Earth System's Midterm

What is the Big Bang Theory?

• Expansion of multiple primordial atoms
• Collision of two primordial atoms
• Creation of our Solar System
• Expansion of a single primordial atom

What is the difference between the Steady State Theory when compared to the Evolutionary Theory?

• Steady state = the universe is changing; evolutionary = universe is constant
• Steady state = the universe is constant; evolutionary = universe is changing
• Steady state explains the end of the universe; evolutionary explains the start of the universe
• Steady state theory explains how the universe formed and so did the evolutionary theory

Which statement correctly describes an age relationship in the geologic cross section? Think about the top layer being the youngest

• The sandstone is younger than the basalt
• The shale is younger than the basalt
• The limestone is younger than the shale

What happens to the amount of decay product B (daughter) as time increases?

• increases
• decreases
• stays the same

The graph shows the radioactive decay of a 50-gram sample of a radioactive isotope. According to the graph, what is the half-life of this isotope?

• 100 years
• 150 years
• 200 years
• 300 years

If the half-life of a radioactive group of atoms is 100 years, then how old is the rock if there have been two half-lives?

• 25 years
• 200 years
• 400 years
• 800 years

Radioactive carbon-14 dating has determined that a fossil is 11,460 years old. If the half-life of carbon-14 is 5,730 years, how many half-lives has the fossil undergone?

• 1
• 2
• 3

The graph below shows the percent remaining (not decayed) of the original amount of carbon-14 at different times (A, B and C) during radioactive decay. How many half-lives of time are represented by point B along the time axis?

• 1
• 2
• 3

Base your answer to the following question on the geologic cross section. Which rock is the youngest?

• Shale
• Sandstone
• Igneous Rock

The cross section below shows rock layers A, B, C, D and fault F. The rock layers have not been overturned. Which sequence places the rock layers and fault in order from oldest to youngest?

• D - C - B - A - F
• F - D - C - B - A
• F - A - B - C - D