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ESS 101 Midterm Exam – Questions With Applicable Solutions

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ESS 101 Midterm Exam – Questions With Applicable Solutions

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ESS 101
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ESS 101










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Institution
ESS 101
Course
ESS 101

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Uploaded on
December 3, 2025
Number of pages
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Written in
2025/2026
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ESS 101 Midterm Exam – Questions With Applicable
Solutions

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Terms in this set (159)


Match the magma type with Basalt
the appropriate tectonic
setting where it likely forms:
Iceland

Match the magma type with Granite
the appropriate tectonic
setting where it likely forms:
Sierra Nevada Batholith

Match the magma type with Andesite
the appropriate tectonic
setting where it likely forms:
Phillipine Islands

The Columbia Plateau is Basalt
composed of rock rich in

The melting temperature of Increases as pressure is reduced (as it rises)
granitic magma (wet melt)

A partial melt of the The above question is incorrect because an
asthenosphere will not rise asthenospheric melt will rise towards the surface
toward the surface
because

How do we know that Earth Dense elements exist that could only have been formed
was created from the through a Supernova event
debris of a previous star
system?

, - Supernova and formation of primordial dust cloud


- condensation of primordial dust. Forms disk-shaped
nebular cloud rotating counter-clockwise

Steps of the Nebular
- Proto sun and planets begin to form
Hypothesis

- Accretion of planetesimals and differentiation of
planets and moons


- Existing solar system takes shape

- planets and moons revolve in a counter-clockwise
direction (v. random)

Evidence to support the
- Planetary orbits are aligned along the sun's equatorial
nebular hypothesis
plane (v. random)


- Observations from Hubble and radio astronomy

- Close to the sun, dense
Characteristics of Terrestrial
Planets
- Small, rocky (silicate minerals, metallic cores)

- Far from the sun, low density
Characteristics of Jovian
Planets
- Large, gaseous (hydrogen, methane)

Can you explain why the - Key word: heat.
earth and terrestrial planets
have so little molecular - Jovian planets are located far enough away from the
hydrogen comprising their sun that molecular hydrogen is cool and dense enough
respective atmospheres; to remain in their atmosphere
yet the primarodial dust
cloud was mostly - Terrestrial planets are close enough to the sun that
comprised of hydrogen molecular hydrogen would be too heated, not dense
gas? enough to remain in the atmosphere

What's the inner and outer Iron-Nickel Core
core of the earth made of?

Inner core in which phase? solid

Outer core in which phase? liquid

What's the mantle made Fe-Mg Silicate
of?

, What's the crust made of? Fe-Mg-Al Silicate

- Iron-Nickel Core
- Fe-Mg Silicate Mantle
Differentiated earth order
- Fe-Mg-Al Silicate Crust (ocean and continental)
(starting from center)
- Oceans
- Atmosphere

How is the earth Along a density gradient
compositionally zoned?

- accretion of planetesimals


- initial heating due to kinetic energy of colliding
planetesimals and compressional heating


- Additional heating from radioactive decay

How did the earth become
- melting point reached, dense iron sinks to core while
compositionally zoned?
lighter minerals are displaced outwards


- earth becomes compositionally zoned based on
density


- convective overturn in asthenosphere, mantle, and
outer core continues today

Why did the earth heat up - Conduction: SLOW, rate of heat leaving too slow to
and then rapidly cool cool the rapidly heating planet, therefore liquification
during the differentiation
process? - Convection: FAST, liquid--> solid, rapid cooling

Which heat transfer process - CONVECTION. Conduction requires atom-to-atom
is more efficient? heat transfer, a very slow process

- weathering
Why does the earth
- vegetation
possess little evidence of
- spreading of ocean crust-- old crust getting
its early accretion history?
subducted

What earth features were - ocean and atmosphere formed from degassing +
formed from degassing? condensation

What evidence do - meteorological evidence
scientists use to support - density properties of the earth
the inferred compositional - magnetic field evidence
zonation? - seismic wave evidence

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