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 by all over the planet.There is a blind spot for S waves on the side of Earth opposite the earthquake,and there is a shadow zone part way around the surface from the earthquake.Since we know S waves cannot travel through liquid and P waves can,we conclude the Earth's core is liquid.Since P waves bend when they enter the liquid core,but some travel straight through,it implies there is a solid center to the liquid outer core.

Question 2

What were the two primary courses of heating that let the Earth differentiate? Which is more important to us today?

Accepted Answer

Impacts of asteroids and radioactive decay.Radiation decay of radioactive elements still provides the energy to drive plate tectonics.

Question 3

The continuing rise in the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere should cause our surface temperatures to rise.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 4

In what scenario is the blue component of incoming sunlight is scattered much more than any other color component?

Accepted Answer

A)  when the Sun is setting 
B)  when the Sun is high in the sky 
C)  when the Sun is rising 
D)  during the night time 
E)  during a solar eclipse 
A)  when the Sun is setting 
B)  when the Sun is high in the sky 
C)  when the Sun is rising 
D)  during the night time 
E)  during a solar eclipse

Question 5

Seismic waves are most useful for mapping:

Accepted Answer

A)  the surface of Venus with Magellan. 
B)  the surface of Mars with Global Surveyor. 
C)  the Earth's core and mantle. 
D)  the density of the hydrosphere. 
E)  the depths of the oceans. 
A)  the surface of Venus with Magellan. 
B)  the surface of Mars with Global Surveyor. 
C)  the Earth's core and mantle. 
D)  the density of the hydrosphere. 
E)  the depths of the oceans.

Question 6

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

Accepted Answer

Heavier nitrogen can be retain

Question 7

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 8

Without the Greenhouse Effect operating in our atmosphere,

Accepted Answer

A)  we would not have to worry about any warming problems in the future. 
B)  Earth would have an average temperature of -23 degrees Celsius. 
C)  the ice in the polar regions would have melted long ago. 
D)  the ozone layer would not be weakening. 
E)  the Earth would have become much more like Venus long ago. 
A)  we would not have to worry about any warming problems in the future. 
B)  Earth would have an average temperature of -23 degrees Celsius. 
C)  the ice in the polar regions would have melted long ago. 
D)  the ozone layer would not be weakening. 
E)  the Earth would have become much more like Venus long ago.

Question 9

Seismic P-waves can travel through both solid and liquid materials.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Seismic S-waves can travel through Earth's liquid outer core.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

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 12

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 13

In the process of breaking down the ozone layer,the chlorine from the CFCs acts as a ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of In the process of breaking down the...

Question 14

Compared to the density of water,our Earth averages about:

Accepted Answer

A)  the same density, similar to Saturn. 
B)  3 times denser, much like our Moon. 
C)  4 times denser, similar to Mars. 
D)  5 times denser, like the Mercury and Venus. 
E)  10 times denser, due to our core of iron and nickel. 
A)  the same density, similar to Saturn. 
B)  3 times denser, much like our Moon. 
C)  4 times denser, similar to Mars. 
D)  5 times denser, like the Mercury and Venus. 
E)  10 times denser, due to our core of iron and nickel.

Question 15

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

Accepted Answer

core,mantle,crust,hy

Question 16

The ozone layer lies at the boundary of the stratosphere and mesosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

The hydrosphere covers about 50% of the Earth's crust.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

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

Accepted Answer

Rift valleys,trenche

Question 19

Infrared radiation is trapped close to our surface by the Greenhouse Effect.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

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.

Exam 7: Earth: Our Home in Space

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

What were the two primary courses of heating that let the Earth differentiate? Which is more important to us today?

The continuing rise in the carbon dioxide in our atmosphere should cause our surface temperatures to rise.

In what scenario is the blue component of incoming sunlight is scattered much more than any other color component?

Seismic waves are most useful for mapping:

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

Which body has the greatest gravitational pull on Earth?

Without the Greenhouse Effect operating in our atmosphere,

Seismic P-waves can travel through both solid and liquid materials.

Seismic S-waves can travel through Earth's liquid outer core.

Earth's magnetic field:

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

In the process of breaking down the ozone layer,the chlorine from the CFCs acts as a ________.

Compared to the density of water,our Earth averages about:

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

The ozone layer lies at the boundary of the stratosphere and mesosphere.

The hydrosphere covers about 50% of the Earth's crust.

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

Infrared radiation is trapped close to our surface by the Greenhouse Effect.

Which statement about seismic waves is true?

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: Earth's 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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