ESS 101 UPDATED ACTUAL EXAM
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
●● Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic setting where it
likely forms: Sierra Nevada Batholith
Answer: granite
●● Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic setting where it
likely forms: Phillipine Islands
Answer: andesite
●● The Columbia Plateau is composed of rock rich in
Answer: basalt
●● The melting temperature of granitic magma (wet melt)
Answer: increases as pressure is reduced (as it rises)
●● 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
,●● 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
●● 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 differentiation of planets and moons
- Existing solar system takes shape
●● Evidence to support the nebular hypothesis
Answer: - 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
Answer: - Close to the sun, dense
- Small, rocky (silicate minerals, metallic cores)
●● Characteristics of Jovian Planets
Answer: - 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?
Answer: - 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?
Answer: Iron-Nickel Core
●● Inner core in which phase?
Answer: solid
●● Outer core in which phase?
Answer: liquid
●● What's the mantle made of?
Answer: Fe-Mg Silicate
●● What's the crust made of?
Answer: Fe-Mg-Al Silicate
●● Differentiated earth order (starting from center)
Answer: - Iron-Nickel Core
- Fe-Mg Silicate Mantle
- Fe-Mg-Al Silicate Crust (ocean and continental)
- Oceans
- Atmosphere
QUESTIONS AND CORRECT ANSWERS
●● Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic setting where it
likely forms: Sierra Nevada Batholith
Answer: granite
●● Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic setting where it
likely forms: Phillipine Islands
Answer: andesite
●● The Columbia Plateau is composed of rock rich in
Answer: basalt
●● The melting temperature of granitic magma (wet melt)
Answer: increases as pressure is reduced (as it rises)
●● 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
,●● 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
●● 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 differentiation of planets and moons
- Existing solar system takes shape
●● Evidence to support the nebular hypothesis
Answer: - 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
Answer: - Close to the sun, dense
- Small, rocky (silicate minerals, metallic cores)
●● Characteristics of Jovian Planets
Answer: - 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?
Answer: - 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?
Answer: Iron-Nickel Core
●● Inner core in which phase?
Answer: solid
●● Outer core in which phase?
Answer: liquid
●● What's the mantle made of?
Answer: Fe-Mg Silicate
●● What's the crust made of?
Answer: Fe-Mg-Al Silicate
●● Differentiated earth order (starting from center)
Answer: - Iron-Nickel Core
- Fe-Mg Silicate Mantle
- Fe-Mg-Al Silicate Crust (ocean and continental)
- Oceans
- Atmosphere
