ESS 101: MIDTERM EXAM
QUESTIONS
Match-the-magma-type-with-the-appropriate-tectonic-setting-where-it-likely-forms:-
Iceland---ans-✔✔basalt
Match-the-magma-type-with-the-appropriate-tectonic-setting-where-it-likely-forms:-Sierra-
Nevada-Batholith---ans-✔✔granite
Match-the-magma-type-with-the-appropriate-tectonic-setting-where-it-likely-forms:-
Phillipine-Islands---ans-✔✔andesite
The-Columbia-Plateau-is-composed-of-rock-rich-in---ans-✔✔basalt
The-melting-temperature-of-granitic-magma-(wet-melt)---ans-✔✔increases-as-pressure-is-
reduced-(as-it-rises)
A-partial-melt-of-the-asthenosphere-will-not-rise-toward-the-surface-because---ans-✔✔the-
above-question-is-incorrect-because-an-asthenospheric-melt-will-rise-towards-the-surface
How-do-we-know-that-Earth-was-created-from-the-debris-of-a-previous-star-system?---ans-
✔✔Dense-elements-exist-that-could-only-have-been-formed-through-a-Supernova-event
Steps-of-the-Nebular-Hypothesis---ans-✔✔--Supernova-and-formation-of-primordial-dust-
cloud
--condensation-of-primordial-dust.-Forms-disk-shaped-nebular-cloud-rotating-counter-
clockwise
--Proto-sun-and-planets-begin-to-form
--Accretion-of-planetesimals-and-differentiation-of-planets-and-moons
--Existing-solar-system-takes-shape
Evidence-to-support-the-nebular-hypothesis---ans-✔✔--planets-and-moons-revolve-in-a-
counter-clockwise-direction-(v.-random)
, --Planetary-orbits-are-aligned-along-the-sun's-equatorial-plane-(v.-random)
--Observations-from-Hubble-and-radio-astronomy
Characteristics-of-Terrestrial-Planets---ans-✔✔--Close-to-the-sun,-dense
--Small,-rocky-(silicate-minerals,-metallic-cores)
Characteristics-of-Jovian-Planets---ans-✔✔--Far-from-the-sun,-low-density
--Large,-gaseous-(hydrogen,-methane)
Can-you-explain-why-the-earth-and-terrestrial-planets-have-so-little-molecular-hydrogen-
comprising-their-respective-atmospheres;-yet-the-primarodial-dust-cloud-was-mostly-
comprised-of-hydrogen-gas?---ans-✔✔--Key-word:-heat.
--Jovian-planets-are-located-far-enough-away-from-the-sun-that-molecular-hydrogen-is-
cool-and-dense-enough-to-remain-in-their-atmosphere
--Terrestrial-planets-are-close-enough-to-the-sun-that-molecular-hydrogen-would-be-too-
heated,-not-dense-enough-to-remain-in-the-atmosphere
What's-the-inner-and-outer-core-of-the-earth-made-of?---ans-✔✔Iron-Nickel-Core
Inner-core-in-which-phase?---ans-✔✔solid
Outer-core-in-which-phase?---ans-✔✔liquid
What's-the-mantle-made-of?---ans-✔✔Fe-Mg-Silicate
What's-the-crust-made-of?---ans-✔✔Fe-Mg-Al-Silicate
Differentiated-earth-order-(starting-from-center)---ans-✔✔--Iron-Nickel-Core
--Fe-Mg-Silicate-Mantle
--Fe-Mg-Al-Silicate-Crust-(ocean-and-continental)
--Oceans
--Atmosphere
How-is-the-earth-compositionally-zoned?---ans-✔✔Along-a-density-gradient
How-did-the-earth-become-compositionally-zoned?---ans-✔✔--accretion-of-planetesimals
--initial-heating-due-to-kinetic-energy-of-colliding-planetesimals-and-compressional-heating
--Additional-heating-from-radioactive-decay
QUESTIONS
Match-the-magma-type-with-the-appropriate-tectonic-setting-where-it-likely-forms:-
Iceland---ans-✔✔basalt
Match-the-magma-type-with-the-appropriate-tectonic-setting-where-it-likely-forms:-Sierra-
Nevada-Batholith---ans-✔✔granite
Match-the-magma-type-with-the-appropriate-tectonic-setting-where-it-likely-forms:-
Phillipine-Islands---ans-✔✔andesite
The-Columbia-Plateau-is-composed-of-rock-rich-in---ans-✔✔basalt
The-melting-temperature-of-granitic-magma-(wet-melt)---ans-✔✔increases-as-pressure-is-
reduced-(as-it-rises)
A-partial-melt-of-the-asthenosphere-will-not-rise-toward-the-surface-because---ans-✔✔the-
above-question-is-incorrect-because-an-asthenospheric-melt-will-rise-towards-the-surface
How-do-we-know-that-Earth-was-created-from-the-debris-of-a-previous-star-system?---ans-
✔✔Dense-elements-exist-that-could-only-have-been-formed-through-a-Supernova-event
Steps-of-the-Nebular-Hypothesis---ans-✔✔--Supernova-and-formation-of-primordial-dust-
cloud
--condensation-of-primordial-dust.-Forms-disk-shaped-nebular-cloud-rotating-counter-
clockwise
--Proto-sun-and-planets-begin-to-form
--Accretion-of-planetesimals-and-differentiation-of-planets-and-moons
--Existing-solar-system-takes-shape
Evidence-to-support-the-nebular-hypothesis---ans-✔✔--planets-and-moons-revolve-in-a-
counter-clockwise-direction-(v.-random)
, --Planetary-orbits-are-aligned-along-the-sun's-equatorial-plane-(v.-random)
--Observations-from-Hubble-and-radio-astronomy
Characteristics-of-Terrestrial-Planets---ans-✔✔--Close-to-the-sun,-dense
--Small,-rocky-(silicate-minerals,-metallic-cores)
Characteristics-of-Jovian-Planets---ans-✔✔--Far-from-the-sun,-low-density
--Large,-gaseous-(hydrogen,-methane)
Can-you-explain-why-the-earth-and-terrestrial-planets-have-so-little-molecular-hydrogen-
comprising-their-respective-atmospheres;-yet-the-primarodial-dust-cloud-was-mostly-
comprised-of-hydrogen-gas?---ans-✔✔--Key-word:-heat.
--Jovian-planets-are-located-far-enough-away-from-the-sun-that-molecular-hydrogen-is-
cool-and-dense-enough-to-remain-in-their-atmosphere
--Terrestrial-planets-are-close-enough-to-the-sun-that-molecular-hydrogen-would-be-too-
heated,-not-dense-enough-to-remain-in-the-atmosphere
What's-the-inner-and-outer-core-of-the-earth-made-of?---ans-✔✔Iron-Nickel-Core
Inner-core-in-which-phase?---ans-✔✔solid
Outer-core-in-which-phase?---ans-✔✔liquid
What's-the-mantle-made-of?---ans-✔✔Fe-Mg-Silicate
What's-the-crust-made-of?---ans-✔✔Fe-Mg-Al-Silicate
Differentiated-earth-order-(starting-from-center)---ans-✔✔--Iron-Nickel-Core
--Fe-Mg-Silicate-Mantle
--Fe-Mg-Al-Silicate-Crust-(ocean-and-continental)
--Oceans
--Atmosphere
How-is-the-earth-compositionally-zoned?---ans-✔✔Along-a-density-gradient
How-did-the-earth-become-compositionally-zoned?---ans-✔✔--accretion-of-planetesimals
--initial-heating-due-to-kinetic-energy-of-colliding-planetesimals-and-compressional-heating
--Additional-heating-from-radioactive-decay
