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Erth 111 Midterm 1 Exam Questions And
Answers 100% Verified.
What is Physical geology/dynamic earth? - Answer✔✔The study of the processes of the Earth
and the composition
Scientific method: - Answer✔✔Hypothesis: a message expressing an opinion based on
incomplete evidence
Theory: scientific ideas supported by abundant evidence. passed many tests -failed none
Law: Statements that completely describe a specific relationship or phenomenon
Earths Formation; - Answer✔✔Initially homogeneous: all same parts
Differentiation event: Heat from collision + heat when matter starts to squeeze + heat from decay
of radioactive elements results in denser iron alloy separating out and lighter material rising
present state of differentiation:
lithosphere/lithospheric motions
Earth's Interior - Answer✔✔Crust: (Oceanic and Continental):
Oceanic Crust: 7-10km thick. Top is a thin layer of clay and tiny shells.. beneath consists of
basalt and below that, gabbro
Continental Crust: - Answer✔✔35-40km Thick. Rock type ranges from mafic to felsic.
Continental on average less mafic (felsic to intermediate composition) than oceanic, furthermore
less dense. Oxygen = most abundant
Mantle - Answer✔✔2885 Km thick layer - largest part of earth. Consists entirely of ultramafic
(dark and dense) rock called peridotite, making peridotite most abundant rock on planet. Almost
all mantle is solid rock but its soft enough that it flows
Outer/Inner Core: - Answer✔✔Outer core: liquid iron alloy, this flow of iron alloy creates
magnetic field
Inner core: solid iron because of pressure
Gradients in Earth: - Answer✔✔Pressure and temperature both increase with depth in the Earth.
The rate at which temperature increases as depth increases is the geothermal gradient.
1
, ©FYNDLAY.
Sources of energy for the earth - Answer✔✔Interior: 80% of energy from decay of radioactive
elements
Exterior: Sun
Exterior Processes (Fast): - Answer✔✔Wind, weather, rivers, currents, glaciers
Interior (Slow): - Answer✔✔plate tectonics.. mountain building, earthquakes, landslides,
volcanoes, oceans open/close...
Continental vs. Oceanic crust (difference in thickness and composition) vs. Mantle
Continental 35-40km thick, oceanic 7-10km... Continental more felsic/intermediate, less dense..
Oceanic more mafic, (Gabbro/basaltic)
Asthenosphere vs. Lithosphere (difference in strength)
Lithosphere: - Answer✔✔part that is relatively rigid since it is not hot enough, rocks do not flow
easily.. consists of crust and uppermost, coolest part of mantle
Why is asthenosphere different (Thermal boundary)? - Answer✔✔portion of mantle where rock
can flow. occurs where temperature reaches about 1280 degrees celsius
Plate tectonics:
Three types of plate boundaries (and 7 subtypes with examples and features of all)
Convergent - Answer✔✔Ocean-
- Answer✔✔-Ocean (Subduction)
Features: deep trenches and earthquakes, Island arc volcanism
ex. Japan, W ½ aleutian islands
Ocean - - Answer✔✔
- Answer✔✔- Continent (Subduction)<
Deep trenches and Earthquakes, Continental arc volcanism
ex. Andes Mountains, Cascade mountains
Continent to Continent (Collision) - Answer✔✔Features: Uplift, Intermediate Depth,
earthquakes, folded mountain belt
ex. Himilayan Mountains
Divergent
Continent ←→ Continent (Rifting) - Answer✔✔Features: Basaltic Volcanism, Shallow
earthquakes, high heat flow, thinning crust, topographic low
2
Erth 111 Midterm 1 Exam Questions And
Answers 100% Verified.
What is Physical geology/dynamic earth? - Answer✔✔The study of the processes of the Earth
and the composition
Scientific method: - Answer✔✔Hypothesis: a message expressing an opinion based on
incomplete evidence
Theory: scientific ideas supported by abundant evidence. passed many tests -failed none
Law: Statements that completely describe a specific relationship or phenomenon
Earths Formation; - Answer✔✔Initially homogeneous: all same parts
Differentiation event: Heat from collision + heat when matter starts to squeeze + heat from decay
of radioactive elements results in denser iron alloy separating out and lighter material rising
present state of differentiation:
lithosphere/lithospheric motions
Earth's Interior - Answer✔✔Crust: (Oceanic and Continental):
Oceanic Crust: 7-10km thick. Top is a thin layer of clay and tiny shells.. beneath consists of
basalt and below that, gabbro
Continental Crust: - Answer✔✔35-40km Thick. Rock type ranges from mafic to felsic.
Continental on average less mafic (felsic to intermediate composition) than oceanic, furthermore
less dense. Oxygen = most abundant
Mantle - Answer✔✔2885 Km thick layer - largest part of earth. Consists entirely of ultramafic
(dark and dense) rock called peridotite, making peridotite most abundant rock on planet. Almost
all mantle is solid rock but its soft enough that it flows
Outer/Inner Core: - Answer✔✔Outer core: liquid iron alloy, this flow of iron alloy creates
magnetic field
Inner core: solid iron because of pressure
Gradients in Earth: - Answer✔✔Pressure and temperature both increase with depth in the Earth.
The rate at which temperature increases as depth increases is the geothermal gradient.
1
, ©FYNDLAY.
Sources of energy for the earth - Answer✔✔Interior: 80% of energy from decay of radioactive
elements
Exterior: Sun
Exterior Processes (Fast): - Answer✔✔Wind, weather, rivers, currents, glaciers
Interior (Slow): - Answer✔✔plate tectonics.. mountain building, earthquakes, landslides,
volcanoes, oceans open/close...
Continental vs. Oceanic crust (difference in thickness and composition) vs. Mantle
Continental 35-40km thick, oceanic 7-10km... Continental more felsic/intermediate, less dense..
Oceanic more mafic, (Gabbro/basaltic)
Asthenosphere vs. Lithosphere (difference in strength)
Lithosphere: - Answer✔✔part that is relatively rigid since it is not hot enough, rocks do not flow
easily.. consists of crust and uppermost, coolest part of mantle
Why is asthenosphere different (Thermal boundary)? - Answer✔✔portion of mantle where rock
can flow. occurs where temperature reaches about 1280 degrees celsius
Plate tectonics:
Three types of plate boundaries (and 7 subtypes with examples and features of all)
Convergent - Answer✔✔Ocean-
- Answer✔✔-Ocean (Subduction)
Features: deep trenches and earthquakes, Island arc volcanism
ex. Japan, W ½ aleutian islands
Ocean - - Answer✔✔
- Answer✔✔- Continent (Subduction)<
Deep trenches and Earthquakes, Continental arc volcanism
ex. Andes Mountains, Cascade mountains
Continent to Continent (Collision) - Answer✔✔Features: Uplift, Intermediate Depth,
earthquakes, folded mountain belt
ex. Himilayan Mountains
Divergent
Continent ←→ Continent (Rifting) - Answer✔✔Features: Basaltic Volcanism, Shallow
earthquakes, high heat flow, thinning crust, topographic low
2
