Question 1

Volatile materials can exist as a gas at Earth's surface. Which of the following is NOT a volatile material?

Accepted Answer

A) water 
B) silicon 
C) hydrogen 
D) carbon dioxide 
A) water 
B) silicon 
C) hydrogen 
D) carbon dioxide

Question 2

Is it less strenuous to go for a jog in San Diego (at sea level) or in Denver (at an altitude of 1 mile)?

Accepted Answer

Air pressure decreases with in

Question 3

From left to right, correctly label each section of this slice of Earth. Note that 1 starts at the surface of Earth and 6 ends at the center of Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) 1) crust, 2) liquid outer core, 3) transition zone, 4) solid inner core, 5) upper mantle, 6) lower mantle 
B) 1) crust, 2) upper mantle, 3) transition zone, 4) lower mantle, 5) liquid outer core, 6) solid inner core 
C) 1) crust, 2) transition zone, 3) upper mantle, 4) lower mantle, 5) liquid outer core, 6) solid inner core 
D) 1) transition zone, 2) crust, 3) liquid outer core, 4) solid inner core, 5) upper mantle, 6) lower mantle 
A) 1) crust, 2) liquid outer core, 3) transition zone, 4) solid inner core, 5) upper mantle, 6) lower mantle 
B) 1) crust, 2) upper mantle, 3) transition zone, 4) lower mantle, 5) liquid outer core, 6) solid inner core 
C) 1) crust, 2) transition zone, 3) upper mantle, 4) lower mantle, 5) liquid outer core, 6) solid inner core 
D) 1) transition zone, 2) crust, 3) liquid outer core, 4) solid inner core, 5) upper mantle, 6) lower mantle

Question 4

Why is the Earth round?

Accepted Answer

Early in Earth's history, it became larg

Question 5

On Earth, __________ percent of water is fresh (nonsaline); most of this fresh water resides primarily in __________ .

Accepted Answer

A) 97; the oceans 
B) 3; glaciers and icecaps 
C) 50; the oceans 
D) 25; groundwater 
A) 97; the oceans 
B) 3; glaciers and icecaps 
C) 50; the oceans 
D) 25; groundwater

Question 6

The planets orbit the sun along the __________ plane.

Accepted Answer

A) orbital 
B) concentric 
C) ecliptic 
D) rotational 
A) orbital 
B) concentric 
C) ecliptic 
D) rotational

Question 7

Presently, which two gases dominate Earth's atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A) hydrogen and helium 
B) oxygen and carbon dioxide 
C) nitrogen and oxygen 
D) carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide 
A) hydrogen and helium 
B) oxygen and carbon dioxide 
C) nitrogen and oxygen 
D) carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide

Question 8

Where are the protons located in the image of an atom below?

Accepted Answer

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

Question 9

The process of differentiation results in all of the following EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) denser materials becoming concentrated near the cores of planets. 
B) rocky material forming the mantles of planets. 
C) planets becoming approximately spherical. 
D) planets forming atmospheres. 
A) denser materials becoming concentrated near the cores of planets. 
B) rocky material forming the mantles of planets. 
C) planets becoming approximately spherical. 
D) planets forming atmospheres.

Question 10

During a journey to the center of Earth, one would experience temperature __________ and pressure __________ .

Accepted Answer

A) increasing; increasing 
B) decreasing; decreasing 
C) increasing; staying nearly the same 
D) remaining remarkably constant; increasing 
A) increasing; increasing 
B) decreasing; decreasing 
C) increasing; staying nearly the same 
D) remaining remarkably constant; increasing

Question 11

The __________ theory states that the universe is continually growing.

Accepted Answer

A) Big Bang 
B) expanding universe 
C) nebular expansion 
D) heliocentric 
A) Big Bang 
B) expanding universe 
C) nebular expansion 
D) heliocentric

Question 12

Terrestrial planets are mainly composed of __________ , whereas Jovian planets are made dominantly of __________.

Accepted Answer

A) volatiles; rock and metals 
B) rock and metals; volatiles 
C) volatiles; sediment 
D) sediment; solid Fe-Ni metal 
A) volatiles; rock and metals 
B) rock and metals; volatiles 
C) volatiles; sediment 
D) sediment; solid Fe-Ni metal

Question 13

An aurora is produced when

Accepted Answer

A) solar wind particles are directed toward the magnetic poles and excite atmospheric gases. 
B) swamp gases rise from the arctic tundra and react with the upper atmosphere. 
C) radiation in the Van Allen belts can be seen on a clear, cold night. 
D) lightning travels from cloud to cloud rather than cloud to ground. 
A) solar wind particles are directed toward the magnetic poles and excite atmospheric gases. 
B) swamp gases rise from the arctic tundra and react with the upper atmosphere. 
C) radiation in the Van Allen belts can be seen on a clear, cold night. 
D) lightning travels from cloud to cloud rather than cloud to ground.

Question 14

If one were to ride a hot air balloon up into the atmosphere, one would experience the concentration of gases

Accepted Answer

A) becoming denser. 
B) becoming less dense. 
C) remaining the same. 
D) increasing for the first 10 km, then starting to decline. 
A) becoming denser. 
B) becoming less dense. 
C) remaining the same. 
D) increasing for the first 10 km, then starting to decline.

Question 15

Compared with our sun, first-generation stars tend to be __________ in mass and _________

Accepted Answer

A) larger; cooler 
B) larger; hotter 
C) smaller; cooler 
D) smaller; hotter 
A) larger; cooler 
B) larger; hotter 
C) smaller; cooler 
D) smaller; hotter

Question 16

The distinction between the crust and the mantle is primarily based on a difference in

Accepted Answer

A) composition. 
B) color of minerals. 
C) ability to flow. 
D) distance from the sun. 
A) composition. 
B) color of minerals. 
C) ability to flow. 
D) distance from the sun.

Question 17

As compared to basalt, granite has a

Accepted Answer

A) lower density. 
B) higher density. 
C) equal density. 
D) similar proportion of crystals. 
A) lower density. 
B) higher density. 
C) equal density. 
D) similar proportion of crystals.

Question 18

Glass is different from a mineral because it

Accepted Answer

A) is not naturally occurring. 
B) is not a solid. 
C) does not have atoms arranged in an orderly pattern. 
D) contains carbon and is therefore organic. 
A) is not naturally occurring. 
B) is not a solid. 
C) does not have atoms arranged in an orderly pattern. 
D) contains carbon and is therefore organic.

Question 19

The age of the universe is

Accepted Answer

A) less than the age of the Earth. 
B) the exact same age as the Earth. 
C) greater than the age of the Earth. 
D) impossible to determine. 
A) less than the age of the Earth. 
B) the exact same age as the Earth. 
C) greater than the age of the Earth. 
D) impossible to determine.

Question 20

Where does Earth's magnetic field originate and what is the primary benefit of the magnetic field to life on Earth?

Accepted Answer

Earth's magnetic field is crea

Exam 1: The Earth in Context

Volatile materials can exist as a gas at Earth's surface. Which of the following is NOT a volatile material?

Is it less strenuous to go for a jog in San Diego (at sea level) or in Denver (at an altitude of 1 mile)?

From left to right, correctly label each section of this slice of Earth. Note that 1 starts at the surface of Earth and 6 ends at the center of Earth.

Why is the Earth round?

On Earth, __________ percent of water is fresh (nonsaline); most of this fresh water resides primarily in __________ .

The planets orbit the sun along the __________ plane.

Presently, which two gases dominate Earth's atmosphere?

Where are the protons located in the image of an atom below?

The process of differentiation results in all of the following EXCEPT

During a journey to the center of Earth, one would experience temperature __________ and pressure __________ .

The __________ theory states that the universe is continually growing.

Terrestrial planets are mainly composed of __________ , whereas Jovian planets are made dominantly of __________.

An aurora is produced when

If one were to ride a hot air balloon up into the atmosphere, one would experience the concentration of gases

Compared with our sun, first-generation stars tend to be __________ in mass and _________

The distinction between the crust and the mantle is primarily based on a difference in

As compared to basalt, granite has a

Glass is different from a mineral because it

The age of the universe is

Where does Earth's magnetic field originate and what is the primary benefit of the magnetic field to life on Earth?

The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics

Patterns in Nature: Minerals

Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rocks

A Surface Veneer: Sediments and Sedimentary Rocks

A Process of Change: Metamorphism and the Rock Cycle

Crags, Cracks, and Crumples: Crustal Deformation and Mountain Building

A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes

Deep Time: How Old Is Old

A Biography of Earth

Riches in Rock: Energy and Mineral Resources

Shaping the Earths Surface: Landscapes, the Hydrologic Cycle, and Mass Wasting

Freshwater: Streams, Lakes, and Groundwater

Extreme Realms: Desert and Glacial Landscapes

Ocean Waters: the Blue of the Blue Marble

Marine Geology: the Study of Ocean Basins and Coasts

The Air We Breathe: Introducing Earths Atmosphere

Winds of the World: the Earths Major Weather Systems

Thunderstorms, Tornadoes, and Local Weather Systems

Climate and Climate Change

Our Solar System and Beyond

Our Neighborhood in Space

The Sun, Stars, and Deep Space

Prelude: Welcome to Earth Science

Filters

On Earth, percent of water is fresh (nonsaline); most of this fresh water resides primarily in .

During a journey to the center of Earth, one would experience temperature and pressure .

Terrestrial planets are mainly composed of , whereas Jovian planets are made dominantly of .

Compared with our sun, first-generation stars tend to be __ in mass and _