GEO 101 Test 1 UA Actual Latest set with
Questions and correct/verified Answers
What is Geology? - ANSWER-The study of the Earth, including our planet's composition, behavior, and
history.
What is Physical Geology? - ANSWER-The study of physical features of the earth's surface.
What is uniformitarianism? - ANSWER-The belief that Earth's past geological changes can be fully
explained by processes taking place now.
What is the concept of uniformitarianism and why is it important ? - ANSWER-The present is the key to
the past. Uniformitarianism is important because it helps geologists understand how earth worked in the
past
Geologic Time - ANSWER-The span of time since the formation of the Earth.
How old is the Earth? - ANSWER-4.57 Billion years-old
How is the age of earth determined? - ANSWER-By the decay of long-lived radioactive isotopes of
elements that occur naturally in rocks and minerals and that decay with half lives of 700 million to more
than 100 billion years to stable isotopes of other elements.
Magnitude of Geologic Time - ANSWER-Involves vast times- millions or billions of years (Geologic process
may be gradual or rapid)
The Nature of Scientific Inquiry - ANSWER-Science assumes the natural world is consistent and
predictable, goal of science is to discover patters in nature and use the knowledge to make predictions,
scientists collect data through observation and measurements.
Hypothesis - ANSWER-A proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations
Theory - ANSWER-a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world
Scientific Methods - ANSWER-a series of steps followed to solve problems, including collecting data,
formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions
Subsystems of the Earth - ANSWER-The Atmosphere, The Crust, The Mantle, The Core, The Lithosphere
and Asthenosphere
Geology and its effects on our lives - ANSWER-Global Warming, Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Economy,
Resources
Origin of Planet Earth - ANSWER-The Big Bang Theory
Nebular theory - ANSWER-theory that the sun and the planets condensed out of a spinning cloud of gas
and dust
Solar Nebular Hypothesis - ANSWER-a giant cloud of dust and gas collapsed (about 5 billion years ago
this happened and created our solar system)
, Origin of the Solar System - ANSWER-Solar Nebular Hypothesis
Inner Core - ANSWER-Depth of 5,155 km to 6,371 km, is a solid iron-nickel alloy that may reach a
temperature of over 4,700 degrees Celsius
Outer Core - ANSWER-Depth of 2,900 km and 5,155 km deep, is a liquid iron alloy (because of high
temperature), a layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth
The Mantle - ANSWER-2,885-km-thick layer surrounding the core, It is the intermediate layer. The
outermost part is solid and the deepest one is formed by molten rocks
Upper Mantle - ANSWER-depth of 400 km, layer of the earth that is a plastic like solid yet flows under
pressure
Lower mantle - ANSWER-Extends to core; does not melt b/c of high pressure
Asthenosphere - ANSWER-The solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle
rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on top of it
Lithosphere - ANSWER-the solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper
part of the mantle
Crust - ANSWER-the thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle
Oceanic Crust - ANSWER-7 to 10 km thick
Continental Crust - ANSWER-35 to 40 km thick
Plate Tectonics Theory - ANSWER-Theory that great slabs or plates of Earth's outer layer float on a hot,
semi-molten mantle. All plates are moving slowly and have rafted continents to new positions over time.
Divergent Boundaries - ANSWER-(a.k.a. normal faulting) is a place where 2 plates move apart. Most of
these types of boundaries occur at the mid-ocean ridge. On land, this boundary is called a rift valley,
such as the Great Rift Valley in East Africa and the Rio Grande in Texas.
Convergent Boundaries - ANSWER-(a.k.a. reverse fault) is a place where 2 plates come together. At
places where oceanic crust converges, the denser oceanic crust will dive under the other (subduction).
At places where oceanic crust and continental crust converge, the denser oceanic crust will dive under
(subduction) the less dense continental crust. At places where 2 continental crusts converge, subduction
does not take place. Rather, the plates crash and squeeze rock up into mountains!!!
Continental-continental convergent plate boundaries - ANSWER-areas of great compression and
mountain building
Continental-oceanic plate convergent boundaries - ANSWER-Denser oceanic slab sinks into
asthenosphere, along descending plate partial melting of mantle rock generates magma
Oceanic-oceanic convergent plate boundaries - ANSWER-When two oceanic slabs converge, one
descends beneath other, Often forms volcanoes on ocean floor
Questions and correct/verified Answers
What is Geology? - ANSWER-The study of the Earth, including our planet's composition, behavior, and
history.
What is Physical Geology? - ANSWER-The study of physical features of the earth's surface.
What is uniformitarianism? - ANSWER-The belief that Earth's past geological changes can be fully
explained by processes taking place now.
What is the concept of uniformitarianism and why is it important ? - ANSWER-The present is the key to
the past. Uniformitarianism is important because it helps geologists understand how earth worked in the
past
Geologic Time - ANSWER-The span of time since the formation of the Earth.
How old is the Earth? - ANSWER-4.57 Billion years-old
How is the age of earth determined? - ANSWER-By the decay of long-lived radioactive isotopes of
elements that occur naturally in rocks and minerals and that decay with half lives of 700 million to more
than 100 billion years to stable isotopes of other elements.
Magnitude of Geologic Time - ANSWER-Involves vast times- millions or billions of years (Geologic process
may be gradual or rapid)
The Nature of Scientific Inquiry - ANSWER-Science assumes the natural world is consistent and
predictable, goal of science is to discover patters in nature and use the knowledge to make predictions,
scientists collect data through observation and measurements.
Hypothesis - ANSWER-A proposal intended to explain certain facts or observations
Theory - ANSWER-a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world
Scientific Methods - ANSWER-a series of steps followed to solve problems, including collecting data,
formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions
Subsystems of the Earth - ANSWER-The Atmosphere, The Crust, The Mantle, The Core, The Lithosphere
and Asthenosphere
Geology and its effects on our lives - ANSWER-Global Warming, Tsunamis, Earthquakes, Economy,
Resources
Origin of Planet Earth - ANSWER-The Big Bang Theory
Nebular theory - ANSWER-theory that the sun and the planets condensed out of a spinning cloud of gas
and dust
Solar Nebular Hypothesis - ANSWER-a giant cloud of dust and gas collapsed (about 5 billion years ago
this happened and created our solar system)
, Origin of the Solar System - ANSWER-Solar Nebular Hypothesis
Inner Core - ANSWER-Depth of 5,155 km to 6,371 km, is a solid iron-nickel alloy that may reach a
temperature of over 4,700 degrees Celsius
Outer Core - ANSWER-Depth of 2,900 km and 5,155 km deep, is a liquid iron alloy (because of high
temperature), a layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth
The Mantle - ANSWER-2,885-km-thick layer surrounding the core, It is the intermediate layer. The
outermost part is solid and the deepest one is formed by molten rocks
Upper Mantle - ANSWER-depth of 400 km, layer of the earth that is a plastic like solid yet flows under
pressure
Lower mantle - ANSWER-Extends to core; does not melt b/c of high pressure
Asthenosphere - ANSWER-The solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle
rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on top of it
Lithosphere - ANSWER-the solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper
part of the mantle
Crust - ANSWER-the thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle
Oceanic Crust - ANSWER-7 to 10 km thick
Continental Crust - ANSWER-35 to 40 km thick
Plate Tectonics Theory - ANSWER-Theory that great slabs or plates of Earth's outer layer float on a hot,
semi-molten mantle. All plates are moving slowly and have rafted continents to new positions over time.
Divergent Boundaries - ANSWER-(a.k.a. normal faulting) is a place where 2 plates move apart. Most of
these types of boundaries occur at the mid-ocean ridge. On land, this boundary is called a rift valley,
such as the Great Rift Valley in East Africa and the Rio Grande in Texas.
Convergent Boundaries - ANSWER-(a.k.a. reverse fault) is a place where 2 plates come together. At
places where oceanic crust converges, the denser oceanic crust will dive under the other (subduction).
At places where oceanic crust and continental crust converge, the denser oceanic crust will dive under
(subduction) the less dense continental crust. At places where 2 continental crusts converge, subduction
does not take place. Rather, the plates crash and squeeze rock up into mountains!!!
Continental-continental convergent plate boundaries - ANSWER-areas of great compression and
mountain building
Continental-oceanic plate convergent boundaries - ANSWER-Denser oceanic slab sinks into
asthenosphere, along descending plate partial melting of mantle rock generates magma
Oceanic-oceanic convergent plate boundaries - ANSWER-When two oceanic slabs converge, one
descends beneath other, Often forms volcanoes on ocean floor
