Test 1 (Lectures 1-3) pt. 1 Flashcards
What is geology?
Study of the solid earth and the environment around it
What are some ways geologists study the Earth?
- Formation and composition of the planet
- Monitoring how the Earth evolves through time
- Locating and extracting mineral resources
- Causes/effects of natural disasters (i.e.
earthquakes, floods, landslides, etc.) - Evolution of life
- Changing of Earth’s climate through time
- Groundwater flow through the subsurface
How old is the Earth?
4.5 billion years old
How did life on Earth start?
It came from the life and the death of stars
How long ago did the Big Bang theory happen?
13.8 billion years ago
All of the elements up to iron can be made in stars in a process called
Stellar nucleosynthesis
Stellar nucleosynthesis formed elements up to …?
Iron (Fe; atomic number 26)
Elements with atomic number larger than 26 formed during the …..?
Supernovae
Most of nebula is formed up on what gases?
Hydrogen and helium
What is an accretionary disk?
A disk of things that are starting to stick together
What does the word “proto” stand for?
It means before
What does the Earth’s internal structure consist of?
- Crust
- Mantle
- Outer Core
- Inner Core
What are the four innermost planets called?
The terrestrial planets
What does refectory planets move toward?
They move towards the Sun
What are the 4 terrestrial planets?
Mercury, Earth, Venus, and Mars
What kind of texture do terrestrial planets have?
A rocky texture
What are the 4 gas planets?
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
How far do you have to dig to get to a tectonic plate?
0; you’re standing on one
What drives geologic phenomenon?
Internal and external processes
What model seems to have the most evidence regarding the formation of the moon?
The Impactor model
How was the Moon formed?
It formed from the debris when a protoplanet collided with Earth
The Earth’s atmosphere consists of what kind of gases…?
- 78% of Nitrogen
- 22% of Oxygen
Most of iron is found in which part of the Earth?
The core
What major elements make up the composition/mass of the Earth?
- Iron
- Oxygen
- Silicon
What is the most abundant element in the Earth’s crust?
Oxygen followed by silica then aluminum
What are most abundant elements in the Earth’s mantle?
Magnesium, silicon, and oxygen
What is the largest layer of the Earth?
The mantle
What is the densest layer of the Earth?
The core
All of the crust of the Earth is contained in the …..?
Lithosphere
The crust and the upper mantle make up the ……?
Lithosphere
The asthenosphere is part of the ….?
Mantle
The mantle is mostly….?
Solid
Convection in the mantle transfers heat from ____ to the ___
Interior; surface
What is an important characteristic when determining what makes up a tectonic plate versus what makes up the layer beneath it?
Whether it breaks or bends
The crust and mantle are based on….?
Composition
What are the units of density?
Mass is divided by volume. It’s usually either grams divided by centimeters cubed or kilograms divided by mass cubed.
The seismic waves of the earth help us understand what…?
It helps us understand what’s happening beneath the layers of the Earth
What helps generate the magnetic field around the Earth?
Convection in the liquid outer core generates the Earth’s magnetic field
What is a theory?
A supposition with evidence to support that argument. It’s essentially a hypothesis that has been tested and validated multiple times
What is one of the evidence of continental drift?
Fossils are found in different regions of the earth, which explains the occurrence of the same species on different continents
Who initially thought of the idea of continental drift?
Wegner
What was a significant event in 1941?
World War II
What was one of the technology that came out during World War II?
The use of sonar, which helped map the ocean floor
What is the abyssal plane?
It’s the flat, deep part of the ocean
In the abyssal plane the middle ridge tends to be a little higher than usual, what is that part referred to?
The mid-ocean ridge
What are the two different types of crust?
- Continental crust
- Oceanic crust
Which crust is thicker and less denser?
Continental crust
Which crust in thinner and more denser?
Oceanic crust
Where are the oldest rocks found?
They’re found in Greenland
