ESS 101: Midterm Exam Questions WITH
ANSWERS
Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic
setting where it likely forms: Iceland - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔basalt
Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic
setting where it likely forms: Sierra Nevada Batholith -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔granite
Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic
setting where it likely forms: Phillipine Islands - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔andesite
The Columbia Plateau is composed of rock rich in -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔basalt
The melting temperature of granitic magma (wet melt) -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔increases as pressure is reduced
(as it rises)
A partial melt of the asthenosphere will not rise toward
the surface because - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔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? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Dense
elements exist that could only have been formed through
a Supernova event
Steps of the Nebular Hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-
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 - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔- 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 - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔- Close to the sun, dense
- Small, rocky (silicate minerals, metallic cores)
Characteristics of Jovian Planets - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-
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? - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔- 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? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Iron-Nickel Core
Inner core in which phase? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔solid
Outer core in which phase? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔liquid
What's the mantle made of? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Fe-
Mg Silicate
What's the crust made of? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Fe-Mg-
Al Silicate
Differentiated earth order (starting from center) -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔- Iron-Nickel Core
- Fe-Mg Silicate Mantle
ANSWERS
Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic
setting where it likely forms: Iceland - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔basalt
Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic
setting where it likely forms: Sierra Nevada Batholith -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔granite
Match the magma type with the appropriate tectonic
setting where it likely forms: Phillipine Islands - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔andesite
The Columbia Plateau is composed of rock rich in -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔basalt
The melting temperature of granitic magma (wet melt) -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔increases as pressure is reduced
(as it rises)
A partial melt of the asthenosphere will not rise toward
the surface because - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔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? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Dense
elements exist that could only have been formed through
a Supernova event
Steps of the Nebular Hypothesis - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-
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 - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔- 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 - CORRECT ANSWERS
✔✔- Close to the sun, dense
- Small, rocky (silicate minerals, metallic cores)
Characteristics of Jovian Planets - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔-
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? - CORRECT
ANSWERS ✔✔- 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? -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Iron-Nickel Core
Inner core in which phase? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔solid
Outer core in which phase? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔liquid
What's the mantle made of? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Fe-
Mg Silicate
What's the crust made of? - CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔Fe-Mg-
Al Silicate
Differentiated earth order (starting from center) -
CORRECT ANSWERS ✔✔- Iron-Nickel Core
- Fe-Mg Silicate Mantle
