GEOL 105 -LESSON 2- (LATEST
2025|2026 UPDATES) EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
hotspot - Answer- area in the lithospheric plate where molten magma breaks through
and creates a volcanic center, islands in the ocean and mountains on land
inner core - Answer- the portion of the core that behaves as a solid
lithosphere - Answer- the outermost layer of earth when broken down based on physical
behavior made up of the crust and solid upper mantle
mantle - Answer- the middle layer of the earth when broken down based on chemical
composition composed of much more iron and magnesium than the layer above it
mesosphere - Answer- the layer of earth when broken down based on physical behavior
below the asthenosphere that is more rigid than the overlying material
mid-ocean ridges - Answer- a long ridge or mountain range at the bottom of the ocean
formed at a divergent boundary
Mohorovičić Discontinuity - Answer- the base of the crust identified by geologists by
observing waves traveling faster below this point indicating a change in composition
oceanic crust - Answer- the more dense and thinner layer of the crust
outer core - Answer- the portion of the core that behaves like a liquid and is responsible
for the generation of earth's magnetic field
passive margin - Answer- coastlines where the land side and the ocean side are on the
same plate such that the coastline does not mark the plate boundary
plate boundaries - Answer- the place where two or more plates come in contact with
one another
plate tectonics - Answer- the theory that the earth's outer layer is made of pieces of
oceanic and/or continental crust that move around independently of one another
creating earthquakes, mountains, oceans, and volcanoes
releasing bend - Answer- a bend along a transform boundary where tensional stress, or
pulling, occurs causing a depression to form
2025|2026 UPDATES) EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
hotspot - Answer- area in the lithospheric plate where molten magma breaks through
and creates a volcanic center, islands in the ocean and mountains on land
inner core - Answer- the portion of the core that behaves as a solid
lithosphere - Answer- the outermost layer of earth when broken down based on physical
behavior made up of the crust and solid upper mantle
mantle - Answer- the middle layer of the earth when broken down based on chemical
composition composed of much more iron and magnesium than the layer above it
mesosphere - Answer- the layer of earth when broken down based on physical behavior
below the asthenosphere that is more rigid than the overlying material
mid-ocean ridges - Answer- a long ridge or mountain range at the bottom of the ocean
formed at a divergent boundary
Mohorovičić Discontinuity - Answer- the base of the crust identified by geologists by
observing waves traveling faster below this point indicating a change in composition
oceanic crust - Answer- the more dense and thinner layer of the crust
outer core - Answer- the portion of the core that behaves like a liquid and is responsible
for the generation of earth's magnetic field
passive margin - Answer- coastlines where the land side and the ocean side are on the
same plate such that the coastline does not mark the plate boundary
plate boundaries - Answer- the place where two or more plates come in contact with
one another
plate tectonics - Answer- the theory that the earth's outer layer is made of pieces of
oceanic and/or continental crust that move around independently of one another
creating earthquakes, mountains, oceans, and volcanoes
releasing bend - Answer- a bend along a transform boundary where tensional stress, or
pulling, occurs causing a depression to form
