Question 1

Wegener's theory of continental drift

Accepted Answer

A) was first considered a monumental breakthrough in science. 
B) was not accepted by the scientific community of the early 1900's. 
C) proved that heat flows convectively below Earth's surface . 
D) has been proved wrong. 
A) was first considered a monumental breakthrough in science. 
B) was not accepted by the scientific community of the early 1900's. 
C) proved that heat flows convectively below Earth's surface . 
D) has been proved wrong.

Question 2

Tensional forces cause the crust to

Accepted Answer

A) buckle and fold, thereby shortening the crustal surface. 
B) buckle and fold, thereby lengthening the crustal surface. 
C) stretch and pull, thereby shortening the crustal surface. 
D) break and fracture, thereby lengthening the crustal surface. 
A) buckle and fold, thereby shortening the crustal surface. 
B) buckle and fold, thereby lengthening the crustal surface. 
C) stretch and pull, thereby shortening the crustal surface. 
D) break and fracture, thereby lengthening the crustal surface.

Question 3

How old is the Atlantic Ocean? For how many years has magma been extruding in the mid-Atlantic?

Accepted Answer

The Mid-Atlantic Ridge is a spreading ce

Question 4

Each step of 1 on the Richter scale corresponds to a change in energy release of

Accepted Answer

A) 2. 
B) 30. 
C) 100. 
D) 1000. 
A) 2. 
B) 30. 
C) 100. 
D) 1000.

Question 5

Secondary waves can travel through all areas of Earth except the

Accepted Answer

A) surface. 
B) outer core. 
C) inner core. 
D) mantle. 
A) surface. 
B) outer core. 
C) inner core. 
D) mantle.

Question 6

The outer core

Accepted Answer

A) has a plasticlike flow. 
B) flows fast enough to power Earth's magnetic field. 
C) is solid as a rock. 
D) transmits S-waves. 
A) has a plasticlike flow. 
B) flows fast enough to power Earth's magnetic field. 
C) is solid as a rock. 
D) transmits S-waves.

Question 7

The rate of seafloor spreading can be calculated by

Accepted Answer

A) the magnetic pattern generated at the ocean floor. 
B) knowing the dates for magnetic pole reversals, and the distance from the location of a known reversal site to the ocean ridge. 
C) looking at the magnetic tape recording of the ocean floor. 
D) the rate of seafloor spreading cannot be calculated. 
A) the magnetic pattern generated at the ocean floor. 
B) knowing the dates for magnetic pole reversals, and the distance from the location of a known reversal site to the ocean ridge. 
C) looking at the magnetic tape recording of the ocean floor. 
D) the rate of seafloor spreading cannot be calculated.

Question 8

The speed of a seismic wave depends on

Accepted Answer

A) the type of material it travels through. 
B) how far it has to travel. 
C) its amplitude. 
D) its frequency. 
A) the type of material it travels through. 
B) how far it has to travel. 
C) its amplitude. 
D) its frequency.

Question 9

Earth's magnetic field is not stable; throughout geologic time it has changed direction. This change is attributed to

Accepted Answer

A) changes in the direction of fluid flow in the molten outer core of Earth. 
B) magnetic pole reversals. 
C) fluctuations in the time / space continuum. 
D) changes in the direction of fluid flow in the molten inner core of Earth. 
A) changes in the direction of fluid flow in the molten outer core of Earth. 
B) magnetic pole reversals. 
C) fluctuations in the time / space continuum. 
D) changes in the direction of fluid flow in the molten inner core of Earth.

Question 10

Transform faults are areas of crustal

Accepted Answer

A) formation. 
B) destruction. 
C) subduction. 
D) accommodation and plate movement. 
A) formation. 
B) destruction. 
C) subduction. 
D) accommodation and plate movement.

Question 11

Divergent boundaries are areas of

Accepted Answer

A) crustal formation. 
B) crustal destruction. 
C) continuous, high magnitude earthquakes. 
D) intense compressional forces. 
A) crustal formation. 
B) crustal destruction. 
C) continuous, high magnitude earthquakes. 
D) intense compressional forces.

Question 12

The Earth's layer with plastic-like behavior is the

Accepted Answer

A) mantle. 
B) crust. 
C) inner core. 
D) outer core. 
A) mantle. 
B) crust. 
C) inner core. 
D) outer core.

Question 13

The majority of earthquakes occur where

Accepted Answer

A) lithospheric plates meet. 
B) the asthenosphere touches the lithosphere. 
C) the land surface is made of unconsolidated sediments. 
D) narrow zones of land touch. 
A) lithospheric plates meet. 
B) the asthenosphere touches the lithosphere. 
C) the land surface is made of unconsolidated sediments. 
D) narrow zones of land touch.

Question 14

The inner core is solid because

Accepted Answer

A) it is composed of iron and nickel. 
B) the surrounding outer layers act as a blanket to insulate the core. 
C) pressure from the weight of the surrounding layers prevents the inner core from melting. 
D) none of these, for the inner core is not solid, but is liquid 
A) it is composed of iron and nickel. 
B) the surrounding outer layers act as a blanket to insulate the core. 
C) pressure from the weight of the surrounding layers prevents the inner core from melting. 
D) none of these, for the inner core is not solid, but is liquid

Question 15

The upper mantle can be divided into two portions, the

Accepted Answer

A) asthenosphere (lower zone of the upper mantle)and part of the lithosphere (the top zone of the upper mantle). 
B) asthenosphere (top zone of the upper mantle)and the lithosphere (the lower upper mantle). 
C) Moho and the lithosphere. 
D) continental mantle and the oceanic mantle. 
A) asthenosphere (lower zone of the upper mantle)and part of the lithosphere (the top zone of the upper mantle). 
B) asthenosphere (top zone of the upper mantle)and the lithosphere (the lower upper mantle). 
C) Moho and the lithosphere. 
D) continental mantle and the oceanic mantle.

Question 16

Compression cannot produce

Accepted Answer

A) anticlines. 
B) synclines. 
C) normal faults. 
D) reverse faults. 
A) anticlines. 
B) synclines. 
C) normal faults. 
D) reverse faults.

Question 17

What is the evidence for Earth's central core being solid?

Accepted Answer

Earth's solid central core is revealed b

Question 18

The theory of plate tectonics states that

Accepted Answer

A) the lithosphere is broken up into several plates that move about as a result of convective motion in the asthenosphere. 
B) earthquakes and volcanic activity result from convection motion in the lithosphere. 
C) buoyant lithospheric plates float on top of the rigid asthenosphere. 
D) the plates move in conveyor-belt fashion as new crust is generated at the continental margins and destroyed at the mid-ocean ridges. 
A) the lithosphere is broken up into several plates that move about as a result of convective motion in the asthenosphere. 
B) earthquakes and volcanic activity result from convection motion in the lithosphere. 
C) buoyant lithospheric plates float on top of the rigid asthenosphere. 
D) the plates move in conveyor-belt fashion as new crust is generated at the continental margins and destroyed at the mid-ocean ridges.

Question 19

Convection in Earth's mantle is attributed to

Accepted Answer

A) sinking cold oceanic crust. 
B) gravity and heat flow. 
C) conduction of heat from Earth's core. 
D) temperature differences between continental and oceanic crust. 
A) sinking cold oceanic crust. 
B) gravity and heat flow. 
C) conduction of heat from Earth's core. 
D) temperature differences between continental and oceanic crust.

Question 20

How does erosion and wearing away of a mountain affect the depth to which the crust extends into the asthenosphere?

Accepted Answer

Just as shaving off the top of an iceber

Exam 21: Plate Tectonics and Earths Interior

Wegener's theory of continental drift

Tensional forces cause the crust to

How old is the Atlantic Ocean? For how many years has magma been extruding in the mid-Atlantic?

Each step of 1 on the Richter scale corresponds to a change in energy release of

Secondary waves can travel through all areas of Earth except the

The outer core

The rate of seafloor spreading can be calculated by

The speed of a seismic wave depends on

Earth's magnetic field is not stable; throughout geologic time it has changed direction. This change is attributed to

Transform faults are areas of crustal

Divergent boundaries are areas of

The Earth's layer with plastic-like behavior is the

The majority of earthquakes occur where

The inner core is solid because

The upper mantle can be divided into two portions, the

Compression cannot produce

What is the evidence for Earth's central core being solid?

The theory of plate tectonics states that

Convection in Earth's mantle is attributed to

How does erosion and wearing away of a mountain affect the depth to which the crust extends into the asthenosphere?

Patterns of Motion and Equilibrium

Newtons Laws of Motion

Momentum and Energy

Gravity, Projectiles, and Satellites

Fluid Mechanics

Thermal Energy and Thermodynamics

Heat Transfer and Change of Phase

Static and Current Electricity

Magnetism and Electromagnetic Induction

Waves and Sound

Light

Atoms and the Periodic Table

The Atomic Nucleus and Radioactivity

Elements of Chemistry

How Atoms Bond and Molecules Attract

Mixtures

How Chemicals React

Two Classes of Chemical Reactions

Organic Compounds

Rocks and Minerals

Shaping Earths Surface

Geologic Timereading the Rock Record

The Oceans, Atmosphere, and Climatic Effects

Driving Forces of Weather

The Solar System

Stars and Galaxies

The Structure of Space and Time

Prologue: the Nature of Science

Filters