GEOL 1500 EXAM 1 CAMPBELL ECU
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (RATED
A+)
T/F You use large quantities of geologic materials every single day? - ANSWERTrue
What is Geology? - ANSWERis the natural science that seeks to understand the
Earth
What is physical geology? - ANSWERstudy of earth materials and processes
What is historical geology? - ANSWERThe study of Earth's long history.
What is a paradigm? - ANSWERa well documented and broadly applicable super
theory
What is a theory? - ANSWERwell-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of
observations
What is a hypothesis? - ANSWERa tentative or preliminary explanation based on
limited data
What is the age of the universe? - ANSWER14 Ga or 14 billion years old
What is the age of the Earth? - ANSWER4.5 Ga or 4.5 billion years old
T/F there are numerous micro plates - ANSWERTrue
Why do plates move? - ANSWERUnequal distribution of heat in the mantle results in
convective flow. Cool and dense lithosphere sinks and hot and buoyant mantle rock
rises
What is constantly created and destroyed by sea floor spreading and subduction -
ANSWEROceanic lithosphere
What can rock magnetism do? - ANSWER1) Point in the direction of Earths
magnetic poles at the time the rock formed
2) Help determine the latitude where the rock formed
3)Allow reconstruction of plate position and movements thru time
What are the three types of rocks? - ANSWERIgneous, Sedimentary, and
Metamorphic
, What is the rock cycle? - ANSWERdiagram showing the processes of creating and
modifying geologic materials over time
How are igneous rocks formed? - ANSWERformed by the cooling and solidification
of magma
How are sedimentary rocks formed? - ANSWERformed from weathering of rocks
accumulated in layers at earths surface
How are metamorphic rocks formed? - ANSWERformed by applying heat and
pressure to a pre-existing rock
Layers of the Earth - ANSWERcrust, mantle, outer core, inner core
Gravity is the driving force for - ANSWERMass wasting, Erosion, Surface water
movement, Glaciers, Tides
What are the two primary sources of energy? - ANSWERThe Sun and Earths Interior
Heat
What is almost found everywhere on earth? - ANSWERWater
What is a common constituent for minerals and rocks? - ANSWERWater
What is fundamental to life on earth? - ANSWERWater
What are Compression waves? - ANSWERP waves are fastest and travel through
both liquids and solids
What are shear waves? - ANSWERcannot travel through liquids
What are seismic waves? - ANSWERcan be reflected off boundaries, and the waves
path is refracted when passing form one material and into another
What increases with depth in the earth? - ANSWERTemperature, Pressure, and
Density
What is the crust? - ANSWERis a rocky skin ranging from 2 miles thick to 45 miles
thick
T/F The oldest crust in on the continents, while the youngest is on the ocean floor -
ANSWERTrue
What is the density and composition of the continental crust? - ANSWERContinental
crust has an average density of 2.7 g/cm^3 and composed of granite
What is the density and composition of the oceanic crust? - ANSWEROceanic crust
has an average density of 3.0 g/cm^3 and composed of basalt and gabbro
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS (RATED
A+)
T/F You use large quantities of geologic materials every single day? - ANSWERTrue
What is Geology? - ANSWERis the natural science that seeks to understand the
Earth
What is physical geology? - ANSWERstudy of earth materials and processes
What is historical geology? - ANSWERThe study of Earth's long history.
What is a paradigm? - ANSWERa well documented and broadly applicable super
theory
What is a theory? - ANSWERwell-tested explanation that unifies a broad range of
observations
What is a hypothesis? - ANSWERa tentative or preliminary explanation based on
limited data
What is the age of the universe? - ANSWER14 Ga or 14 billion years old
What is the age of the Earth? - ANSWER4.5 Ga or 4.5 billion years old
T/F there are numerous micro plates - ANSWERTrue
Why do plates move? - ANSWERUnequal distribution of heat in the mantle results in
convective flow. Cool and dense lithosphere sinks and hot and buoyant mantle rock
rises
What is constantly created and destroyed by sea floor spreading and subduction -
ANSWEROceanic lithosphere
What can rock magnetism do? - ANSWER1) Point in the direction of Earths
magnetic poles at the time the rock formed
2) Help determine the latitude where the rock formed
3)Allow reconstruction of plate position and movements thru time
What are the three types of rocks? - ANSWERIgneous, Sedimentary, and
Metamorphic
, What is the rock cycle? - ANSWERdiagram showing the processes of creating and
modifying geologic materials over time
How are igneous rocks formed? - ANSWERformed by the cooling and solidification
of magma
How are sedimentary rocks formed? - ANSWERformed from weathering of rocks
accumulated in layers at earths surface
How are metamorphic rocks formed? - ANSWERformed by applying heat and
pressure to a pre-existing rock
Layers of the Earth - ANSWERcrust, mantle, outer core, inner core
Gravity is the driving force for - ANSWERMass wasting, Erosion, Surface water
movement, Glaciers, Tides
What are the two primary sources of energy? - ANSWERThe Sun and Earths Interior
Heat
What is almost found everywhere on earth? - ANSWERWater
What is a common constituent for minerals and rocks? - ANSWERWater
What is fundamental to life on earth? - ANSWERWater
What are Compression waves? - ANSWERP waves are fastest and travel through
both liquids and solids
What are shear waves? - ANSWERcannot travel through liquids
What are seismic waves? - ANSWERcan be reflected off boundaries, and the waves
path is refracted when passing form one material and into another
What increases with depth in the earth? - ANSWERTemperature, Pressure, and
Density
What is the crust? - ANSWERis a rocky skin ranging from 2 miles thick to 45 miles
thick
T/F The oldest crust in on the continents, while the youngest is on the ocean floor -
ANSWERTrue
What is the density and composition of the continental crust? - ANSWERContinental
crust has an average density of 2.7 g/cm^3 and composed of granite
What is the density and composition of the oceanic crust? - ANSWEROceanic crust
has an average density of 3.0 g/cm^3 and composed of basalt and gabbro
