Question 1

The age of rocks can be determined by comparing the quantity of a radioactive element and itsstable ________ element.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The age of rocks can be determined...

Question 2

Why does the Earth's atmosphere contain much more nitrogen than hydrogen?

Accepted Answer

Heavier nitrogen can be retain

Question 3

Describe the two different kinds of seismic waves. Distinguish between them by describinghow they move through Earth's interior.

Accepted Answer

S-waves cause side-to-side motion. These

Question 4

Subduction of higher density oceanic plates under the continents not only creates deeptrenches but also tall volcanic chains ashore as well.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 5

After two half-lives have passed, the ratio of a radioactive element to its daughter element is

Accepted Answer

A) 0 to 4. 
B) 1 to 4. 
C) 1 to 3. 
D) 1 to 2. 
E) 1 to 1. 
A) 0 to 4. 
B) 1 to 4. 
C) 1 to 3. 
D) 1 to 2. 
E) 1 to 1.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

A) the Van Allen radiation belts. 
B) intense auroral displays. 
C) sunspots. 
D) hurricanes in the tropics. 
E) droughts and dust bowls in the American West. 
A) the Van Allen radiation belts. 
B) intense auroral displays. 
C) sunspots. 
D) hurricanes in the tropics. 
E) droughts and dust bowls in the American West.

Question 7

Earth's magnetic field:

Accepted Answer

A) prevents charged particles in the solar wind from reaching the surface. 
B) is a remnant of the solar nebula's magnetic field. 
C) is weakening the Van Allen radiation belts. 
D) is the force behind plate tectonics. 
E) lines intersect the atmosphere at the equator. 
A) prevents charged particles in the solar wind from reaching the surface. 
B) is a remnant of the solar nebula's magnetic field. 
C) is weakening the Van Allen radiation belts. 
D) is the force behind plate tectonics. 
E) lines intersect the atmosphere at the equator.

Question 8

What is the percentage of Earth's atmosphere (by volume)that is carbon dioxide $\left( \mathrm { CO } _ { 2 } \right)$

Accepted Answer

A) 78 
B) 21 
C) 3 
D) 0.9 
E) 0.03 
A) 78 
B) 21 
C) 3 
D) 0.9 
E) 0.03

Question 9

List the six main regions of the Earth, in order, starting from the center.

Accepted Answer

core, mantle, crust,

Question 10

What is the best description of the Earth's rotation over its entire history?

Accepted Answer

A) It has periodically reversed directions, as the magnetic polarity reversals show. 
B) It has been constant over the entire history of the solar system. 
C) It undergoes abrupt changes, as the magnetic variations show. 
D) It has slowed down very gradually at about .0015 seconds per century. 
E) It has sped up at about .013 seconds per century. 
A) It has periodically reversed directions, as the magnetic polarity reversals show. 
B) It has been constant over the entire history of the solar system. 
C) It undergoes abrupt changes, as the magnetic variations show. 
D) It has slowed down very gradually at about .0015 seconds per century. 
E) It has sped up at about .013 seconds per century.

Question 11

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

Accepted Answer

A) hydrosphere 
B) ionosphere 
C) mantle 
D) crust 
E) core 
A) hydrosphere 
B) ionosphere 
C) mantle 
D) crust 
E) core

Question 12

Name two consequences of the Earth's magnetic field detected from space.

Accepted Answer

The Van Allen radiation belts

Question 13

Infrared radiation is trapped close to our surface by the greenhouse effect.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Above about 100 km, the high-energy portion of the Sun's radiation spectrum breaks downmolecules into atoms. What is this part of Earth's atmosphere called?

Accepted Answer

A) the troposphere 
B) the stratosphere 
C) the mesosphere 
D) the ionosphere 
E) the magnetosphere 
A) the troposphere 
B) the stratosphere 
C) the mesosphere 
D) the ionosphere 
E) the magnetosphere

Question 15

The energy for plate tectonics comes primarily from radioactive decay in our core.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 16

Which body has the greatest gravitational pull on Earth?

Accepted Answer

A) the Sun 
B) the Moon 
C) Mars 
D) Jupiter 
E) None has an impact, as all are too distant. 
A) the Sun 
B) the Moon 
C) Mars 
D) Jupiter 
E) None has an impact, as all are too distant.

Question 17

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

Accepted Answer

A) the Earth's interior is similar to Mercury's, as both have fields. 
B) a huge iron meteorite lies somewhere high up in the mantle, not in the core. 
C) we have a liquid metal outer core, spinning rapidly as we rotate. 
D) the Earth's interior must be completely molten to the center. 
E) the Earth's interior has had time to solidify, with a rigid bar magnet created. 
A) the Earth's interior is similar to Mercury's, as both have fields. 
B) a huge iron meteorite lies somewhere high up in the mantle, not in the core. 
C) we have a liquid metal outer core, spinning rapidly as we rotate. 
D) the Earth's interior must be completely molten to the center. 
E) the Earth's interior has had time to solidify, with a rigid bar magnet created.

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

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

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Note at least three surface features that are driven by plate tectonics.

Accepted Answer

Rift valleys, trench

Exam 7: Earth: Our Home in Space

The age of rocks can be determined by comparing the quantity of a radioactive element and itsstable ________ element.

Why does the Earth's atmosphere contain much more nitrogen than hydrogen?

Describe the two different kinds of seismic waves. Distinguish between them by describinghow they move through Earth's interior.

Subduction of higher density oceanic plates under the continents not only creates deeptrenches but also tall volcanic chains ashore as well.

After two half-lives have passed, the ratio of a radioactive element to its daughter element is

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

Earth's magnetic field:

What is the percentage of Earth's atmosphere (by volume)that is carbon dioxide (CO2)\left( \mathrm { CO } _ { 2 } \right)(CO2​)

List the six main regions of the Earth, in order, starting from the center.

What is the best description of the Earth's rotation over its entire history?

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

Name two consequences of the Earth's magnetic field detected from space.

Infrared radiation is trapped close to our surface by the greenhouse effect.

Above about 100 km, the high-energy portion of the Sun's radiation spectrum breaks downmolecules into atoms. What is this part of Earth's atmosphere called?

The energy for plate tectonics comes primarily from radioactive decay in our core.

Which body has the greatest gravitational pull on Earth?

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

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

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

Note at least three surface features that are driven by plate tectonics.

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

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What is the percentage of Earth's atmosphere (by volume)that is carbon dioxide $\left( \mathrm { CO } _ { 2 } \right)$