Question 1

How do earthquakes allow us to model the structure of Earth's core?

Accepted Answer

Examining the different seismic waves, we find P and S waves are not recorded allover the planet. There is a blind spot for S waves on the side of Earth opposite the earthquake,and there is a shadow zone partway around the surface from the earthquake. Since we know Swaves cannot travel through liquid and P waves can, we conclude the Earth's core is liquid. SinceP waves bend when they enter the liquid core, but some travel straight through, it implies there isa solid center to the liquid outer core.

Question 2

Describe several features on the Earth's crust explained by plate tectonics.

Accepted Answer

Mountain ranges, volcanic mountain chains, mid-ocean rifts, oceanic trenches, faults,earthquakes, and plate motion.

Question 3

The partial trapping of solar radiation is known as the ________.

Accepted Answer

greenhouse effect

Question 4

What gas is the primary constituent of our atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) oxygen 
B) carbon dioxide 
C) nitrogen 
D) hydrogen 
E) helium 
A) oxygen 
B) carbon dioxide 
C) nitrogen 
D) hydrogen 
E) helium

Question 5

When plates collide, they fuse together and come to rest.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Name the layers of the Earth's atmosphere, going up from the surface.

Accepted Answer

tropospher

Question 7

Describe the process by which the ozone hole promotes its own existence.

Accepted Answer

The ozone hole is a region whe

Question 8

What can we conclude about the structure of Earth's interior knowing that the average densityof Earth is higher than the average density of the rock on the continents and seafloor?

Accepted Answer

A) that Earth's most dense material must be water 
B) that Earth's most dense material must be the seafloor and the continents 
C) that Earth's most dense material must be beneath the surface 
D) that Earth's least dense material must be the seafloor and the continents 
E) that Earth's least dense material must be beneath the surface 
A) that Earth's most dense material must be water 
B) that Earth's most dense material must be the seafloor and the continents 
C) that Earth's most dense material must be beneath the surface 
D) that Earth's least dense material must be the seafloor and the continents 
E) that Earth's least dense material must be beneath the surface

Question 9

We determine the structure of the Earth's core using:

Accepted Answer

A) deep mine shafts. 
B) satellite imaging. 
C) radar and sonar. 
D) seismic wave data. 
E) magnetic resonance imaging. 
A) deep mine shafts. 
B) satellite imaging. 
C) radar and sonar. 
D) seismic wave data. 
E) magnetic resonance imaging.

Question 10

What does it mean when we say the Earth's interior is differentiated?

Accepted Answer

In a molten state, the denser

Question 11

Which statement about seismic waves is true?

Accepted Answer

A) Only S waves can travel through liquid. 
B) P waves travel faster, and thus arrive sooner than do the S waves. 
C) In the shadow zones, neither type is observed. 
D) S waves can travel though the outer core, but P waves cannot. 
E) On the far side of the Earth, only the S waves on the surface can be detected. 
A) Only S waves can travel through liquid. 
B) P waves travel faster, and thus arrive sooner than do the S waves. 
C) In the shadow zones, neither type is observed. 
D) S waves can travel though the outer core, but P waves cannot. 
E) On the far side of the Earth, only the S waves on the surface can be detected.

Question 12

The hydrosphere accounts in large part for the fact that our atmosphere is thinner thanVenus's and contains far less carbon dioxide.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

What effect does the Moon have on the Earth's day-night cycle?

Accepted Answer

A) Tides cause the Earth's rotation to slow gradually, lengthening the day-night cycle. 
B) The pull of gravity from the Moon causes the Earth's rotation to speed up slightly, shorteningthe day-night cycle. 
C) The interaction between the magnetic fields of the Earth and the Moon causes the Earth'srotation to slow gradually, lengthening the day-night cycle. 
D) The Moon has no effect on the Earth's day-night cycle. 
E) The Sun controls Earth's day-night cycle and the Moon only affects this during eclipses. 
A) Tides cause the Earth's rotation to slow gradually, lengthening the day-night cycle. 
B) The pull of gravity from the Moon causes the Earth's rotation to speed up slightly, shorteningthe day-night cycle. 
C) The interaction between the magnetic fields of the Earth and the Moon causes the Earth'srotation to slow gradually, lengthening the day-night cycle. 
D) The Moon has no effect on the Earth's day-night cycle. 
E) The Sun controls Earth's day-night cycle and the Moon only affects this during eclipses.

Question 14

The oldest rocks on our crust are radioactively dated at about:

Accepted Answer

A) 200 million years old. 
B) one billion years old. 
C) 2.7 billion years old. 
D) four billion years old. 
E) 4.6 billion years old. 
A) 200 million years old. 
B) one billion years old. 
C) 2.7 billion years old. 
D) four billion years old. 
E) 4.6 billion years old.

Question 15

Within Earth's atmosphere the ozone layer is located:

Accepted Answer

A) in the troposphere. 
B) between the troposphere and the stratosphere. 
C) in the stratosphere. 
D) between the stratosphere and the mesosphere. 
E) in the mesosphere. 
A) in the troposphere. 
B) between the troposphere and the stratosphere. 
C) in the stratosphere. 
D) between the stratosphere and the mesosphere. 
E) in the mesosphere.

Question 16

Where is the newest material in the Earth's crust found?

Accepted Answer

At the mid-ocean rid

Question 17

The greenhouse effect works by trapping:

Accepted Answer

A) incoming ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. 
B) outgoing ultraviolet radiation from the Earth. 
C) incoming infrared radiation from the Sun. 
D) outgoing infrared radiation from the Earth. 
E) the heat from the Sun in Earth's atmosphere. 
A) incoming ultraviolet radiation from the Sun. 
B) outgoing ultraviolet radiation from the Earth. 
C) incoming infrared radiation from the Sun. 
D) outgoing infrared radiation from the Earth. 
E) the heat from the Sun in Earth's atmosphere.

Question 18

At what phase are the tides least noticeable?

Accepted Answer

A) new Moon 
B) full Moon 
C) third quarter 
D) waxing crescent 
E) waning gibbous 
A) new Moon 
B) full Moon 
C) third quarter 
D) waxing crescent 
E) waning gibbous

Question 19

A region where a denser basaltic plate is subducted under a continental one is:

Accepted Answer

A) the Himalayas. 
B) the Nazca Trench. 
C) the Mid-Atlantic Rift. 
D) Hawaii. 
E) the San Andreas Fault. 
A) the Himalayas. 
B) the Nazca Trench. 
C) the Mid-Atlantic Rift. 
D) Hawaii. 
E) the San Andreas Fault.

Question 20

From the center outward, the correct order is:

Accepted Answer

A) liquid iron inner core, solid nickel outer core, rocky mantle, silicate crust. 
B) solid metallic inner core, molten metal outer core, silicate mantle and crust. 
C) solid metal core, molten metal hydrosphere, rocky lithosphere, gases in atmosphere. 
D) solid rock core, liquid metal mantle, solid rock crust. 
E) molten metal hydrosphere, molten rock lithosphere, solid silicate crust. 
A) liquid iron inner core, solid nickel outer core, rocky mantle, silicate crust. 
B) solid metallic inner core, molten metal outer core, silicate mantle and crust. 
C) solid metal core, molten metal hydrosphere, rocky lithosphere, gases in atmosphere. 
D) solid rock core, liquid metal mantle, solid rock crust. 
E) molten metal hydrosphere, molten rock lithosphere, solid silicate crust.

Exam 7: Earth: Our Home in Space

How do earthquakes allow us to model the structure of Earth's core?

Describe several features on the Earth's crust explained by plate tectonics.

The partial trapping of solar radiation is known as the ________.

What gas is the primary constituent of our atmosphere?

When plates collide, they fuse together and come to rest.

Name the layers of the Earth's atmosphere, going up from the surface.

Describe the process by which the ozone hole promotes its own existence.

What can we conclude about the structure of Earth's interior knowing that the average densityof Earth is higher than the average density of the rock on the continents and seafloor?

We determine the structure of the Earth's core using:

What does it mean when we say the Earth's interior is differentiated?

Which statement about seismic waves is true?

The hydrosphere accounts in large part for the fact that our atmosphere is thinner thanVenus's and contains far less carbon dioxide.

What effect does the Moon have on the Earth's day-night cycle?

The oldest rocks on our crust are radioactively dated at about:

Within Earth's atmosphere the ozone layer is located:

Where is the newest material in the Earth's crust found?

The greenhouse effect works by trapping:

At what phase are the tides least noticeable?

A region where a denser basaltic plate is subducted under a continental one is:

From the center outward, the correct order is:

Charting the Heavens: The Foundations of Astronomy

The Copernican Revolution: The Birth of Modern Science

Radiation: Information From the Cosmos

Spectroscopy: the Inner Workings of Atoms

Telescopes: The Tools of Astronomy

The Solar System: Comparative Planetology and Formation Models

The Moon and Mercury: Scorched and Battered Worlds

Venus: Earths Sister Planet

Mars: a Near Miss for Life

Jupiter: Giant of the Solar System

Saturn: Spectacular Rings and Mysterious Moons

Uranus and Neptune: The Outer Worlds of the Solar System

Solar System Debris: Keys to Our Origin

Exoplanets: Planetary Systems Beyond Our Own

The Sun: Our Parent Star

The Stars: Giants, Dwarfs, and the Main Sequence

The Interstellar Medium: Gas and Dust Among the Stars

Star Formation: a Traumatic Birth

Stellar Evolution: The Life and Death of a Star

Stellar Explosions: Novae, Supernovae, and the Formation of the Elements

Neutron Stars and Black Holes: Strange States of Matter

The Milky Way Galaxy: a Spiral in Space

Galaxies: Building Blocks of the Universe

Galaxies and Dark Matter: The Large-Scale Structure of the Cosmos

Cosmology: The Big Bang and the Fate of the Universe

The Early Universe: Toward the Beginning of Time

Life in the Universe: Are We Alone

Filters