question

The slowly increasing distance between South America and Africa is due to

answer

seafloor spreading

question

Old Faithful Geyser at Yellowstone National Park in the United States acquires its energy from

answer

a hot spot

question

Layered _________exposed by erosion can be seen when looking at the Grand Canyon in the United States

answer

sedimentary rock

question

Australia is composed of relatively old and thick

answer

continental crust

question

The extremely deep ocean Marianas Trench is a result of

answer

subduction

question

________found in the Atlantic Ocean between North America and Europe is composed of dense and relatively young rock.

answer

Seafloor crust

question

The earthquakes that occur in Southern California generally occur above a

answer

fault

question

Earth's magnetic field is the result of our planet's large, permanently magnetized iron core

answer

False

question

The deepest that geologists have drilled into Earth is about the same as

answer

the altitude most commercial jet airplanes fly.

question

If Earth had no Moon, then tides would

answer

occur with the same frequency, but would not be as strong

question

Which of the following layers of the earth is unique among the terrestrial planets?

answer

hydrosphere

question

What is true of spring tides?

answer

The difference between low and high tides would be greatest.

question

At what phase are the tides least noticeable?

answer

third quarter

question

What is true of the Moon's orbital and rotational periods?

answer

They are equal

question

Almost all of our atmospheric gases lie in the:

answer

troposphere.

question

The critical part of the atmosphere for protecting life on the ground from excessive ultraviolet radiation is the:

answer

ozone layer.

question

In what part of our atmosphere do we live?

answer

troposphere

question

Without the greenhouse effect operating in our atmosphere,

answer

Earth would have an average temperature of -23 degrees Celsius.

question

The average rate of erosion on the Moon is far less than on Earth because

answer

the Moon lacks wind, water and an atmosphere.

question

We determine the structure of the Earth's core using

answer

seismic wave data.

question

Seismic waves are most useful for mapping:

answer

the Earth's core and mantle.

question

Which statement about seismic waves is true?

answer

P waves travel faster, and thus arrive sooner than do the S waves.

question

The rate of cratering in the lunar highlands shows us that

answer

they range from 4.6 - 4.4 billion years old, on average.

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What is true of the lunar highlands?

answer

They are the oldest part of the lunar surface..

question

The presence of a magnetic field is a good indication that:

answer

we have a liquid metal outer core, spinning rapidly as we rotate

question

When strong solar winds are displaced poleward by our magnetic fields, we get

answer

intense auroral displays.

question

Earth's magnetic field

answer

prevents charged particles in the solar wind from reaching the surface

question

Which of these theories seems to best explain the Moon's origin?

answer

Impact Theory

question

Greenhouse gases in our atmosphere trap just enough heat to keep the earth's oceans liquid.

answer

True

question

The ozone layer is contained within the stratosphere.

answer

True

question

Seismic P-waves can travel through both solid and liquid materials

answer

True

question

Seismic S-waves can travel through Earth's liquid outer core

answer

False

question

In the past, most of the landmass on Earth was concentrated in a single, large continent.

answer

True

question

When plates collide, they fuse together and come to rest

answer

False

question

The lunar mare radioactively date back to 4.6 billion years, at the origin of the Moon, hence their dark color due to this aging

answer

False

question

The atmospheric gases primarily responsible for our greenhouse effect are

answer

water vapor and carbon dioxide

question

The lunar mare are found

answer

mainly on the near side

question

The region in which charged particles are trapped by our magnetic fields is the

answer

Van Allen radiation belt

question

Our Earth is about four times larger than the Moon in diameter

answer

True

question

The Earth's hotter, inner core is liquid and its cooler, outer core is solid

answer

False

question

The tidal pull of the Moon is an example of a differential force, as the near and far sides of the Earth do not experience the same gravitational pull of the Moon

answer

True

question

The Moon keeps one side facing the Earth because it doesn't rotate on its axis

answer

False

question

Weather occurs in the troposphere

answer

True

question

The continuing rise of carbon dioxide concentration in our troposphere is leading to worldwide cooling as dry ice forms at the poles

answer

False

question

The three most abundant gases in our atmosphere are nitrogen, oxygen, and argon

answer

True

question

There is no evidence for plate tectonics on the Moon today

answer

True

question

Most lunar craters are volcanic in origin

answer

False

question

Today most scientists favor the capture theory of the Moon's origin, since it would explain why the Moon still orbits in the ecliptic plane, as do other planets.

answer

False

question

The Hawaiian mantle plume is a classic example of a long-lived mantle plume being used to demonstrate how the motion of a tectonic plate has changed over time. Which hot spot would be an even better indicator of the Pacific plate's motion over time? A) Cape Verde mantle plume B) Easter Island C) Yellowstone D) Caroline E) Pitcairn

answer

Pitcairn

Vocabulary in Context: Plate Tectonics – Flashcards

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