PHS 111 Study Guide for Test #4

A comprehensive set of flashcards derived from PHS 111 lecture notes, covering key concepts in Geology, Seismic Activity, and Mineralogy.

What is Geology?

The study of planet Earth.

What are the two general types of seismic waves?

P (primary) waves, which are compressional and longitudinal, and S (secondary) waves, which are shear and transverse.

List the four zones or layers of the Earth.

Crust, upper mantle, lower mantle, outer core, inner core.

What is the Pangaea Theory?

The theory that continents were once joined together in a single landmass that has since drifted apart.

What is Plate Tectonics?

A theory describing the movement of large sections of Earth's crust known as plates.

Define Isostasy.

The state of buoyancy when something floats because its density is low.

What are the three types of convergence boundaries?

Oceanic-oceanic, oceanic-continental, continental-continental.

What does subduction refer to in geology?

The process where an oceanic plate dives toward the Earth's interior, often causing volcanic eruptions.

What is the Ring of Fire?

A geologically active region around the rim of the Pacific Ocean where many earthquakes and volcanoes occur.

What is seismology?

The study of earthquakes.

What is an epicenter?

The point on the surface of the Earth directly above the focus of an earthquake.

What are aftershocks?

Additional vibrations caused by rocks adjusting to their new positions following an earthquake.

Define a fault in geology.

A break or fracture in the surface of a planet or moon along which movement has occurred.

What is the focus of an earthquake?

The point within the Earth where the initial energy release occurs.

How is the severity of an earthquake measured?

Using the Richter scale.

What is a tsunami?

A large ocean wave generated by submarine earthquakes, particularly in subduction zones.

What are the two types of folded rock layers?

Anticline (arch) and syncline (trough).

List the three types of faulting.

Normal, reverse, and transform.

What are the three principal kinds of mountain building?

Volcanic, fault-block, and fold mountains.

Differentiate between surface waves and body waves.

Surface waves travel along the crust, while body waves travel through the Earth's interior.

What is the Mohs scale used for?

To measure the hardness of minerals.

What are the three major categories of rocks?

Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic.

What are lithification and its two main processes?

The process of transforming sediment into sedimentary rock, primarily through compaction and cementation.

What is metamorphism?

The process by which the structure or mineral content of a rock changes while it remains solid.

Differentiate between extrusive rocks and intrusive rocks.

Extrusive rocks form on Earth's surface from rapid cooling of lava, while intrusive rocks form beneath the surface from slow cooling of magma.

Define detrital lithification and chemical lithification.

Detrital lithification compacts/cements solid particles from mechanical weathering; chemical lithification precipitates minerals from water solutions.