Question 1

Why is conduction not an efficient way to move heat through most of the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Radioactive decay generates too much heat. 
B) Molecules are too far apart to transfer heat via that method. 
C) Rocks are poor conductors of heat. 
D) Radiation is the most efficient way to move heat through the interior. 
A) Radioactive decay generates too much heat. 
B) Molecules are too far apart to transfer heat via that method. 
C) Rocks are poor conductors of heat. 
D) Radiation is the most efficient way to move heat through the interior. C

Question 2

Where is the thickest continental crust in North America?

Accepted Answer

A) Appalachian Mountains 
B) Rocky Mountains 
C) Basin and Range region 
D) Great Basin 
A) Appalachian Mountains 
B) Rocky Mountains 
C) Basin and Range region 
D) Great Basin B

Question 3

Since humans cannot access the core, what objects do scientists use as a proxy to determine the composition of the inner and outer core?

Accepted Answer

A) Volcanic rocks 
B) Meteorites 
C) Comets 
D) Glaciers 
A) Volcanic rocks 
B) Meteorites 
C) Comets 
D) Glaciers B

Question 4

When olivine is undergoing a mineral phase change due to pressure, what mineral will it form?

Accepted Answer

A) Perovskite 
B) Quartz 
C) Pyroxene 
D) Spinel 
A) Perovskite 
B) Quartz 
C) Pyroxene 
D) Spinel

Question 5

Which of the following materials would cause the greatest gravity anomaly?

Accepted Answer

A) Quartz 
B) Water 
C) Granite 
D) Metallic ore 
A) Quartz 
B) Water 
C) Granite 
D) Metallic ore

Question 6

The following choices contain densities of various materials.Based on this data, which will yield the fastest seismic velocity?

Accepted Answer

A) 2.7 g/cm3 
B) 3.0 g/cm3 
C) 3.3 g/cm3 
D) 5.6 g/cm3 
A) 2.7 g/cm3 
B) 3.0 g/cm3 
C) 3.3 g/cm3 
D) 5.6 g/cm3

Question 7

Which seismic wave(s)would be most useful in determining the extent and thickness of the Earth's interior layers?

Accepted Answer

A) P waves 
B) P and S waves 
C) S waves 
D) Surface waves 
A) P waves 
B) P and S waves 
C) S waves 
D) Surface waves

Question 8

Heat will transfer by ________ in the outer core.

Accepted Answer

A) radiation 
B) convection 
C) conduction and convection 
D) conduction 
A) radiation 
B) convection 
C) conduction and convection 
D) conduction

Question 9

What is the average thickness of the oceanic crust?

Accepted Answer

A) 4 km 
B) 7 km 
C) 40 km 
D) 70 km 
A) 4 km 
B) 7 km 
C) 40 km 
D) 70 km

Question 10

Of the three mechanisms of heat transfer, which is the only one that does not operate in the interior of Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) Convection 
B) Radiation 
C) Conduction 
A) Convection 
B) Radiation 
C) Conduction

Question 11

Which of the following material properties will not result in a seismic velocity anomaly when using seismic tomography?

Accepted Answer

A) Confining pressure 
B) Composition 
C) Temperature 
D) Water content 
A) Confining pressure 
B) Composition 
C) Temperature 
D) Water content

Question 12

Which of these four images would accurately demonstrate the path seismic rays would take through the interior if the interior of Earth was made of uniform materials?

Accepted Answer

A) 
  
B) 
  
C) 
  
D) 
  
A) 
  
B) 
  
C) 
  
D)

Question 13

P waves moving through the base of continents move at about ________ km/sec, but once they cross the Moho, the velocity changes to ________ km/sec.

Accepted Answer

A) 8; 4 
B) 2; 10 
C) 6; 8 
D) 3; 9 
A) 8; 4 
B) 2; 10 
C) 6; 8 
D) 3; 9

Question 14

If the outer core is cooler than the inner core, why is it in a liquid state?

Accepted Answer

A) It has more radioactivity than in the inner core. 
B) It is under less pressure than the inner core. 
C) It has greater water content than the inner core. 
D) It has higher density materials than the inner core. 
A) It has more radioactivity than in the inner core. 
B) It is under less pressure than the inner core. 
C) It has greater water content than the inner core. 
D) It has higher density materials than the inner core.

Question 15

The inner core is believed to rotate independently from the outer layers of Earth.Why is this possible?

Accepted Answer

A) The immense interior pressures generate rotation. 
B) The inner core is separated from the mantle by the liquid outer core and can spin freely. 
C) Radioactive decay generates spin. 
D) Frictional drag pushes the inner core at a different rate than the rest of the planet. 
A) The immense interior pressures generate rotation. 
B) The inner core is separated from the mantle by the liquid outer core and can spin freely. 
C) Radioactive decay generates spin. 
D) Frictional drag pushes the inner core at a different rate than the rest of the planet.

Question 16

What is diffraction?

Accepted Answer

A) A seismic wave is bounced back toward its source. 
B) A seismic wave is bent when moving from one material to another. 
C) A seismic wave is bent when it passes by a curved surface. 
D) Seismic waves are separated by liquids 
A) A seismic wave is bounced back toward its source. 
B) A seismic wave is bent when moving from one material to another. 
C) A seismic wave is bent when it passes by a curved surface. 
D) Seismic waves are separated by liquids

Question 17

Which of the following is a positive gravity anomaly on this map?

Accepted Answer

A) Location A 
B) Location B 
C) Location C 
D) Location D 
A) Location A 
B) Location B 
C) Location C 
D) Location D

Question 18

What is a mineral phase change?

Accepted Answer

A) A mineral melts from a solid state to a liquid state. 
B) The exterior of a mineral weathers and changes color. 
C) A mineral changes density because of the addition of water. 
D) Atoms in a mineral are rearranged into a denser and more stable structure. 
A) A mineral melts from a solid state to a liquid state. 
B) The exterior of a mineral weathers and changes color. 
C) A mineral changes density because of the addition of water. 
D) Atoms in a mineral are rearranged into a denser and more stable structure.

Question 19

What is the definition of a dipolar field?

Accepted Answer

A magnetic

Question 20

What is the difference in densities between the upper mantle and the lower mantle?

Accepted Answer

A) 2.7 & 3.0 g/cm3 
B) 3.0 & 3.3 g/cm3 
C) 3.3 &5.6 g/cm3 
D) 10 & 12.1 g/cm3 
A) 2.7 & 3.0 g/cm3 
B) 3.0 & 3.3 g/cm3 
C) 3.3 &5.6 g/cm3 
D) 10 & 12.1 g/cm3

Exam 12: Earths Interior

Why is conduction not an efficient way to move heat through most of the Earth?

Where is the thickest continental crust in North America?

Since humans cannot access the core, what objects do scientists use as a proxy to determine the composition of the inner and outer core?

When olivine is undergoing a mineral phase change due to pressure, what mineral will it form?

Which of the following materials would cause the greatest gravity anomaly?

The following choices contain densities of various materials.Based on this data, which will yield the fastest seismic velocity?

Which seismic wave(s)would be most useful in determining the extent and thickness of the Earth's interior layers?

Heat will transfer by ________ in the outer core.

What is the average thickness of the oceanic crust?

Of the three mechanisms of heat transfer, which is the only one that does not operate in the interior of Earth?

Which of the following material properties will not result in a seismic velocity anomaly when using seismic tomography?

Which of these four images would accurately demonstrate the path seismic rays would take through the interior if the interior of Earth was made of uniform materials?

P waves moving through the base of continents move at about ________ km/sec, but once they cross the Moho, the velocity changes to ________ km/sec.

If the outer core is cooler than the inner core, why is it in a liquid state?

The inner core is believed to rotate independently from the outer layers of Earth.Why is this possible?

What is diffraction?

Which of the following is a positive gravity anomaly on this map?

What is a mineral phase change?

What is the definition of a dipolar field?

What is the difference in densities between the upper mantle and the lower mantle?

An Introduction to Geology

Plate Tectonics: a Scientific Revolution Unfolds

Matter and Minerals

Magma, Igneous Rocks, and Intrusive Activity

Volcanoes and Volcanic Hazards

Weathering and Soil

Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphism and Metamorphic Rocks

Geologic Time

Crustal Deformation

Earthquakes

Divergent Boundaries

Convergent Boundaries

Mass Wasting

Running Water

Groundwater

Glaciers and Glaciation

Deserts and Winds

Shorelines

Global Climate Change

Earths Evolution Through Geologic Time

Energy and Mineral Resources

Touring Our Solar System

Filters

P waves moving through the base of continents move at about km/sec, but once they cross the Moho, the velocity changes to km/sec.