science MTA reviewer

What is are the 7 steps of the scientific method?

1. Observe

2. Ask a question

3. Make a hypothesis

4. Experiment

5. Collect the data

6. Analyze the data

7. Conlusion

What are the compositional layers of the Earth? State the composition, Thickness, and their temperature

 Crust - It is the outermost layer of the Earth and also the thinnest layer.

Composition: Solid rock

Thickness: 5-70km

> Mantle - It is the thickest layer of the Earth 

1. Upper Mantle - It includes the rigid lithosphere and a ductile asthenosphere 

2. Lower Mantle - It is more rigid due to the pressure

Composition: Made of silicate materials rich in magnesium and iron: 

Temperature: 500°C near top and 4,000°C near the bottom 

Thickness: 2,900km 

> Outer core - It is the only liquid layer of the Earth; it generates the Earth’s magnetic field 

Take Note! Because the outer core is very hot, the liquid iron and nickel are constantly moving, which then creates electric currents, and whenever there are electric currents present, they can create the magnetic field 

State: Liquid iron & nickel 

Temperature: 4,000-5,000°C

Thickness: 2,200km 

> Inner core - It is hotter than the Sun’s photosphere

State: Solid iron & nickel

Radius: 1,220km

Temperature: 6,000°C 

Give the 5 physical layers of the Earth

1. Lithosphere

2. Asthenosphere

3. Mesosphere

4. Outer core

5. Inner core

What are discontinuities?

They are the dividing lines of each layer

Give the 3 discontinuities along with who discovered them

1. Mohorovicc Discontinuity - Between the lower crust & upper mantle; discovered by Andrija Mohorovicc

2. Gutenberg Discontinuity - Between upper & lower mantle; discovered by Beno Gutenberg

3. Lehmann Discontinuity - Between the outer core & inner core; discovered by Inga Lehmann

How did scientists discover the layers of the Earth?

They studied seismic waves and used seismographs

What are the 2 types of seismic waves and what are the examples for each seismic wave?

Body Waves - These types of waves travel inside the Earth.

1. P-waves (Primary) - These are the fastest and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

2. S-waves (Secondary) - These are much slower compared to Primary waves and can only travel through solids. 

II. Surface Waves - These waves travel along the Earth’s surface; they cause the most damage.

1. Love Waves - Cause horizontal or side-to-side motion

2.  Rayleigh Waves - Causes a wave-like motion in the ground. 

Who noticed the puzzle-like fit of the African and South American continents?

Antonio Snider-Pellegrini

Who proposed the Continental Drift Theory?

Alfred Lothar-Wegener

What are Wegener’s evidences?

Puzzle-like fit - The continents fit together 

> Fossil Evidence - The same fossils were found on different continents 

1. Cynognathus - These are reptiles that cannot swim

2. Lystrosaurus - These are reptiles that cannot swim

3. Mesosaurus - They can only swim in fresh water 

4. Glossopteris - These are plants that can’t be blown away 

>  Rock and Mountain - There are the same mountain ranges and rock types found on different continents. 

What did Wegener say about the continents being connected?

“All continents were once part of a giant continent”

This is called Pangea

Why was the Continental Drift Theory rejected?

Because he couldn’t prove how the continents shifted

What is the meaning of convection current?

It is like a giant conveyor belt, slowly moving tectonic plates

Can you explain the process of convection current?

Heat from the Earth’s core warms the lower mantle 

II. Hot mantle material becomes less dense and rises toward the surface (arrow going up) 

III. Near the top, the hot material spreads sideways, pushing tectonic plates apart (arrows moving sideways)

IIII. As the hot mantle material moves away from the heat source, it cools, becomes denser, and sinks back down (arrows sinking)

What are playe boundaries?

These are where tectonic plates meet and interact

What are the three types of plate boundaries?

1. Convergent

2. Divergent

3. Transform

What are the three types of convergent boundaries? Give examples

1. Oceanic-Continental Convergence - It subducts downwards because of density; it can create volcanoes, mountain ranges, and ocean trenches.

   Andes Mountain - collision between the Nazca and South American plates 

   2. Oceanic-Oceanic Convergence - The older one will subduct because it is denser; this process can create underwater volcanoes and island arcs. Many are located in the Pacific Ring of Fire.

   3. Continental-continental convergence - Neither one will subduct. Instead, they crumple and fold. They can only form mountain ranges.

Give me the three types of volcano

1. Sheild

2. Stratovolcano

3. Cinder cone

Give me three examples of each type of volcano

1. Mauna Loa

2. Mount Mayon & Mount Fuji

3. Paricutin

What is the definition of Shield Volcano?

wide, gently sloping sides (like a warrior's shield)

> Its lava is thin (basaltic) and runny 

> When it erupts, it is usually quiet and less explosive 

What is the definition of Stratovolcano?

Tall and steep-sided

> The layers are made up of hardened lava, ash, and rock fragments.

> When erupting, it is explosive and powerful, but it can also have quiet lava flows 

What is an wxample of divergent boundary?

Seafloor spreading: molten rock rises and fills the gap, creating a new crust

Give the 14 plates of the Earth

1. African

2. Arabian

3. Australian

4. Antarctica 

5. Cocos 

6. Caribbean

7. Eurasian

8. Indian

9. Juan De Fuca

10. Nazca 

11. North America

12. Philippine

13. Pacific

14. South America

What is the difference between volcanism and volcano?

Volcanism-magma rises from the earths crust to the surface

Volcano-it is the geological landform

What is the definition of Cinder Come volcano?

Small, steep sides, cone-shaped

> It has thick lava (rhyolitic), often thrown in the air, breaking into cinders (small rocks) 

> When erupting, it is short-lived, explosive, but not very strong 

What are plate boundaries and volcano?

1. Convergent-subduction zone

2. Divergent-mid atlantic ridge

3. Transform-no volcano

What is a hotspot?

plumes of hot mantle that break through the crust. 

What is “oros” and “genesis”

Oros-mountain

Genesis-origin

What is orogenesis?

It is the process of mountain formation, especially through plate collision 

What are the three types of mountains along with their definition and example for the first 2 types

Fold mountains 

> It is formed when plates collide and fold rocks upwards 

Example: Himalayas - formed by the collision of the Indian & Eurasian plates 

Fault block mountains 

> It is formed when faults push blocks of rock upward 

Example: Andes Mountain - Subduction of the Nazca plate under the South American Plate

Volcanic Mountains 

> It is formed when magma piles up from eruptions

Example: Formed by the movement along normal faults, large crustal blocks are uplifted and tilted 

What are the parts of a volcano?

1. Crater - bowl-shaped opening

2. Main vent-main passageway of the magma

3. Magma chamber-where magma is stored