WSU GEOLOGY 101 EXAM TEST 3 |COMPLETE STUDY
GUIDE WITH 100% ACCURATE QUESTIONS &ANSWERS.
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Understand the workings behind the scientific method. What are the different steps and
the balances and checks associated with the scientific method? Answer: Scientific
method: a sequence of steps for systematically analyzing scientific problems in a way
that leads to verifiable results
Hypothesis: a possible explanation that can explain a set of observations
Theory: scientific ideas supported by an abundance of evidence, passed many tests
and have failed none
Scientific Model: a precise representation of how a natural process operates or how a
natural system behaves (HIGHEST level of confidence)
Hypothesis-->Theory--> Scientific Model
The Earth began to differentiate forming a stratified Earth. How does density change
with depth? Answer: The density changes with depth by that the more into the earth
you go the denser it gets.
What are these zones? Answer: Crust, Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, TRANSITION
ZONE, Deep Mantle, D LAYER, Outer Core, and Inner Core.
Which one makes up the tectonic plates? Answer: Lithosphere
Which zones are strong and which ones are weak or ductile? Answer: Stronger:
Lithosphere (brittle), Deep Mantle, and Inner Core (solid)
Weaker: Outer core (liquid), Asthenosphere (ductile: very hot!)
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,How old is the Earth? Answer: About 4.5 billion years old
What is the theory of plate tectonics? Answer: The whole crust is made up of different
plates that are driven by the molten lava underneath; Plates are moving over the
asthenosphere and are constantly being broken down and recreated
What is the driving force behind plate tectonics? Answer: Convection: hot material rises
bc lower density as cooler material sinks bc higher density)
What type of plate boundary do earthquakes occur at? What type of plate boundary do
volcanoes occur at? Answer: Earthquakes occur at all boundaries; Volcanoes occur at
hot spots, convergent boundaries (ie: subduction zones), and divergent boundaries ( ie:
mid-ocean ridges and rifts).
What are the three main types of plate tectonic boundaries and any subdivisions of
each? Answer: Divergent: (mid-Atlantic ridge, Iceland, sea of Cortez)
Convergent: sub types: continental-continental (no volcanoes, Appalachians,
Himalayas) oceanic-oceanic (Japan, Philippines, Aleutian), continental-oceanic
(Cascades, Andes)
Transform: San Andreas
What are the plate motions relative to each other? What are the stresses associated
with each? Answer: Divergent:Plate motions: moving away from each other by
rifting/generating new crust, stress: tension
Convergent: moving towards each other, stress: compression
Transform: plates slide pass one another, stress: Shear
Are there any features associated with these boundaries (mid-ocean ridge, trench,
subduction zone, rift, volcanoes)? Answer: Divergent: mid-ocean ridge, rift
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, Convergent: mountains, volcanoes, islands
Transform: faults
What determines which plate will sub duct? Answer: Density; the more dense plate will
sub duct
-subduction: when a less dense plate boundary overrides another causing the more
dense one to sink. For example, oceanic crust is denser than continental crust so the
oceanic crust subducts underneath continental crust (such as with convergent ocean to
continent boundaries).
What are hot spots? Where would you find them? What feature/landform do you find
above them? Answer: They are a stationary, surface expression of volcanic activity; a
result of a thermal plate, which is a localized source of rising heat energy from the
mantle-core boundary. They are so hot/intense that they will burn holes in the plate and
erupt at the surface, forming volcanoes.
Do hot spots create or destroy oceanic or continental crust? Answer: They create &
destroy oceanic crust.
What is a mineral? Answer: A) Naturally occurring
B) Homogeneous: same order
C) Inorganic: no carbon-hydrogen bonds
E) Crystalline structure: maintain shape, do not conform to another object's shape
F) Distinctive chemical composition: set ratio
What are mineral polymorphs? What are the polymorphs of carbon? Answer: Minerals
with the same composition but different crystalline structure; graphite & diamonds are
polymorphs of carbon.
3
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
GUIDE WITH 100% ACCURATE QUESTIONS &ANSWERS.
EXCELLENCE GUARANTEED.
Understand the workings behind the scientific method. What are the different steps and
the balances and checks associated with the scientific method? Answer: Scientific
method: a sequence of steps for systematically analyzing scientific problems in a way
that leads to verifiable results
Hypothesis: a possible explanation that can explain a set of observations
Theory: scientific ideas supported by an abundance of evidence, passed many tests
and have failed none
Scientific Model: a precise representation of how a natural process operates or how a
natural system behaves (HIGHEST level of confidence)
Hypothesis-->Theory--> Scientific Model
The Earth began to differentiate forming a stratified Earth. How does density change
with depth? Answer: The density changes with depth by that the more into the earth
you go the denser it gets.
What are these zones? Answer: Crust, Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, TRANSITION
ZONE, Deep Mantle, D LAYER, Outer Core, and Inner Core.
Which one makes up the tectonic plates? Answer: Lithosphere
Which zones are strong and which ones are weak or ductile? Answer: Stronger:
Lithosphere (brittle), Deep Mantle, and Inner Core (solid)
Weaker: Outer core (liquid), Asthenosphere (ductile: very hot!)
1
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
,How old is the Earth? Answer: About 4.5 billion years old
What is the theory of plate tectonics? Answer: The whole crust is made up of different
plates that are driven by the molten lava underneath; Plates are moving over the
asthenosphere and are constantly being broken down and recreated
What is the driving force behind plate tectonics? Answer: Convection: hot material rises
bc lower density as cooler material sinks bc higher density)
What type of plate boundary do earthquakes occur at? What type of plate boundary do
volcanoes occur at? Answer: Earthquakes occur at all boundaries; Volcanoes occur at
hot spots, convergent boundaries (ie: subduction zones), and divergent boundaries ( ie:
mid-ocean ridges and rifts).
What are the three main types of plate tectonic boundaries and any subdivisions of
each? Answer: Divergent: (mid-Atlantic ridge, Iceland, sea of Cortez)
Convergent: sub types: continental-continental (no volcanoes, Appalachians,
Himalayas) oceanic-oceanic (Japan, Philippines, Aleutian), continental-oceanic
(Cascades, Andes)
Transform: San Andreas
What are the plate motions relative to each other? What are the stresses associated
with each? Answer: Divergent:Plate motions: moving away from each other by
rifting/generating new crust, stress: tension
Convergent: moving towards each other, stress: compression
Transform: plates slide pass one another, stress: Shear
Are there any features associated with these boundaries (mid-ocean ridge, trench,
subduction zone, rift, volcanoes)? Answer: Divergent: mid-ocean ridge, rift
2
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
, Convergent: mountains, volcanoes, islands
Transform: faults
What determines which plate will sub duct? Answer: Density; the more dense plate will
sub duct
-subduction: when a less dense plate boundary overrides another causing the more
dense one to sink. For example, oceanic crust is denser than continental crust so the
oceanic crust subducts underneath continental crust (such as with convergent ocean to
continent boundaries).
What are hot spots? Where would you find them? What feature/landform do you find
above them? Answer: They are a stationary, surface expression of volcanic activity; a
result of a thermal plate, which is a localized source of rising heat energy from the
mantle-core boundary. They are so hot/intense that they will burn holes in the plate and
erupt at the surface, forming volcanoes.
Do hot spots create or destroy oceanic or continental crust? Answer: They create &
destroy oceanic crust.
What is a mineral? Answer: A) Naturally occurring
B) Homogeneous: same order
C) Inorganic: no carbon-hydrogen bonds
E) Crystalline structure: maintain shape, do not conform to another object's shape
F) Distinctive chemical composition: set ratio
What are mineral polymorphs? What are the polymorphs of carbon? Answer: Minerals
with the same composition but different crystalline structure; graphite & diamonds are
polymorphs of carbon.
3
APPHIA - Crafted with Care and Precision for Academic Excellence.
