Geology 1010-Exam 1 Questions and
Answers
Be able to distinguish between physical and historical geology. - Answer-• Physical
geology - examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the many
processes that operate beneath and upon its surface.
• Historical geology - seeks an understanding of the origin of Earth and its development
through time.
Be able to define the terms: theory, hypothesis, natural law, science - Answer-• Theory -
a well-tested and widely accepted view that the scientific community agrees best
explains certain observable facts.
• Hypothesis - a tentative (or untested) explanation.
• Natural Law- the use of natural laws or principles to reach a logically certain
conclusion. (deduction) (can be used with hypothesis or theory)
• Science- assumes the natural world is consistent and predictable.
Know the general steps or order in scientific investigation or methods. - Answer-•
Scientific methods involve gathering facts through observations and testing, and the
formulation of hypotheses and theories.
• Hypotheses are continually tested and refined.
• Hypotheses that are found to be incorrect are
rejected.
• New hypotheses are formulated, based on the results of testing and observations.
Know the four "spheres" that make up the Earth's physical environment. - Answer-•
Hydrosphere (all liquid and solid H2O)
• Atmosphere (gases surrounding Earth)
• Biosphere (all living things and habitats)
• Solid Earth (Geosphere)
Know the currently accepted age of the Earth. - Answer-4.5 billion years
Be familiar with the Nebular Theory (hypothesis). - Answer-• About 5 billion years ago
the nebula began to contract
• Assumes a flat, disk shape with the protosun (pre-Sun) at the center
• Inner planets begin to form from metallic and rocky clumps of substances with high
melting points
• Larger outer planets began forming from fragments with a high percentage of ices -
water, carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia
Be familiar with the gases of the early atmosphere. How it formed and how it has
changed to the way it is today. - Answer-• Water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and
several trace gases
, • Atmosphere formed from volcanic gases
• Very little free oxygen
• Water vapor condenses and forms primitive oceans as Earth cools
What is a protosun? - Answer-A sun (star) that is still forming.
Be familiar with the Earth's internal layers and their properties and compositions. -
Answer-• Chemical composition
• Physical properties
Layers defined by composition
• Crust • Mantle • Core
Physical Properties
• Lithosphere• Asthenosphere • Mesosphere• Core
Be able to identify the many differences between continental crust and oceanic crust
(thickness, composition, etc.). - Answer-Continental Crust
• Lighter
• Granitic rocks
Oceanic Crust
• Denser
• Composed primarily of basalt
How are seismic waves used to study the interior of the Earth? - Answer-• reflect
(bounce off)
• refract (bend)
• diffract (bend around)
Sound waves travel faster through hard material like the earths core. The hotter the rock
is, the less stiff it is. From this, scientists can tell how hard the rock is in various places
in the earth and the transition places between those different hardnesses
What happens to the paths of seismic waves when they encounter a different layer
inside the Earth? - Answer-They reflect, refract and diffract
What is the name of the crust/mantle boundary? - Answer-lithosphere or Moho
Where did the iron and nickel in the Earth's core come from? - Answer-Outer core
Where did the raw materials for the Earth's water and atmosphere come from? -
Answer-Comets and asteroids
Which layer of the Earth is thought to generate the Earth's magnetic field? - Answer-
Outer core
Answers
Be able to distinguish between physical and historical geology. - Answer-• Physical
geology - examines the materials composing Earth and seeks to understand the many
processes that operate beneath and upon its surface.
• Historical geology - seeks an understanding of the origin of Earth and its development
through time.
Be able to define the terms: theory, hypothesis, natural law, science - Answer-• Theory -
a well-tested and widely accepted view that the scientific community agrees best
explains certain observable facts.
• Hypothesis - a tentative (or untested) explanation.
• Natural Law- the use of natural laws or principles to reach a logically certain
conclusion. (deduction) (can be used with hypothesis or theory)
• Science- assumes the natural world is consistent and predictable.
Know the general steps or order in scientific investigation or methods. - Answer-•
Scientific methods involve gathering facts through observations and testing, and the
formulation of hypotheses and theories.
• Hypotheses are continually tested and refined.
• Hypotheses that are found to be incorrect are
rejected.
• New hypotheses are formulated, based on the results of testing and observations.
Know the four "spheres" that make up the Earth's physical environment. - Answer-•
Hydrosphere (all liquid and solid H2O)
• Atmosphere (gases surrounding Earth)
• Biosphere (all living things and habitats)
• Solid Earth (Geosphere)
Know the currently accepted age of the Earth. - Answer-4.5 billion years
Be familiar with the Nebular Theory (hypothesis). - Answer-• About 5 billion years ago
the nebula began to contract
• Assumes a flat, disk shape with the protosun (pre-Sun) at the center
• Inner planets begin to form from metallic and rocky clumps of substances with high
melting points
• Larger outer planets began forming from fragments with a high percentage of ices -
water, carbon dioxide, methane and ammonia
Be familiar with the gases of the early atmosphere. How it formed and how it has
changed to the way it is today. - Answer-• Water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and
several trace gases
, • Atmosphere formed from volcanic gases
• Very little free oxygen
• Water vapor condenses and forms primitive oceans as Earth cools
What is a protosun? - Answer-A sun (star) that is still forming.
Be familiar with the Earth's internal layers and their properties and compositions. -
Answer-• Chemical composition
• Physical properties
Layers defined by composition
• Crust • Mantle • Core
Physical Properties
• Lithosphere• Asthenosphere • Mesosphere• Core
Be able to identify the many differences between continental crust and oceanic crust
(thickness, composition, etc.). - Answer-Continental Crust
• Lighter
• Granitic rocks
Oceanic Crust
• Denser
• Composed primarily of basalt
How are seismic waves used to study the interior of the Earth? - Answer-• reflect
(bounce off)
• refract (bend)
• diffract (bend around)
Sound waves travel faster through hard material like the earths core. The hotter the rock
is, the less stiff it is. From this, scientists can tell how hard the rock is in various places
in the earth and the transition places between those different hardnesses
What happens to the paths of seismic waves when they encounter a different layer
inside the Earth? - Answer-They reflect, refract and diffract
What is the name of the crust/mantle boundary? - Answer-lithosphere or Moho
Where did the iron and nickel in the Earth's core come from? - Answer-Outer core
Where did the raw materials for the Earth's water and atmosphere come from? -
Answer-Comets and asteroids
Which layer of the Earth is thought to generate the Earth's magnetic field? - Answer-
Outer core
