Question 1

Earthquake body wave records allow scientists to construct an image of Earth's interior.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  True

Question 2

Which property of waves has been most important in allowing seismologists to identify the boundaries of the inner core/outer core and the outer core/mantle?

Accepted Answer

A)  wave reflection 
B)  wave amplitude 
C)  wave velocity 
D)  wave refraction 
A)  wave reflection 
B)  wave amplitude 
C)  wave velocity 
D)  wave refraction D

Question 3

Regions where seismometers do not record P and/or S waves are called

Accepted Answer

A)  aseismic regions. 
B)  nonseismic zones. 
C)  seismic gaps. 
D)  shadow zones. 
A)  aseismic regions. 
B)  nonseismic zones. 
C)  seismic gaps. 
D)  shadow zones. D

Question 4

Due to the nature of the movement of a wave, which type of wave cannot move through gases or liquids?

Accepted Answer

A)  P-waves 
B)  S-waves 
C)  body waves 
D)  surface waves 
A)  P-waves 
B)  S-waves 
C)  body waves 
D)  surface waves

Question 5

On average, how frequent are earthquakes?

Accepted Answer

A)  hundreds per day 
B)  hundreds per year 
C)  thousands per day 
D)  thousands per year 
A)  hundreds per day 
B)  hundreds per year 
C)  thousands per day 
D)  thousands per year

Question 6

Stretching a rubber band and then returning it to its original shape is an example of ________ deformation.

Accepted Answer

A)  plastic 
B)  elastic 
C)  brittle 
D)  aural 
A)  plastic 
B)  elastic 
C)  brittle 
D)  aural

Question 7

How do earthquakes make images of Earth's interior?

Accepted Answer

"Earthquakes produce surface waves and t

Question 8

The location of an earthquake within Earth is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  focus. 
B)  epicenter. 
C)  seismic center. 
D)  tsunami. 
A)  focus. 
B)  epicenter. 
C)  seismic center. 
D)  tsunami.

Question 9

Which of the following is not a common way to define the distance between an earthquake and a seismometer that records it?

Accepted Answer

A)  by surface distance around Earth 
B)  by angular distance to a satellite 
C)  by angular distance to Earth's center 
D)  by straight-line distance through Earth 
A)  by surface distance around Earth 
B)  by angular distance to a satellite 
C)  by angular distance to Earth's center 
D)  by straight-line distance through Earth

Question 10

X-rays are not used to study the geology of Earth. Why?

Accepted Answer

A)  X-rays only penetrate living flesh. 
B)  Mineral matter is not transparent to X-rays. 
C)  X-rays do not extend to required distances of study. 
D)  X-rays do not produce three-dimensional images. 
A)  X-rays only penetrate living flesh. 
B)  Mineral matter is not transparent to X-rays. 
C)  X-rays do not extend to required distances of study. 
D)  X-rays do not produce three-dimensional images.

Question 11

A mountaintop is made of limestone overlying a layer of basalt. What would be the origin of this mountain?

Accepted Answer

A)  The limestone would have formed by sediment in a river valley where the river was flowing over basalt. 
B)  The limestone would have formed by volcanic outflow and the basalt would have been part of the volcano. 
C)  The limestone would have formed at the bottom of an ocean and the basalt would have been part of the oceanic crust. 
D)  The basalt would have formed under metamorphosis by the pressure of the limestone that formed by sedimentation on top of it. 
A)  The limestone would have formed by sediment in a river valley where the river was flowing over basalt. 
B)  The limestone would have formed by volcanic outflow and the basalt would have been part of the volcano. 
C)  The limestone would have formed at the bottom of an ocean and the basalt would have been part of the oceanic crust. 
D)  The basalt would have formed under metamorphosis by the pressure of the limestone that formed by sedimentation on top of it.

Question 12

A student concludes, "The transition zone is where minerals change from peridotite in the upper mantle to higher-pressure minerals by reconfiguration of atoms." Evaluate this statement.

Accepted Answer

A)  It is true. 
B)  It is false. The transition zone is a place where mineral composition changes completely. 
C)  It is false. The transition zone is a place of higher density and pressure that interrupts the velocity of seismic waves. 
D)  It is true, except the minerals change from basalt to peridotite. 
A)  It is true. 
B)  It is false. The transition zone is a place where mineral composition changes completely. 
C)  It is false. The transition zone is a place of higher density and pressure that interrupts the velocity of seismic waves. 
D)  It is true, except the minerals change from basalt to peridotite.

Question 13

Most earthquake destruction results from

Accepted Answer

A)  primary (P) waves. 
B)  secondary (S) waves. 
C)  surface waves. 
D)  acoustic waves. 
A)  primary (P) waves. 
B)  secondary (S) waves. 
C)  surface waves. 
D)  acoustic waves.

Question 14

What composes the interior of Earth?

Accepted Answer

"The internal composition of Earth is in

Question 15

The Mohorovicic discontinuity or Moho was discovered based on

Accepted Answer

A)  chemical differences between felsic and mafic rocks. 
B)  the S-wave shadow zone. 
C)  a sharp change in seismic velocities. 
D)  mineralogical data from drill holes. 
A)  chemical differences between felsic and mafic rocks. 
B)  the S-wave shadow zone. 
C)  a sharp change in seismic velocities. 
D)  mineralogical data from drill holes.

Question 16

What kind of waves are P and S waves?

Accepted Answer

A)  surface waves 
B)  interior waves 
C)  body waves 
D)  sound waves 
A)  surface waves 
B)  interior waves 
C)  body waves 
D)  sound waves

Question 17

Which two elements form most of Earth's core?

Accepted Answer

A)  iron and nickel 
B)  iron and peridotite 
C)  iron and sulfur 
D)  iron and silicon 
A)  iron and nickel 
B)  iron and peridotite 
C)  iron and sulfur 
D)  iron and silicon

Question 18

The relationship between predicted and actual P- and S-wave arrival times support the hypothesis that P- and S-wave velocities are the same throughout Earth.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 19

How do geologists learn about Earth's interior?

Accepted Answer

"Some rocks seen at Earth's surface form

Question 20

Which of the following is not an abundant radioactive element within Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  thorium 
B)  uranium 
C)  potassium 
D)  curium 
A)  thorium 
B)  uranium 
C)  potassium 
D)  curium

Exam 8: Earth Materials As Time Keepers

Earthquake body wave records allow scientists to construct an image of Earth's interior.

Which property of waves has been most important in allowing seismologists to identify the boundaries of the inner core/outer core and the outer core/mantle?

Regions where seismometers do not record P and/or S waves are called

Due to the nature of the movement of a wave, which type of wave cannot move through gases or liquids?

On average, how frequent are earthquakes?

Stretching a rubber band and then returning it to its original shape is an example of ________ deformation.

How do earthquakes make images of Earth's interior?

The location of an earthquake within Earth is called the

Which of the following is not a common way to define the distance between an earthquake and a seismometer that records it?

X-rays are not used to study the geology of Earth. Why?

A mountaintop is made of limestone overlying a layer of basalt. What would be the origin of this mountain?

A student concludes, "The transition zone is where minerals change from peridotite in the upper mantle to higher-pressure minerals by reconfiguration of atoms." Evaluate this statement.

Most earthquake destruction results from

What composes the interior of Earth?

The Mohorovicic discontinuity or Moho was discovered based on

What kind of waves are P and S waves?

Which two elements form most of Earth's core?

The relationship between predicted and actual P- and S-wave arrival times support the hypothesis that P- and S-wave velocities are the same throughout Earth.

How do geologists learn about Earth's interior?

Which of the following is not an abundant radioactive element within Earth?

Why Study Earth

Minerals: Building Blocks of the Planet

Rocks and Rock-Forming Processes

Formation of Magma and Igneous Rocks

Formation of Sediment and Sedimentary Rocks

Formation of Metamorphic Rocks

Earth Materials As Time Keepers

Making Earth

Motion Inside Earth

Deformation of Rocks

Global Tectonics: Plates and Plumes

Tectonics and Surface Relief

Soil Formation and Landscape Stability

Mass Movements: Landscapes in Motion

Streams: Flowing Water Shapes the Landscape

Water Flowing Underground

Glaciers: Cold-Climate Sculptors of Continents

Shorelines: Changing Landscapes Where Land Meets Sea

Wind: a Global Geologic Process

Global Warming: Real Time Change in the Earth System

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