Earth Science Mid-term Review – Flashcards
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Earth science assumes that the causes of natural phenomena
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can be understood through careful observation.
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Which of the following is NOT an important energy source for Earth systems?
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NITROGEN
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The lower boundary of Earth`s crust is called the
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Mantle
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Latitude uses parallel circles that indicate positions
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North and South of the equator.
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A dome mountain is a mountain formed
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by pressure from magma below Earth`s surface that does not erupt.
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Which of the following is NOT involved in the movement of matter and energy between reservoirs?
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Earth Cycle
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At what location does the first motion of an earthquake occur?
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the focus
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What happens when two oceanic plates collide?
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The denser plate sub-ducts
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One degree of latitude represents what fraction of Earth`s circumference?
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1/360
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Longitude indicates positions using
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semicircles east and west of the prime meridian.
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Evaporation, condensation, and precipitation are part of
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the water cycle.
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The rock below the fault planes is known as
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footwall.
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A volcanic mountain is formed by
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magma eruptions on Earth`s surface.
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Which of the following is NOT a cause of tsunamis?
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tornado.
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What is latitude?
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The angular distance north and south from the equator.
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The study of meterology involves the study of
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climate.
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Earth science is the scientific study of
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Earth and the universe that surrounds Earth.
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Wegner`s hypothesis of continental drift was finally confirmed by
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evidence supporting the idea of sea-floor spreading.
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The Pacific Ring of Fire is
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A zone of active volcanoes.
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Earth scientists assume that the causes of natural events of phenomena can be determined by
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careful observation and experimentation.
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Earthquakes generally occur at plate boundaries where
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stress on rocks is greatest.
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Which of the following is the closet to the average
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40,000km
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The largest ecosystem on Earth is the
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biosphere
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What force is exerted by the asthenosphere in isostatic adjustment?
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buoyancy
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What is elastic rebound?
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The sudden return of deformed rock to its undeformed shape.
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Earth science is the study of
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Earth and its universe.
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The study of paleomagnetism was key in proving Wegner`s hypothesis because
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it provided evidence of sea-floor spreading.
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A community of organisms and their abiotic environment is called
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ecosystem
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The distance measured by a degree of longitude
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decreases as you move from the equator toward the poles.
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The science of making maps is called
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cartography
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What id subduction?
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one plate goes beneath another.
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Folded mountains form
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when continents collide.
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With all map projections, the larger the area shown
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the greater the distortion.
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A modern seismograph consists of
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three sensing devices.
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Why do earthquakes usually occur at plate boundaries?
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Rock in environment near tectonic plate boundaries experience great stress.
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Through what type of materials do P waves travel fastest?
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very rigid, not easily compressed materials.
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What is the term for the amount of force that changes the shape and volume of rock?
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stress.
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Why might a theory or scientific law change after it has reached general acceptance?
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Further scientific research may lead to conflicting information.
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What is one advantage of cylindrical projections?
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Parrallel and meridians form a grid, making locating easier.
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Tectonic plates are blocks of
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lithospheres
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What is the prime meridian?
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the line of longitude designated as 0%
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The Himalaya Mountains were formed in a collision at a
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convergent boundary
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The splitting of Pangaea into two continents is part of
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the super-continent cycle.
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The type of stress that streches and pulls a body apart
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tension
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Transpiration is one part of the
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water cycle
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The carrying capacity of an ecosystem is
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the largest population that an ecosystem can support at one time.
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What is an azimuthal projection?
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a map made using paper were the axis lines up with the lighted globe.
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The splid, plastic layer of the mantle is called the
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asthenosphere
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According to Wegener, what happened about 250 million years ago?
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The super-continent began breaking into smaller continents.
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What happened when two continental plates collide?
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Large mountains can form
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All of the following are parts of the compositional structure of the Earth EXCEPT
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Global ocean
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What type of faults results when the rock on either side of a fault plane slides horizontally in response to shear stress?
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strike-slip
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Wat are food, water, flashlights, and a portable radio needed for?
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preparing for earthquakes.
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How does a reserve fault occur?
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The hanging wall moves upward relative to the footwall.
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What is isostasy?
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gravitational and buoyant equilibrium between the asthenosphere and the lithosphere.
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The shortest distance between two points on earth is the route along
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great circle
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When the oceanic and continental lithospheres collide
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the oceanic plate subducts.
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The symbols used on a map are explained in the
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legend.
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What happens to tsunamis as they move toward shore?
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They increase in height
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If you are in a car during an earthquake, you should
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stop the car in a safe place.
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How does sediment that is closer to a mid-ocean ridge compare to sediment that is farther away?
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It is younger.
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Which of the following is NOT a possible source of Earth`s magnetic field?
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magnetosphere.
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By understanding how natural forces affect the environment, Earth scientists can
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better predict natural disasters
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Where does the first motion of an earthquake occur?
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focus
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If you are indoors during an earthquake, you should
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stay away from windows
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Which of the following is NOT part of scientific method?
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become a scientist
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A contour interval is the
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difference in color between one contour line and the next.
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Scientific theories are often based on
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independent variables.
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Earth scientists help us understand our world by explaining
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Earth`s history and our place in the universe.
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Which of the following describes a fracture?
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a break in rock where there is no movement of surrounding rock.
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What is the geomagnetic north pole?
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the place toward which a compass needle points.
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Energy is transferred between systems, but it cannot be created or destroyed, according to the
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first law of thermodynamics.
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What happens when oceanic and continental plates collide?
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Mountains can be created through uplift and volcanic eruptions.
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Ecosystems respond to environmental change by
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returning to a balanced state.
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Panthalassa was
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the large ocean that surrounded Pangaea.
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All of the following are important sources for energy in the Earth system EXCEPT
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internal convection
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Once an idea has been tested repeatedly and gains general acceptance, the idea
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may be the basis for a scientific theory.
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To find the distance to an earthquake`s epicenter scientists
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analyze the arrival times of the P waves and S waves.
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A closed system is a system in which the only thing exchanged with the surroundings is
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energy
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An area where no direct seismic waves from a particular earthquake can be detected is called
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the shadow zone
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Earth`s shape most closely resembles an
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oblate spheroid
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How are latitude and longitude measured?
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degrees, minutes, and seconds.
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What is the term that describes a specific location`s height above sea level?
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Elevation
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The type of stress that squeezes and shortens a body is
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compression
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What is a great circle?
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a circle that marks the circumference of the globe.
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What effects does Earth`s interior have on P and S waves?
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It can affect the speed and direction of the waves.
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Which of the following elements is NOT involved in the cycling of energy and matter on Earth?
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gold
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According to the law of gravitation, the force of attraction between two objects depends on the masses of the objects and the
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distanced between them
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Which of the following do scientists study in their efforts to forecast earthquakes?
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seismic graphs, rock changes, foreshocks.
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Tectonic plates can include
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both oceanic and continental crust.
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Where does a compass needle point
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to the geometric north pole
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How is science different from the other forms of human endeavor?
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The goal of science is to explain natural phrnomena.
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What is longitude?
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The angular distance east or west from the prime meridian.
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What is true about the equator?
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It is the only line of latitude that is a great circle.
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How is science different from the other areas of human endeavor?
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The goals of science is to explain natural phenomena.
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What is the epicenter of an earthquake?
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The point on Earth`s surface directly above the earthquake`s focus.
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What distinguishes science from art, architecture, and philosophy?
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Science exists to explain natural phenomena.
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Changes in ecosystems can affect the ability of an area to
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sustain a human population.
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Earth scientists help us better understand the world around us by studying how
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natural forces shape our environment
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The theory that explains why and how continents move is called
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plate tectonics.
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What is the crack in the ocean floor through which magma rises?
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a rift
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The type of stress that distorts a body by pushing parts of the body in opposite directions is
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shear stress
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Who was the first to explain the effects of gravity in his law of gravitation?
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Isaac Newton
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What are the fastest waves?
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P waves
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Isostatic adjustments occur in
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the lithosphere
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To locate the epicenter of earthquakes, scientists use computers to
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perform triangulations based on data from seismograph stations
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During a major earthquake buildings
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may sway or collapse
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What force pulls on the lithosphere in an isostatic adjustment?
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gravity
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Energy is transferred between systems, but it cannot be created nor destroyed, according to
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Newtons Law
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How does the transfer of energy throughout an ecosystem begin?
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Plants capture solar energy through photosynthesis.
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In general, how do ecosystems react to change?
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They restore balance
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What are the four main branches of Earth Science?
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Geology, oceanography, astronomy, and meteorology.
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At the center of a mid-ocean ridge is an
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rift valley.
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When seismologists record the arrival times of P waves and S waves at several seismograph stations they are looking for the earthquake`s
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epicenter
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How does the structure of Earth`s interior affect seismic waves?
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It can affect the speed and direction of seismic waves.
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Which of the following was NOT a piece of evidence Wegener found to support his hypothesis?
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Tracks of continents plowing through ocean floor rock
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B/c Earths interior is warmer that its surface layers, hot materials move toward the surface in a process called
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convection
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The most conclusive proof for continental drift was provided by
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evidence of sea-floor spreading.
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An idea that has been tested repeatedly and gains acceptance is called a
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theory
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What occurs at a transform boundary?
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Two plates slide past each other horizantally.
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Whcich of these are types of mountains?
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fault-block, dome, volcanic, folded.
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Latitude and Longitude can locate a place on Earth`s surface by describing its position in degrees, minutes, and seconds
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North or south of the prime meridian and east or west if the equator.
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How do faults and folds compare?
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Faults are breaks in rock where rocks move, and folds are bends in rock.
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Earth`s circumference is about 40000km and its shape is
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an oblate spheroid.
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In what ways might a topographic map be more useful than a simple map projection to someone who wants to hike in an area that he or she has never hiked before?
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A topographic map is a detailed and accurate graphic representation of cultural and natural features on the ground. Compared to a simple projection map which does not have much of a three dimensional effect; a topographic map`s detail would be extremely beneficial. Someone who was new to the area they were hiking would benefit from a topographic map because it would give accurate detail precisely where mountains, hills, and other natural features would be located.
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How have Earth Scientist improved our understanding of the environment?
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Earth Scientists improve our understanding of the environment by explaining natural phenomena.
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How does evidence that sea-floor rocks farther from a ridge are older than rocks closer to the ridge support the idea of sea-floor spreading?
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In what ways can you compare an earthquake to a rock dropping into a pond?
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If an earthquake were to score very high on the mercalli scale but low on the Richter scale what might that say about the earthquake
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The Mercalli Scale measures the amount of destruction done by an Earthquake. Where Ritcher scale assigns a number to the earthquake. A Earthquake may have a high mercalli scale and a low ritcher scale because it may not be a powerful earthquake, but may cause a lot of damage.
