PHSC 210 Quiz Earth Systems: The Oceans | Full Questions and Answers | 2026
Update | 100% Correct.
Question 1
What is the term for the highest points of waves?
Troughs
Crests
Wave base
Wave period
Question 2
What is the specific heat capacity of water?
The highest among chemical compounds
The second highest among chemical compounds
The third highest among chemical compounds
The lowest among chemical compounds
Question 3
What forms an atoll lagoon?
A sea arch
A river delta
A barrier island
A collapsed volcanic caldera
Question 4
What is the phase change from solid (ice) to water vapor called?
Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation
Sublimation
Question 5
What is the largest atom that can form from the process of nuclear fusion?
hydrogen
helium
sodium
iron
Question 6
What percentage of Earth’s water is contained in the oceans?
70%
97%
50%
85%
Question 7
What is the most abundant chemical compound on Earth?
Ammonia
Water
Carbon Dioxide
Methane
, Question 8
What vessel’s research marked the general beginning of modern oceanography?
Coast Survey Steamer Corwin
HMS Porcupine
HMS Lightening
HMS Challenger
Question 9
What elements are most igneous rocks in the crust rich in?
Na, Ca, K, Mg, Fe, O, Si
Cl, C, S, N
H, He, Li, Be
Au, Ag, Pt, Pd
Question 10
At what temperature does water expand until it freezes?
0°C
4°C
10°C
-4°C
Question 11
What are sea caves also known as?
Littoral caves
Coastal caves
Marine caves
Oceanic caves
Question 12
What is the average depth of the oceans?
2.3 km
3.6 km
4.5 km
5.2 km
Question 13
Who modified the Thomson sounding machine and designed the Sigsbee sounding
machine?
Wyville Thomson
Louis de Pourtales
Charles Sigsbee
Matthew Maury
Question 14
Which process in the water cycle involves the phase change from liquid to water
vapor?
Condensation
Precipitation
Evaporation
Sublimation
Update | 100% Correct.
Question 1
What is the term for the highest points of waves?
Troughs
Crests
Wave base
Wave period
Question 2
What is the specific heat capacity of water?
The highest among chemical compounds
The second highest among chemical compounds
The third highest among chemical compounds
The lowest among chemical compounds
Question 3
What forms an atoll lagoon?
A sea arch
A river delta
A barrier island
A collapsed volcanic caldera
Question 4
What is the phase change from solid (ice) to water vapor called?
Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation
Sublimation
Question 5
What is the largest atom that can form from the process of nuclear fusion?
hydrogen
helium
sodium
iron
Question 6
What percentage of Earth’s water is contained in the oceans?
70%
97%
50%
85%
Question 7
What is the most abundant chemical compound on Earth?
Ammonia
Water
Carbon Dioxide
Methane
, Question 8
What vessel’s research marked the general beginning of modern oceanography?
Coast Survey Steamer Corwin
HMS Porcupine
HMS Lightening
HMS Challenger
Question 9
What elements are most igneous rocks in the crust rich in?
Na, Ca, K, Mg, Fe, O, Si
Cl, C, S, N
H, He, Li, Be
Au, Ag, Pt, Pd
Question 10
At what temperature does water expand until it freezes?
0°C
4°C
10°C
-4°C
Question 11
What are sea caves also known as?
Littoral caves
Coastal caves
Marine caves
Oceanic caves
Question 12
What is the average depth of the oceans?
2.3 km
3.6 km
4.5 km
5.2 km
Question 13
Who modified the Thomson sounding machine and designed the Sigsbee sounding
machine?
Wyville Thomson
Louis de Pourtales
Charles Sigsbee
Matthew Maury
Question 14
Which process in the water cycle involves the phase change from liquid to water
vapor?
Condensation
Precipitation
Evaporation
Sublimation
