Earth Science

Earth Science: Unit 3

Multiple Select

Which of the following is a source of heat in Earth's interior? Select 3.

• gravity pulling dense material to the center

• seismic waves

• radioactive decay

• solar radiation

• collisions of rock

Multiple Choice

Which of the following statements summarizes how the formation of the solar system was similar to the differentiation of Earth into layers?

• In both processes, the densest materials moved to the center.

• In both processes, the densest materials moved to the outside.

• In both processes, the densest materials formed the middle layer.

• In both processes, the densest materials were evenly distributed.

Multiple Choice

When S-waves reach the outer core of the Earth they stop and when P-waves reach the outer core of the Earth they slow down. What is the reason for this speed change?

• The outer core is a solid and P-waves don't go through solids.

• The outer core is a liquid and P-waves slow down in liquids and S-waves don't go through liquids.

• The outer core is made of iron and S-waves don't go through iron and P-waves always slow down in iron.

• The outer core is a putty-like material and S-waves don't go through putty and P-waves slow down in putty like material.

Multiple Choice

There is a boundary between the crust and the mantle that was discovered by the data from seismic waves. This boundary marks a change in composition, which in turn affects density. The speed of P waves and S waves increases at this boundary. Which statement best describes the difference between the crust and the mantle?

• The crust is denser than the mantle.

• The crust is liquid and the mantle is solid.

• The crust is solid and the mantle is liquid.

• The crust is less dense than the mantle.

Multiple Choice

Why are meteorites important to the study of the Earth's interior?

• Meteorites are most likely debris ejected from the sun and moon.

• Meteorites come from bodies in space that formed along with the planets and are thought to have similar compositions to Earth's layers.

• Meteorites formed far outside the solar system at the same time Earth formed.

Multiple Choice

In the early 1900's, a hypothesis was introduced that proposed a single large landmass broke into smaller landmasses and formed and continents, which drifted in their present locations. What is the name of this hypothesis?

• continental shift

• continental drift

• plate movement

• plate tectonics

Multiple Choice

Where have great amounts of volcanic activity been found to concentrate?

• along shorelines

• near magnetic poles

• near plate boundaries

• at high elevations

Multiple Select

Select TWO of the following discoveries that are evidence supporting the idea of continental drift? You need to find two that are evidence of continental drift.

• the discovery of matching plant and animal fossils found on different continents

• the discovery that most earthquakes are near plate boundaries

• coal found in Antarctica

• the discovery of the rock age increases as distance from mid-ocean ridges increases

• the discovery of sea-floor rock patterns due to magnetic reversal

Multiple Choice

We saw pictures where all the continents were joined together to make one huge continent. What explanation best summarizes the hypothesis shown in the figure?

• The present continents will gradually move to form a single landmass called Pangaea.

• The continents were once a large landmass named Pangaea, which broke apart and gradually drifted to the present-day locations of the continents.

• The continents were once a large landmass, but the north and south magnetic poles pulled the continents apart towards the poles.

• The continents were once a large landmass, but the ocean level rose, and these oceans separated today's continents.

Multiple Choice

Fossils of the Cynonathus have been discovered on both South America and Africa. How does this evidence help to support the hypothesis of continental drift?

• This evidence shows that this creature inhabited both continents because it swam across the ocean.

• This evidence shows that the two continents have similar climatic conditions.

• This evidence shows that Cynonathus could have flown between the continents over time.

• This evidence shows that this creature could not have swum or flown long distances, so the continents were once connected.

Multiple Choice

The Atlas Mountains in Africa are part of the same mountain chain as the Appalachian Mountains in North America, indicating that they were once connected. How does this evidence relate to the theory of plate tectonics?

• This evidence shows that that the two continents have similar landforms.

• This evidence shows that the mountains contain fossil evidence.

• This evidence shows that sea floor spreading occurs, and magnetic reversal patterns exist on the sea floor.

• This evidence shows that they were once a single mountain range when the continents were connected and were later separated as the continents moved apart.

Multiple Choice

which of the following explains why tectonic plates move?

• Plates move because of the gravitational force of the moon pulling on Earth's surface.

• Plates move because the asthenosphere is slowly moving.

• Plates move because landforms cause them to move in different directions.

• Plates move because they are slowly expanding and growing larger.

Multiple Choice

A subduction zone is a place where a more dense plate (oceanic) and a less dense plate (continental) collide and the more dense plate goes underneath the less dense plate. What would you call this boundary and what landform is likely to occur here?

• divergent, trench

• divergent, volcanoes

• convergent, folded mountains

• convergent, volcanoes

Multiple Choice

Why do folded mountain belts sometimes form at convergent plate boundaries?

• Because rock is compressed and forced upward.

• Because convergent plate boundaries occur above hot spots.

• Because the rock is stretched apart and breaks, which allows magma to rise to Earth's surface.

• Because subducted oceanic lithosphere melts and rises as magma to Earth's surface.

Multiple Choice

If we were drawing arrows for a pair of convergent tectonic plates which of the following would be the way we would draw the arrows?

• Away from each other

• One going up and other other going down

• The two arrows coming towards each other.

Multiple Choice

Which feature does NOT result from seismic activity?

• faults

• volcanoes

• glacial deposits

• folded rock layers

Multiple Choice

Which two landforms are caused by convergent plate boundaries?

• a ridge and a rift valley

• a trench and a mid ocean ridge

• a rift valley and an ocean trench

• an ocean trench and a mountain range

Multiple Select

What two processes occur at mid-ocean ridges? Check two.

• Material rises from the mantle to the crust.

• Sediments from the crust sink into the mantle.

• Crustal rock subducts into the mantle and melts

• Thermal energy rises from the mantle to the crust.

• Tsunami waves transfer energy from the crust to the mantle.