Earth Science Fall Final Question Pool

Front

What is a mineral?

Back

A mineral is a naturally occurring, inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and a crystalline structure.

Front

What is the nebular hypothesis?

Back

The nebular hypothesis is a model that explains the formation of the solar system from a huge rotating cloud of gas and dust, primarily composed of helium and hydrogen.

Front

What is sea-floor spreading?

Back

Sea-floor spreading is the process by which new oceanic crust is created at mid-ocean ridges as tectonic plates move apart.

Front

What is an element?

Back

An element is a pure substance that cannot be broken down into simpler substances by chemical means, consisting of only one type of atom.

Front

What are metamorphic rocks?

Back

Metamorphic rocks are rocks that have been changed from their original form due to heat, pressure, or chemically active fluids.

Front

What is the significance of the alternation of polarity in ocean floor segments?

Back

The alternation of polarity in ocean floor segments provides evidence for sea-floor spreading and the movement of tectonic plates.

Front

What is the relationship between earthquakes and plate boundaries?

Back

Most earthquakes occur along plate boundaries where tectonic plates interact, such as converging, diverging, or sliding past each other.

Front

What is the composition of the Earth's atmosphere?

Back

The Earth's atmosphere is primarily composed of nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), with trace amounts of other gases.

Front

What is the rock cycle?

Back

The rock cycle is the continuous process of rock formation, breakdown, and reformation through geological processes such as weathering, erosion, and metamorphism.

Front

What is the difference between weathering and erosion?

Back

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks into smaller pieces, while erosion is the movement of those pieces from one location to another.