GES Exam 1 Questions with Complete
Solutions16
When does complete melting of rocks occur? - ANSWERS -1200 degrees C
What does temperature depend on? - ANSWERS -rock composition
How does pressure influence rock melting? - ANSWERS -pressure influences rock melting as
greater pressures occur with depth and cause
rocks to resist melting
How does the presence of water effect melting temperature? - ANSWERS -water greatly reduces
melting temperature
Is magma less or more dense than solid rock? - ANSWERS -magma is less dense than the solid
rock it formed from, so it rises
What happens when magma starts to push its way up? - ANSWERS -once magma starts to push
its way up, pressure decreases, allowing decompression
melting and the release of gases
What determines the eruptive style of the volcano? - ANSWERS -the process of ascent and the
magma characteristics
Midocean ridges, hotspots and basaltic magmas - ANSWERS -Sourced by molten mantle
material; partial melting due to decompression
,Continental rifts and rhyolitic magmas - ANSWERS -Confined within continental crust; partial
melting of silica-rich continental crust
Subduction zones and andesitic magmas - ANSWERS -Ocean-ocean and ocean-continent
subduction zones have high water content
and undergo wet melting; magma forms in the mantle and rises up through overlying crust
Anthroposphere - ANSWERS -the part of the environment that is made or modified by humans
for use in human activities and human habitats; includes the technosphere, specifically to
technology, machines, and the built
environment
Atmosphere - ANSWERS -the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet-outer
boundary of the earth system; very very thin layer, but it protects life from
damaging solar radiation, is the reservoir for oxygen and carbon dioxide
Biosphere - ANSWERS -includes all of Earth's organisms and matter that has not yet
decomposed; the biosphere greatly affects every other of Earth's systems
Cryosphere - ANSWERS -part of the Earth where the surface is frozen, comprising the area
covered by ice sheets and glaciers, permafrost regions, and sea areas covered by ice
Cycle - ANSWERS -a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order
Earth System Science - ANSWERS -the new holisitic approach to studying the Earth as a whole
system of many interacting parts: the ocean, the atmosphere, the continents, lakes and rivers,
soils, plants, and animals
, Geosphere - ANSWERS -solid earth composed of mainly rock and regolith; where energy that
comes into the Earth system from outside sources meets energy that comes from within the
planet, energy sources combine and compete to build up and wear down materials of the
Earth's surface
Hydrologic Cycle - ANSWERS -the natural sequence through which water passes into the
atmosphere as water vapor, precipitates to earth in liquid or solid form, and ultimately returns
to the atmosphere through evaporation
Hydrosphere - ANSWERS -the totality of earth's water including oceans, lakes, streams,
underground water, and all snow and ice; the perennially frozen parts of the hydrosphere are
collectively the
cryosphere; the hydrosphere and the atmosphere store, purify, and continually
redistribute water
What are the four systems? - ANSWERS -the atmosphere, the geosphere, the hydrosphere, and
the biosphere
How does science advance? - ANSWERS -by application of the scientific method
What is the scientific method based on? - ANSWERS -observations and the systematic collection
of evidence that can be seen and tested by anyone with resources
What do scientists start with? - ANSWERS -an observation; they then seek to acquire evidence
about it through measurement and experimentation
How do scientists explain their observations? - ANSWERS -by developing a hypothesis
Hypothesis - ANSWERS -a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited
evidence as a starting point for further investigation
Solutions16
When does complete melting of rocks occur? - ANSWERS -1200 degrees C
What does temperature depend on? - ANSWERS -rock composition
How does pressure influence rock melting? - ANSWERS -pressure influences rock melting as
greater pressures occur with depth and cause
rocks to resist melting
How does the presence of water effect melting temperature? - ANSWERS -water greatly reduces
melting temperature
Is magma less or more dense than solid rock? - ANSWERS -magma is less dense than the solid
rock it formed from, so it rises
What happens when magma starts to push its way up? - ANSWERS -once magma starts to push
its way up, pressure decreases, allowing decompression
melting and the release of gases
What determines the eruptive style of the volcano? - ANSWERS -the process of ascent and the
magma characteristics
Midocean ridges, hotspots and basaltic magmas - ANSWERS -Sourced by molten mantle
material; partial melting due to decompression
,Continental rifts and rhyolitic magmas - ANSWERS -Confined within continental crust; partial
melting of silica-rich continental crust
Subduction zones and andesitic magmas - ANSWERS -Ocean-ocean and ocean-continent
subduction zones have high water content
and undergo wet melting; magma forms in the mantle and rises up through overlying crust
Anthroposphere - ANSWERS -the part of the environment that is made or modified by humans
for use in human activities and human habitats; includes the technosphere, specifically to
technology, machines, and the built
environment
Atmosphere - ANSWERS -the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet-outer
boundary of the earth system; very very thin layer, but it protects life from
damaging solar radiation, is the reservoir for oxygen and carbon dioxide
Biosphere - ANSWERS -includes all of Earth's organisms and matter that has not yet
decomposed; the biosphere greatly affects every other of Earth's systems
Cryosphere - ANSWERS -part of the Earth where the surface is frozen, comprising the area
covered by ice sheets and glaciers, permafrost regions, and sea areas covered by ice
Cycle - ANSWERS -a series of events that are regularly repeated in the same order
Earth System Science - ANSWERS -the new holisitic approach to studying the Earth as a whole
system of many interacting parts: the ocean, the atmosphere, the continents, lakes and rivers,
soils, plants, and animals
, Geosphere - ANSWERS -solid earth composed of mainly rock and regolith; where energy that
comes into the Earth system from outside sources meets energy that comes from within the
planet, energy sources combine and compete to build up and wear down materials of the
Earth's surface
Hydrologic Cycle - ANSWERS -the natural sequence through which water passes into the
atmosphere as water vapor, precipitates to earth in liquid or solid form, and ultimately returns
to the atmosphere through evaporation
Hydrosphere - ANSWERS -the totality of earth's water including oceans, lakes, streams,
underground water, and all snow and ice; the perennially frozen parts of the hydrosphere are
collectively the
cryosphere; the hydrosphere and the atmosphere store, purify, and continually
redistribute water
What are the four systems? - ANSWERS -the atmosphere, the geosphere, the hydrosphere, and
the biosphere
How does science advance? - ANSWERS -by application of the scientific method
What is the scientific method based on? - ANSWERS -observations and the systematic collection
of evidence that can be seen and tested by anyone with resources
What do scientists start with? - ANSWERS -an observation; they then seek to acquire evidence
about it through measurement and experimentation
How do scientists explain their observations? - ANSWERS -by developing a hypothesis
Hypothesis - ANSWERS -a supposition or proposed explanation made on the basis of limited
evidence as a starting point for further investigation
