ESS 101 Answer: Midterm Exam
Questions with correct answers
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[COMPANY NAME] [Company address]
,1. Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic setting
where it likely forms Answer: Iceland Answer: basalt
2. Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic setting
where it likely forms Answer: Sierra Nevada Batholith Answer: granite
3. Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic setting
where it likely forms Answer: Phillipine Islands Answer: andesite
4. The Columbia Plateau is composed of rock rich in Answer: basalt
5. The melting temperature of granitic magma (wet melt) Answer:
increases as pressure is reduced (as it rises)
6. A partial melt of the asthenosphere will not rise toward the surface
because-
Answer: the above question is incorrect because an asthenospheric melt will rise towards the surface
7. How do we know that Earth was created from the debris of a
previous star system? Answer: Dense elements exist that could only have been formed
through a Supernova event
8. Steps of the Nebular Hypothesis Answer: - 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 ditterentiation of planets and moons
-Existing solar system takes shape
9. Evidence to support the nebular hypothesis Answer: - planets and moons revolve
in a counter-clock- wise direction (v. random)
-Planetary orbits are aligned along the sun's equatorial plane (v. random)
-Observations from Hubble and radio astronomy
10. Characteristics of Terrestrial Planets Answer: - Close to the sun, dense
-Small, rocky (silicate minerals, metallic cores)
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, 11. Characteristics of Jovian Planets Answer: - Far from the sun, low density
-Large, gaseous (hydrogen, methane)
12. 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?
Answer: - Key word Answer: 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
13. What's the inner and outer core of the earth made of? Answer:
Iron-Nickel Core
14. Inner core in which phase? Answer: solid
15. Outer core in which phase? Answer: liquid
16. What's the mantle made of? Answer: Fe-Mg Silicate
17. What's the crust made of? Answer: Fe-Mg-Al Silicate
18. Differentiated earth order (starting from center) Answer: - Iron-
Nickel Core
-Fe-Mg Silicate Mantle
-Fe-Mg-Al Silicate Crust (ocean and continental)
-Oceans
-Atmosphere
19. How is the earth compositionally zoned? Answer: Along a density
gradient
20. How did the earth become compositionally zoned? Answer: -
accretion of planetesimals
-initial heating due to kinetic energy of colliding planetesimals and compressional heating
-Additional heating from radioactive decay
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Questions with correct answers
usr
[COMPANY NAME] [Company address]
,1. Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic setting
where it likely forms Answer: Iceland Answer: basalt
2. Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic setting
where it likely forms Answer: Sierra Nevada Batholith Answer: granite
3. Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic setting
where it likely forms Answer: Phillipine Islands Answer: andesite
4. The Columbia Plateau is composed of rock rich in Answer: basalt
5. The melting temperature of granitic magma (wet melt) Answer:
increases as pressure is reduced (as it rises)
6. A partial melt of the asthenosphere will not rise toward the surface
because-
Answer: the above question is incorrect because an asthenospheric melt will rise towards the surface
7. How do we know that Earth was created from the debris of a
previous star system? Answer: Dense elements exist that could only have been formed
through a Supernova event
8. Steps of the Nebular Hypothesis Answer: - 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 ditterentiation of planets and moons
-Existing solar system takes shape
9. Evidence to support the nebular hypothesis Answer: - planets and moons revolve
in a counter-clock- wise direction (v. random)
-Planetary orbits are aligned along the sun's equatorial plane (v. random)
-Observations from Hubble and radio astronomy
10. Characteristics of Terrestrial Planets Answer: - Close to the sun, dense
-Small, rocky (silicate minerals, metallic cores)
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26
, 11. Characteristics of Jovian Planets Answer: - Far from the sun, low density
-Large, gaseous (hydrogen, methane)
12. 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?
Answer: - Key word Answer: 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
13. What's the inner and outer core of the earth made of? Answer:
Iron-Nickel Core
14. Inner core in which phase? Answer: solid
15. Outer core in which phase? Answer: liquid
16. What's the mantle made of? Answer: Fe-Mg Silicate
17. What's the crust made of? Answer: Fe-Mg-Al Silicate
18. Differentiated earth order (starting from center) Answer: - Iron-
Nickel Core
-Fe-Mg Silicate Mantle
-Fe-Mg-Al Silicate Crust (ocean and continental)
-Oceans
-Atmosphere
19. How is the earth compositionally zoned? Answer: Along a density
gradient
20. How did the earth become compositionally zoned? Answer: -
accretion of planetesimals
-initial heating due to kinetic energy of colliding planetesimals and compressional heating
-Additional heating from radioactive decay
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26
