APES Unit 4 Earth Systems Exam Review Questions with
Solutions
What are the four layers of the Earth? - -Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, and Inner Core
-Crust - -Thin, Outermost layer
-Mantle - -Between core and crust, makes up most of Earth's volume
-Outer Core - -Made of iron and nickel, liquid
-Inner core - -Solid metal, iron and nickel, extremely hot
-Continental crust. - -The portion of the earth's crust that primarily contains granite and is
less dense than oceanic crust
-Oceanic crust - -the portion of Earth's crust that is usually below the oceans and not
associated with continental areas, thinner and higher in density that continental crust and
basaltic rather than granitic in composition
-Divergent Plate Boundary - -Plates move away from each other, earthquakes and magma
are common
-Convergent Plate Boundary - -Two plates come together, subduction happens,
earthquakes can occur
-Why are plates moving? - -Convection currents in the mantle underneath the crust. which
releases intense heat in the core.
-Why do oceanic plates dive underneath continental plates when they collide? - -When an
oceanic and a continental plate collide, eventually the oceanic plate is subducted under the
continental plate due to the high density of the oceanic plate.
-Subduction - -The process that occurs when one tectonic plate moves under another
tectonic plate and produces volcano arcs
-Mid-ocean ridge - -a long, seismically active submarine ridge system situated in the
middle of an ocean basin and marking the site of the upwelling of magma associated with
seafloor spreading.
-Where are Mid-ocean ridges formed? - -Ocean Basin
-Example of Mid-ocean ridges - -Mid Atlantic Ridge
, -How are mountains made? - -Pieces of Earth's crust (plates) smash against each other in a
process called plate tectonics
-What two plates are grinding together to form the San Andreas fault in California? - -
North American and Pacific Plates
-What type of plate boundary exists in San Andreas, California? - -Strike Slip/Transform
Fault
-How are island arcs and trenches made? - -In subduction zone, magma rises up and cools
forming an arc of volcanic islands, trench is the convergent boundary
-Soil Formation - -Weathering of rock and the accumulation of organic material
-Soil Horizons - -Distinct layers of soil
-What is soil made of? - -Soil is made of Minerals, organic material, water, organism,
broken down pieces of rock, humus (rotted plant and animal material), water, air, and
bacteria.
-How is soil made? - -Formed from weathering of rocks
-O horizon - -Organic material, the organic horizon at the surface of many soils, composed
of organic detritus in various stages of decomposition
-A horizon - -Topsoil, decomposed organic material
-B horizon - -Subsoil, rich in minerals
-C horizon - -Sediments, parent material
-R horizon - -bedrock, parent material
-Soil Conservation - -A method to maintain the fertility of the soil by protecting the soil
from erosion and nutrient loss
-Techniques that keep soil in place - -1. No till farming, soil if left alone and plants
decompose, providing energy and minerals to soil
2. Crop Rotation and Cover crops, slows soil depletion, cover crops keep soil in place during
storms/rainfall
3. Countour farming, plant along a hillside, keeps rainwater from washing soil away
4. Windbreaks and Stream Buffers- keeps wind from damaging soil, buffer keep streams
from depleting soil
-Soil composition - -a mixture of rock particles, minerals, decayed organic material, air,
and water
Solutions
What are the four layers of the Earth? - -Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, and Inner Core
-Crust - -Thin, Outermost layer
-Mantle - -Between core and crust, makes up most of Earth's volume
-Outer Core - -Made of iron and nickel, liquid
-Inner core - -Solid metal, iron and nickel, extremely hot
-Continental crust. - -The portion of the earth's crust that primarily contains granite and is
less dense than oceanic crust
-Oceanic crust - -the portion of Earth's crust that is usually below the oceans and not
associated with continental areas, thinner and higher in density that continental crust and
basaltic rather than granitic in composition
-Divergent Plate Boundary - -Plates move away from each other, earthquakes and magma
are common
-Convergent Plate Boundary - -Two plates come together, subduction happens,
earthquakes can occur
-Why are plates moving? - -Convection currents in the mantle underneath the crust. which
releases intense heat in the core.
-Why do oceanic plates dive underneath continental plates when they collide? - -When an
oceanic and a continental plate collide, eventually the oceanic plate is subducted under the
continental plate due to the high density of the oceanic plate.
-Subduction - -The process that occurs when one tectonic plate moves under another
tectonic plate and produces volcano arcs
-Mid-ocean ridge - -a long, seismically active submarine ridge system situated in the
middle of an ocean basin and marking the site of the upwelling of magma associated with
seafloor spreading.
-Where are Mid-ocean ridges formed? - -Ocean Basin
-Example of Mid-ocean ridges - -Mid Atlantic Ridge
, -How are mountains made? - -Pieces of Earth's crust (plates) smash against each other in a
process called plate tectonics
-What two plates are grinding together to form the San Andreas fault in California? - -
North American and Pacific Plates
-What type of plate boundary exists in San Andreas, California? - -Strike Slip/Transform
Fault
-How are island arcs and trenches made? - -In subduction zone, magma rises up and cools
forming an arc of volcanic islands, trench is the convergent boundary
-Soil Formation - -Weathering of rock and the accumulation of organic material
-Soil Horizons - -Distinct layers of soil
-What is soil made of? - -Soil is made of Minerals, organic material, water, organism,
broken down pieces of rock, humus (rotted plant and animal material), water, air, and
bacteria.
-How is soil made? - -Formed from weathering of rocks
-O horizon - -Organic material, the organic horizon at the surface of many soils, composed
of organic detritus in various stages of decomposition
-A horizon - -Topsoil, decomposed organic material
-B horizon - -Subsoil, rich in minerals
-C horizon - -Sediments, parent material
-R horizon - -bedrock, parent material
-Soil Conservation - -A method to maintain the fertility of the soil by protecting the soil
from erosion and nutrient loss
-Techniques that keep soil in place - -1. No till farming, soil if left alone and plants
decompose, providing energy and minerals to soil
2. Crop Rotation and Cover crops, slows soil depletion, cover crops keep soil in place during
storms/rainfall
3. Countour farming, plant along a hillside, keeps rainwater from washing soil away
4. Windbreaks and Stream Buffers- keeps wind from damaging soil, buffer keep streams
from depleting soil
-Soil composition - -a mixture of rock particles, minerals, decayed organic material, air,
and water
