Earth Science S2 Final Exam Study

What is the principle that changes on the surface of the Earth happen suddenly

Castrophism

List the divisions of geologic time from largest to smallest

eon
era
period
epoch

True or False: The geologic time scale is based on evidence found in Earth's rocks

True

A geologist studies

the process, structure, and history of the Earth.

the largest span of geologic time

eon

Which is not a negative effect of flooding?

creating fertile soil

an impression left behind in rock or subsurface features

mold

an impression that is filled with sediment or minerals to form a solid mineral copy of the organism

cast

decayed plant or animal tissue that is replaced with mineral deposits

petrification

a preserved organism that is not broken down in any way

whole animal fossil

Fossils are not formed in

liquid water

What is not an item that the American Red Cross recommends for an emergency preparedness kit

video games, makeup, hairdryer

How is sedimentary rock formed

Sedimentary rock is laid down in layers through deposition. Over time, the layers become compressed and eventually form rock.

\_____ include bones, teeth, skin, and claws

Body fossils

A seismometer is an instrument used by scientists to measure \____.

vibrations within Earth

What does not explain why scientists would want to predict when a natural hazard may occur?

to stop the natural hazard from occurring

In most cases, any fossil or part of a fossil smaller than one \_____ is considered a microfossil.

meter

The geologic timescale is divided into a hierarchy of time divisions in the following order

eons, eras, periods, and epochs

Which is not a natural hazard

an airplane crash

What is an accurate statement about predicting earthquakes

You can predict when an earthquake might happen by observing seismometers.

Scientists divide geologic time based on evidence found where

in Earth's rocks

What is true of geologic time

Eons are the largest division of geologic time

A(n) \_____ is a special kind of trace fossil.

indication of an organism

The Precambrian time was broken up into three eras, which are known as \_____.

the Paleozoic era, the Mesozoic era, and the Cenozoic era

What is the single point under an earthquakes epicenter

focus

True or False: The Cenozoic era was marked with mammals as well as many types of fish and birds

true

Scientists have placed the main events of the Earth's history beginning on the geologic time scale \_____ billion years ago

2.8

Geologic time is organized by \____.

the types of fossils from and major events that occurred during that time

Paleontology is the study of \_____.

ancient life forms

Extinction occurs when \____ of an entire species dies off.

all

A \_____ is the remains or impression of an organism preserved in petrified form or as a mold or cast in rock.

fossil

What is not a tool scientists use help to predict atmospheric hazards

seismometer

You should do this before, during, or after an earthquake:
Seek shelter in a safe place.
Find a stable and protected area.
Remain calm.

during

\_____ is the process by which plant and animal remains are preserved.

Fossilization

This is an example of what? "Volcanic eruptions occur throughout the world, especially in subduction zones. Volcanic eruptions must have occurred throughout history since they occur today."

historical interpretation

What does not correctly describe relative dating

Relative dating can determine the exact age of rock strata.

Dinosaurs lived in the \_____ era, while humans live in the \_____ era.

Mesozoic; Cenozoic

What is not a factor that is likely to cause a drought

drinking an extra glass of water

What are the two main types of fossils

body fossils and trace fossils

Mass extinction is \_____.

when every individual in a species dies out

Which explains the different ways in which fossils can form?

Fossils can be created by being trapped in amber, casting, molding, permineralization, replacement, or compression.

True or False: Uniformitarianism is the theory that geologic processes repeat themselves

true

\_____ is the study of microfossils.

Micropaleontology

Wildfires spread because of three main factors, which are \____.

weather, fuel, and topography

Which layer of Earth is composed of very hot, slow-moving rock?

mantle

Composed of the crust and the upper part of the mantle, the \_____ is the outermost layer of Earth. This layer is divided into slow-moving tectonic plates.

lithosphere

What type of volcano covers a very large area, has a broad base, and gently sloping sides?

shield volcano

Volcanoes can also form at a \_____________________ on a single tectonic plate, where a column of very hot mantle rock, known as a \_____________________, rises through the asthenosphere and into the lithosphere where it melts to form magma, which can then rise and form a volcano on the Earth's surface.

hot spot/mantle plume

What can form volcanoes as the two plates push apart and magma is able to rise up from the ground and form new ocean crust?

divergent plate boundaries

What can form volcanoes where two oceanic plates collide or where an oceanic plate collides with a continental plate?

convergent plate boundaries

\___________________ is hot melted rock beneath the surface of the Earth, and \_____________________________ is hot melted rock above the surface of the Earth.

Magma, lava

What is not a type of plate boundary

submergent

True or False: The Earth is made up of two main layers: the crust and the oceans.

False

True or False: The Earth is made up of three main layers: the crust, the mantle, and the core.

True

What are two main aspects of convection that cause plate motion?

ridge push and slab pull

The combination of ridge push and slab pull is a mechanism that recycles rock on Earth. What happens during this process?

Old, molten rock is pushed downward to form mid-ocean ridges, and then newer, cooler rock is pushed out and away from the mid-ocean ridge.

What natural, geologic process occurs to create mid-ocean ridges?

seafloor spreading

The Theory of Plate Tectonics is based on

evidence of sea floor spreading.

Which of the following was not a type of evidence used by Alfred Wegener to help support continental drift?

DNA

Which type of volcano forms over time as lava flows cool and form a wide, sloping mountain like the Hawaiian Islands?

shield volcano

What does not explain what causes earthquakes to occur?

plates remaining still

When pressure between two plates is released, waves of energy move underground. These waves are called \_____.

seismic waves

Continental crust is \____ and oceanic crust is \____.

less dense; more dense

According to Alfred Wegener, all of the continents were once a large supercontinent known as \____.

Pangaea

Plate tectonics includes the theory that all of the continents were once joined into a supercontinent called \_____.

Pangaea

What describes what causes convection currents

differences in temperature create fluid movement

The lithosphere is the part of Earth containing what

the mantle & the crust

What would most likely be associated with a plate boundary?

a volcano & a mountain range

What could create a mountain

two continental plates colliding into each other

What is the name given to the supercontinent that existed 300 million years ago

Pangaea

This tool measures plate movements along faults.

creepmeter

These monitor changes in the Earth's surface in earthquake-prone and volcanic areas.

satellite images

This measures the pressure within a boundary or fault that could slip and cause earthquakes or eruptions.

strainmeter

This device picks up vibrations in the Earth's crust that could indicate that an earthquake or volcanic eruption is about to occur.

seismometer

Convection occurs when warm air \____ and cool air \____.

rises; sinks

What describes why fossils of the same land-dwelling species have been discovered in both South America and Africa?

These organisms once lived on one large landmass that later split into two continents.

Earth is composed of five physical layers that include the lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, inner core, and outer core. How do scientists determine the classification of each layer?

These layers are classified by how close they are to Earth's surface.

Seafloor spreading and continental drift make up the theory of \_____.

plate tectonics

The \_____ marks an area where the ocean floor expands.

mid-ocean ridge

What conclusion is BEST supported by the discovery of the same fossils on separate continents?

Modern land masses were once connected but moved apart.

How is continental crust different from oceanic crust?

Continental crust is thicker but less dense than oceanic crust. Oceanic crust is thinner and younger but is denser than continental crust.

At what location is a volcano least likely to form?

transform plate boundaries

When rocks catch clay minerals that colors the rock it is called \_____.

desert varnish

Why do people plant grass and put barriers along coast lines?

to help prevent wind erosion

When all particles are removed and can not erode the surface any more, \_____ is left.

desert pavement

True or False: In a river, higher volumes of water can carry greater loads.

True

A meander is \_____.

a curve in a river

True or False: Faster-moving water can carry a greater load.

True

An oxbow lake forms when \_____.

deposited sediments separate a meander from the river

A \_____ is an area prone to flooding.

floodplain

True or False: Floodplains extend from one side of the river valley to the other.

True

A natural levee is \_____.

a depositional elongated ridge formed by moving water that runs parallel to a stream channel

Why does a river experience deposition along the inner curve of a meander?

The speed of the water is slower, so the river must deposit some of the load.

farmer wants to build a pond for her cows. What step must she take in order to build the pond?

Place an impermeable material on the ground.

How might the growth of a town's population affect its residents and water supply?

The people might have to dig their wells deeper; due to increased water consumption, the water table would drop.

why does the water table rises and falls with the zone of saturation

The water table rises and falls with the zone of saturation depending upon precipitation, drought, and human consumption. When there is an abundance of precipitation, the water table may rise. When there is drought, the water table may fall. The water table may also fall due to human populations consuming water faster than it can be replenished.

In order for boulders to become sediments, the boulders must first be

weathered and eroded.

Rivers are classified based on their age. What are the three categories of rivers?

youthful rivers, mature rivers, and old rivers

Moraines are piles of dirt and rock that have been moved by \_____.

a moving glacier

Mendenhall Glacier is a glacier in Alaska. Since the year 1500, it has retreated 2.5 miles. What does this mean?

The glacier is melting and becoming smaller.