Planetary geology

Question 1

What is the interior of the Earth?

Answer 1

Inner Core
Core
Mantle
Crust

Question 2

What is the interior of the terrestrial planets like?

Answer 2

Terrestrial worlds have layered interiors

Core, Mantle, Crust

Question 3

Core

Answer 3

Metallic layer made of nickel and iron

Question 4

Mantle

Answer 4

Rocky layer beneath crust and surrounding core
Solid, but can flow
Composed of minerals made from Silicon, Oxygen, etc.

Question 5

Crust

Answer 5

outer skin of a world

Composed of rock such as granite and basalt

Question 6

How are magnetic fields generated?

Answer 6

Interior region of electrically conducting fluid
Convection in that layer of fluid
Moderately rapid rotation

Question 7

How do we know what the inside of planets are like?

Answer 7

Presence of a magnetic field

Question 8

Geological activity shapes the surface of planets

Answer 8

Impact cratering
Volcanism
Tectonics
Erosion

Question 9

Impact cratering

Answer 9

Bowl-shaped impact craters made by asteroids or comets striking planetary surface

Question 10

Volcanism

Answer 10

Eruption of molten rock (lava) from a planet’s interior onto its surface

Question 11

Tectonics

Answer 11

Disruption of planet’s surface by internal stresses

stretching, compressing of lithosphere (rigid rock surface that floats on softer rock beneath)

Question 12

Erosion

Answer 12

Wearing down or building up of geological features by wind, water, ice, and other phenomena of planetary weather

Question 13

Accretion

Answer 13

Planets grew from smaller pieces of rocky material that were gravitationally attracted to each other. The planetesimal’s kinetic energy is converted into heat upon impact thus increasing the planet’s overall thermal energy budget.

Question 14

Differentiation

Answer 14

As mass moves inward, friction among the materials creates heat, thus increasing the planet’s thermal energy budget

Question 15

Radioactive decay

Answer 15

Unstable nuclei (Like uranium, potassium, and thorium) decay. When particles they release collide with another atom, they heat the atom, thus adding to the planet’s themal energy. Still remains a heat source today

Question 16

magma chamber

Answer 16

molten rock underground

Question 17

outgassing

Answer 17

of the eruption can add to a planet’s atmosphere

Question 18

Stratovolcano

Answer 18

Thick lava cannot flow far before turning solid
Builds tall, steep-sided volcanoes
Only really common on Earth

Question 19

Shield volcano

Answer 19

Runnier lava can spread before solidifying
Builds (possibly tall) less steep volcanoes
Example: Honey

Question 20

Volcanic plains

Answer 20

Runniest lava flows far and flattens before solidifying
Creates vast, smooth regions
Example: Water

Question 21

Stages of complex crater formation

Answer 21

Contact -> Excavation -> Modification

Question 22

Stages of Simple crater formation

Answer 22

Contact -> Excavation

Question 23

Ejecta blankets

Answer 23

Show the angle of impactor

Question 24

Heavy bombardment

Answer 24

lots of impacts in first few hundred years after the solar system was created (4.1-3.8 billion years old)

Question 25

Geological age

Answer 25

of a surface region from the number of impact craters visible where age means the age of the surface as it now appears.
More impact craters = Older surface

Question 26

Moon’s Maria

Answer 26

smooth volcanic plains 3%, Geological younger than the highlands

Question 27

Moon’s highlands

Answer 27

Geological older, from the period of Heavy

bombardment

Question 28

Aeolian

Answer 28

associated with effects of wind

Question 29

Impact

Answer 29

associated with a meteor striking the surface

Question 30

Fluvial

Answer 30

associated with flowing water

Question 31

Volcanic

Answer 31

associated with volcanic activity