Geoscience Lecture: Key Concepts

These flashcards cover key concepts from the geoscience lecture, including models of the universe, geological processes, and properties of minerals and rocks.

Heliocentric Model

A model for the universe that places the sun at its center with all of the planets orbiting the sun.

Doppler Effect

The change in frequency as a wave source moves relative to an observer.

Differentiation

The process by which the early Earth went from being homogeneous to layered.

Magnetic Declination

The angle between the geographic and magnetic north pole.

Inclination

The angle between the magnetic force and the Earth’s surface.

Silicate Tetrahedron

The building block of all silicate minerals, composed of 1 silica atom and 4 oxygen atoms.

Which kinds of plate-tectonic boundaries are associated with earthquake activity?

Divergent, Convergent, and Transform boundaries.

Effusive Eruptions

Eruptions that consist mainly of lava flows from low viscosity basaltic lavas.

Sorting

The measurement of how grain sizes differ in a sediment sample.

Phase Change

The metamorphic process that forms a new mineral with the same chemical formula as the original.

Joint

A type of deformation with fractures that show no offset.

Syncline

A fold in rock layers that opens upward.

seismic waves in order of increasing velocity of travel (from slowest to fastest)?

Surface wave, S wave, P wave, ordered from slowest to fastest.

Convergent Boundary

A type of plate boundary that typically produces larger earthquakes.

How can we measure the size of an earthquake?

Measure the amount of damage caused, Measure the size of the seismic wave, Measure the area of the fault that ruptured

This type of stress occurs when an object feels the same stress on all sides.

Pressure

Which of the following is not a type of plate boundary where you can find metamorphic rocks?

Divergent Boundary

Convergent Boundary

Transform Boundary

You can find metamorphic rocks at all types of plate boundaries

How can a rock be altered to become a metamorphic rock

Heating

Pressure

Hot water

Cross bedding

The internal sedimentary structures associated with dunes and ripples and have inclined internal laminations

Which of the following is not a class of sedimentary rock

Foliated Sedimentary Rocks

Sorting

The measurement of how grain sizes differ in a sediment sample

Thermal Expansion

The process where repeated heating and cooling of a rock causes it to expand and contract causing the rock to break down

In order from smallest to largest list the types of volcanos.

Cinder Cone, Stratovolcano, Caldera, Shield

Which of the following is not a hazard of volcanic eruptions?

Lightning

Lahars

Falling Debris

Pyroclastic Flows

Effusive

Eruptions that consist of mainly lava flows from low viscosity basaltic lavas and can spread hundreds of miles

Devils Tower in Wyoming and Ship Rock in Arizona are volcanic necks and as such are classified as ______________ Volcanoes.

Extinct

Molten Rock

Lowering the pressure, adding volatiles, and heat transfer are all ways to produce

Which is not part of the definition of a rock?

It is formed from the cooling of magma

Minerals, not to be confused with rocks, have a very specific definition, which of the following is not part of the definition of a mineral?

Mostly Organic

What plate boundary is Hawaii situated on:

It does not sit on a plate boundary

Which of the following is not one of the three types of plate boundaries?

Transitive

How fast do plates move:

2-10 centimeters/year

Which of the following is not a physical property geologists use to identify minerals?

Size

A silicate tetrahedron is the building block of all silicate minerals (most of the minerals on Earth), the silicate tetrahedron is composed of?

1 Silica atom and 4 Oxygen atoms

Is rock candy a mineral?

No

Which is not a characteristic of a terrestrial planet in our solar system?

Mostly H, He, and other light elements, mostly in ice form

Nebular Theory

The solar system was formed from a nebula through 

rotating and flattening of a nebula and creating of 

planetesimals

Which is not one of the defining characteristics of a planet?

It has satellites (moons) that orbit it

Magnetic declination

is the angle between the geographic and magnetic north pole, while inclination is the angle between the magnetic force and the Earth’s surface

Which is not a piece of supporting evidence for seafloor spreading?

The idea that subduction occurs where old seafloor moves beneath younger seafloor and that new oceanic crust is formed by spreading at the ridges