GEOLOGY 201 MIDTERM 1 EXAM QUESTIONS
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
4 objectives of geology
1. atmospheric science
2. hydrology
3. geology
4. biology
what is geology?
the scientific study of the Earth's processes and materials
steps of the scientific method
1. observe/collect data
2. form a hypothesis
3. test hypothesis
4. multiple lines of evidence gives one confidence
5. theory
how did our solar system form?
- giant cloud of hydrogen (Nebula) collapses due to gravity
- early sun= proto sun (flat spinning disk)
- heavy and light elements separate
- inner planets= rocky and metal
- outer planets= gaseous and lighter elements
how old is the moon?
4.5 billion years old and has same composition as Earth's crust
how old is Earth?
4.6 billion years old
how old are the oldest minerals?
4.4 billion years old
when did the oceans form?
4 billion years ago
how old are the oldest fossils?
3.5 billion years old
percentage of elements in early Earth
, 34.8% Iron
29.3% Oxygen
percentage of elements in continental crust
45.2% Oxygen
27.2% Silicon
how did spherical shapes develop?
spherical shapes develop from sufficient mass and gravity
compositional layers of Earth
- continental crust (O, Si, Al, Fe)
- oceanic crust (O, Si, Al, Fe)
- mantle (O, Si, Fe, Mg)
- core (Fe, Ni, S)
inner core properties
solid
outer core properties
fluid
mesosphere properties
solid and plastic
aesthenosphere properties
solid and plastic
lithosphere properties
solid and rigid
how are P, T, and D effected moving towards Earth's center?
pressure, temperature, and density all increase when moving towards the Earth's center
describe Earth's magnetic field
- metal ball in the center of Earth
- solid inner core
- liquid outer core
- fluid flow within liquid outer core
how can we measure the age of rocks?
radioactive isotopes
WITH VERIFIED ANSWERS
4 objectives of geology
1. atmospheric science
2. hydrology
3. geology
4. biology
what is geology?
the scientific study of the Earth's processes and materials
steps of the scientific method
1. observe/collect data
2. form a hypothesis
3. test hypothesis
4. multiple lines of evidence gives one confidence
5. theory
how did our solar system form?
- giant cloud of hydrogen (Nebula) collapses due to gravity
- early sun= proto sun (flat spinning disk)
- heavy and light elements separate
- inner planets= rocky and metal
- outer planets= gaseous and lighter elements
how old is the moon?
4.5 billion years old and has same composition as Earth's crust
how old is Earth?
4.6 billion years old
how old are the oldest minerals?
4.4 billion years old
when did the oceans form?
4 billion years ago
how old are the oldest fossils?
3.5 billion years old
percentage of elements in early Earth
, 34.8% Iron
29.3% Oxygen
percentage of elements in continental crust
45.2% Oxygen
27.2% Silicon
how did spherical shapes develop?
spherical shapes develop from sufficient mass and gravity
compositional layers of Earth
- continental crust (O, Si, Al, Fe)
- oceanic crust (O, Si, Al, Fe)
- mantle (O, Si, Fe, Mg)
- core (Fe, Ni, S)
inner core properties
solid
outer core properties
fluid
mesosphere properties
solid and plastic
aesthenosphere properties
solid and plastic
lithosphere properties
solid and rigid
how are P, T, and D effected moving towards Earth's center?
pressure, temperature, and density all increase when moving towards the Earth's center
describe Earth's magnetic field
- metal ball in the center of Earth
- solid inner core
- liquid outer core
- fluid flow within liquid outer core
how can we measure the age of rocks?
radioactive isotopes
