result), and the people doing it
Polio; IPV: polio vaccine; Jonas Salk
Artificial Intelligence; Turing test (tests computer’s ability to think like a human); Alan Turing
How can science considered morally bad be prevented or limited?
Government regulation, self-regulation, control over what science to fund
Describe how human flaws can negatively impact the quality of the science that we do
Quality of science may be negatively impacted as scientists can interpret or gather data biasedly, contradicting the entire purpose of scientific method: evidence and data driven
List the steps of scientific method
- Make observation
- Think of explanations
- Formulate hypothesis
- Develop testable predictions
- Gather data to test predictions
a. refine, alter, expand, or reject hypothesis - Develop general theories
Describe how adherence to scientific method ensures evidence-based explanations for phenomena
Since the process in testing and developing theories for certain phenomena is very specific, this allows it so others can replicate this experiment; similar results = accepted hypothesis
Factors in a good experiment design
Control group, sufficient sample size, representative sample, replicable
Explain how the scientific method is applicable to historical sciences, using Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction as example
- Discovery of crater
- Could this be linked to extinction of dinosaurs?
- Asteroid is the cause
- Large crater size and fossil findings predicting extinction of dinosaurs
- Crater = 112 miles long, coincided with dinosaur extinction, boundary clay (debris from asteroid) found
- A very large asteroid is responsible for the extinction of dinosaurs
The process in which the Alvarez hypothesis was tested to explain the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction follows the scientific method exactly
Define data, and distinguish between different types
Individual units of information
Quantitative (numbers only)
Qualitative (descriptive)
Continuous (infinite scale time wise and numerically)
Discrete (only certain numbers are possible)
Categorical (= qualitative)
Convert between different units of measure
just remember not to forget any small details
Explain how data can be analyzed, visualized, and interpreted
Analyze:
Quantitative (regression analysis, simple linear regression, null hypothesis)
Qualitative (deductive and inductive approach)
Visualize (charts, pie charts, bar graph
Interpreted:
1. Analysis (examine data)
2. Interpret (explain findings in the given context)
3. Present (conclude)
Misleading graph/ chart examples
Excessive usage (so unnecessary that it causes confusion)
Biased labeling (misleading or inappropriate word choice)
Improper scaling (creates misleading comparison
Explain the difference between compositional and mechanical layering
Compositional: distinguished by chemical composition
Mechanical: determined by physical property
List the layers of the earth for both compositional and mechanical layering; briefly describe what distinguishes each layer
Compositional: crust, mantle, core
Mechanical: crust, lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core, inner core
Define density, and use it to explain convection
Density: the mass of an object/substance
Convection: the process of heat being transferred by movement of a heated fluid which occurs due to density difference
State three different types of plate boundaries, and relative movement of the plates at each
Divergent: moving away
Convergent: moving towards
Transform: sliding past each other
Outline how a divergent plate evolves over time
(refer to drawing)
Draw convergent plate boundaries
(refer to drawings)
1. Oceanic vs oceanic
2. Oceanic vs continental
3. Continental vs continental
Calculate amount of time a transition fault takes given slip rate
V=d/t
Describe hotspots, and explain how they can be used to determine absolute plate motions
Hotspots: an area of the earth’s mantle from which hot plumes rise upward to crust, forming volcanoes on crust
Explaining absolute plate motions: hotspots don’t move, but plates do; by seeing the formation of new volcanoes or testing the inactive volcanoes, we can see how plates move relative to each other by using hotspots as the center point
List different types of evidence used to constrain the compositional and mechanical layering of earth
- Direct observation of the crust
- Mantle that tectonics brought up the surface
- Chrondite meteorites: material from which earth and other planets are composed of (core)
- High-pressure/temperature experiment: creating hypothesized layers of earth with compressed materials and stimulated pressure between two diamonds
- Seismic shadow zones (p-waves: goes through solids and liquids of waves from one point of earth the the other; s-waves: goes through solids only!)
- Earth’s magnetic field (electrical field reinforces magnetic, vice versa; needs movement! iron liquid from core = movement)
- Earth’s angular momentum: no layers = increase moment of inertia = longer rotations around the sun (longer days)
Early evidence for dynamic earth, pre-plate tectonic hypothesis, observations that invalidate these hypotheses
Early evidence = fossils and sea creatures in places far from ocean
Pre-plate tectonic hypothesis:
1. Earth is shrinking; doesn’t explain continents splitting up
2. Earth is expanding: some oceans are being pushed up, or shrinking (pacific)
Explain the observation that led to the hypothesis of continental drift, and the predictions of this hypothesis that proved to be correct
Continents’ RIDGES look like they should fit like jigsaw puzzles
Correct predictions:
1. Continents fit along edge of continental drift
2. Continents that were originally joined should have matching rocks
3. AND fossils
4. AND paleoclimate
Illustrate why the inclination of compass needle varies with latitude
Earth’s magnetic fields are not parallel (north and south pole are not directly above/beneath each other)
1. North end of compass needle will point downward in the northern hemisphere (positive dip)
2. South end of compass needle will point upwards in the Southern Hemisphere (negative dip)
Explain paleomagnetism and how it relates to continental drift
you got this bro
