question

is defined as the systematic study of the nature and behavior of the material and physical universe, based on observation, experiment, and measurement, and the formulation of laws to describe these facts in general terms.

answer

Science

question

The process that guides scientists to ensure integrity and objectivity as discoveries are made and hypotheses tested, leading to theory developed is called the __________ __________. (4 points)

answer

Scientific method

question

is a working assumption; an untested explanation of how/why phenomena happen based on osbervation. (4 points)

answer

Hypothesis

question

A concept that explains existing observations and predicts new ones is called a __________. (4 points)

answer

Theory

question

__________ __________ is a basic principle that describes a specific behavior of nature that has a narrow scope and stated succinctly (e.g., mathematical equation). (4 points)

answer

Scientific Law

question

The study of the planet Earth - the materials of which it is made, the processes that act on these materials, the products formed, and the history of the planet and its life forms since its origin, is called __________. (4 points)

answer

Geology

question

__________ is the principle that states that physical, chemical, and biological laws that operate today have also operated in the geologic past. "The present is the key to the past". (4 points)

answer

Uniformitarianism

question

is known as the father of modern geology. (4 points)

answer

John Hutton

question

What is the age of the Earth? (4 points)

answer

4.6 billion years

question

The law that states layering of the sediments and volcanic lava flows is in the order of youngest layers at the top and older layers below. (4 points)

answer

law of superposition

question

___________ are breaks in the rock record produced by erosion and (or) nondeposition of rock units. Always followed by subsidence and renewed deposition. (4 points)

answer

unconformities

question

With regard to radiometric dating, what is the half life of isotopes Potassium-40, the radioactive parent, to Argon-40, the stable daughter product? (4 points

answer

1.3 billion years

question

Based on the Geologic Time Scale. What is the current Epoch we are living in today? (4 points)

answer

Holocene

question

Which planet in our solar system is tectonically active (earthquakes and volcanic eruptions), has abundant liquid water, and has at atmosphere with moderate temperatures and active weather.....i.e., support human life? (4 points

answer

Earth

question

The energy that drives the Earth system originates from both the Earth's interior and the ____________.

answer

sun

question

___________ waves are able to propagate through liquids as well as solids and have been used to help determine the different layers in the Earth's interior (4 points).

answer

compressional waves

question

The layers crust, mantle, and core, are defined by the Earth's __________. (4 points)

answer

composition

question

____________ properties define the following layers in the Earth's interior: lithosphere, asthenosphere, transition zone, mesosphere, and the inner/outer cores. (4 points)

answer

physical

question

The __________ __________ is the boundary between the crust and mantle identified by a change in velocity of P waves which abruptly increase below the crust. (4 points)

answer

Moho

question

The core-mantle boundary formerly called the __________ __________ was discovered based on the observation that P waves die out at 105 degrees from an earthquake and reappear at about 140 degrees (35 degree-wide belt named the P-wave shadow zone). (4 points)

answer

Gutenberg Discontinuity

question

________ and __________ are the two major parts of the mantle. (4 points)

answer

asthenosphere and mesosphere

question

The dominant element found in the outer and inner cores is __________ (4 points)

answer

iron

question

_________ is the strong, rigid layer that includes the crust and uppermost mantle. (4 points)

answer

lithosphere

question

An __________ is the simplest kind of chemical that cannot be broken down further by ordinary chemical or physical processes. (4 points)

answer

element

question

A combination of atoms of different elements bonded together is called a __________ __________. (4 points)

answer

chemical compound

question

Which two elements are the most common in continental crust? (4 points

answer

oxygen silicon

question

A __________ is naturally occurring, inorganic solid which possesses a definite internal structure, characteristic chemical composition. (4 points)

answer

mineral

question

__________ is the most common mineral (after the feldspar group - potassium & plagioclase feldspars) in the Earth's crust. (4 points)

answer

Quartz

question

_________ is the most common mineral group (> 50% of Earth's crust). (4 points)

answer

feldspar group

question

__________ is an aggregate of one or more minerals in varying proportions. (4 points)

answer

rock

question

__________ rocks are formed by changing preexisting igneous, sedimentary or other metamorphic rocks through increased heat and pressure without melting the rock. (4 points)

answer

metamorphic

question

__________ rocks form from cooling and solidification of magma. (4 points)

answer

Igneous

question

__________ igneous rocks that cool slowly below the surface and have coarse-grained texture. (4 points)

answer

intrusive

question

Which mineral forms common salt? (4 points)

answer

Halite

question

Which mineral is commonly used in wiring because it is a good electrical conductor (Hint: Utah's state mineral)? (4 points)

answer

copper

question

___________ is defined as concept of floating crust in gravitational balance where less dense crust floats on top of the denser and deformable rocks of the mantle. (4 points).

answer

isostasy

question

A local example in Utah of isostatic rebound is the adjustment associated with the drainage of water from prehistoric __________ __________. (4 points)

answer

Lake Bonneville

question

________ _________ is the hypothesis that proposed the movement of continents that was the predecessor to the Theory of Plate Tectonics. (4 points)

answer

Continental Drift

question

The author of the above hypothesis in Question 3 was _________ __________. (4 points)

answer

Alfred Wegener

question

What is the name of the large supercontinent that broke up approximately 200 million years ago (according to the Question 3 hypothesis). (4 points)

answer

Pangaea

question

LIST any ONE of the FOUR lines of evidence that the author used to support his hypothesis of continental drift. (4 points)

answer

fit of the continents

question

Which two continental coastlines (__________ __________ & __________) that fit together were used as evidence for continental drift?(4 points)

answer

South America Africa

question

_________ is the fossilized fern found in all of the southern continents and considered proof that they were once joined. (4 points)

answer

Glossopteris

question

The freshwater reptiles, called __________, have been found in both South America and Africa. This reptile was not able to swim 5000 km across open ocean separating the two continents today. (4 points)

answer

Mesosaurus

question

The __________ Mountains in the eastern United States are part of distinct rock types and geologic structures associated with equivalent mountain ranges found in Scotland and Norway. (4 points)

answer

Appalachian Mountains

question

__________ deposits (used for producing electricity) found in the eastern US, Europe, and Siberia are paleoclimate evidence of extreme changes in climate as compared to present day conditions. This is further evidence for continental movement. (4 points)

answer

Coal

question

Evidence of __________ in the Late Paleozoic(~300 mya) that covered large parts of the southern continents which are tropical, subtropical, desert, and temperate climates today, is another line of evidence supporting continental drift. (4 points)

answer

glaciation

question

(True/False) The main problem with the Continental Drift hypothesis which prevented it from being widely accepted was the lack of a probable mechanism that could explain how the continents moved. (4 points)

answer

True

question

_________ provided new evidence that lithospheric plates move based on magnetic polar wandering.(4 points)

answer

paleomagnetism

question

The __________ hypothesis developed by Harry Hess in the early 1960s provided the mechanism for plate motions based on mantle convection, rifting and volcanism along the mid-oceanic ridge system and the recycling of oceanic crust by subduction at convergent plate boundaries. (4 points)

answer

seafloor-spreading

question

The Vine-Matthews Hypothesis connected seafloor spreading with the discovery of __________ __________. (4 points)

answer

geomagnetic reversals

question

At least _________ reversals have occurred in the last 4 million years. (4 points)

answer

12

question

The oldest age of the sea floor based on magnetic reversals is approximately __________ million years. (4 points)

answer

180

question

J. Tuzo Wilson provided the final piece needed to develop the Theory of Plate Tectonics, suggesting that large faults connected several large rigid __________ (4 points)

answer

plates

question

There are 3 basic types of plate boundaries: Transform, Divergent, and __________ plate boundaries (4 points)

answer

Convergent

question

The Theory of _________ __________ describes how the lithosphere is broken into approximately 20 rigid, moving plates, which form three major types of plate boundaries (4 points).

answer

plate tectonics

question

The __________ Plate is the largest tectonic plate. (4 points)

answer

Pacific

question

LIST the name of the SEVEN major lithospheric plates (e.g., North American) that cover 94% of the Earth's surface area. (4 points)

answer

North American, South American, Pacific, African, Eurasian, Australian-Indian, Antartic

question

The average relative plate motion rate is _________ cm per year. (4 points)

answer

5

question

The __________ ____ _________ Plate is the intermediate-size tectonic plate (i.e., subplate) being subducted under the North American Plate in the Pacific Northwest. (4 points)

answer

Juan de Fuca

question

Which type of plate boundary caused by tensional forces is where new oceanic crust is produced? (4 points)

answer

divergent

question

The Basin and Range Province is an example of __________ rifting. (4 points)

answer

complex

question

Subduction zones occur at __________ plate boundaries. (4 points)

answer

convergent

question

The greatest earthquakes are generally associated with __________ plate boundaries. (4 points)

answer

convergent

question

The higher __________ of the sinking oceanic plate is the main reason it is subducted under either the continental plate or younger oceanic plate. (4 points)

answer

Density

question

The Aleutian Islands are an example of a volcanic island arc produced by __________-__________ plate convergence. (4 points)

answer

oceanic-oceanic

question

The Andes Mountains are an example of __________-__________ plate convergence. (4 points)

answer

oceanic-continental

question

The Himalayas are an example of __________-__________ plate convergence.. (4 points)

answer

continental-continental

question

_________ plate boundaries have dominantly horizontal movement as plates slide past each other, where the plate area remains constant - no new material created or destroyed (conservative plate margin). (4 points)

answer

Transform

question

The San Andreas Fault is an example of a __________ plate boundary that cut across continental crust. (4 points)

answer

transform-fault

question

Evidence supporting Plate Tectonics was acquired from OCEAN DRILLING (Deep Sea Drilling Project) and subsequent examination of ocean sediments. __________ & __________ were the TWO specific properties examined? (4 points)

answer

age & thickness

question

What was the second line of evidence used to test Plate Tectonics (and ultimately support the theory)? Hint: Hawaii. (4 points)

answer

hot spots and mantle plumes

question

LIST the THREE lines of evidence used to document plate motions, supporting Plate Tectonics. (4 points)

answer

hot spot "tracks", paleomagnetism, measuring plate velocities from space

question

Assuming hot spots are fixed (stationary) features, what is the RATE & DIRECTION of absolute plate motion of the Pacific Plate using the Hawaii hot spot, over the past 3 million years? (4 points)

answer

10 cm/yr, northwest

question

After reconstructing plate motions, scientists determined that all the continents were assembled together approximately 237 million years ago. This land mass is called the Supercontinent __________. (4 points)

answer

Pangaea

question

Which continental plate broke off from the Antartica Plate about 90 million years ago and migrated towards Eurasia over the next 70 million years, eventually colliding with Eurasia to form the Himilayas? (4 points)

answer

India

question

The basic driving force of tectonic plates is __________ __________ in the mantle. It is driven by the Earth's internal heat engine. (4 points

answer

convective flow

question

The major forces that DRIVE plate motion are __________-__________ and __________ __________. (4 points)

answer

Slab-Pull Ridge push

question

List the TWO MODELS of Plate-Mantle Convection. (4 points)

answer

Layer cake model, whole-mantle convection

question

Distribution of __________, __________, and __________ is one of the THREE major reasons why Plate Tectonics is important and directly relates to the focus of this course. (4 points)

answer

earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains

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