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Earth's Formation

Total questions: 23

Worksheet time: 18mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

How old is the Earth?

a)

4.5 billion years

b)
1 billion years
c)
2 billion years
d)
3 billion years
2.
Question Image

Match the following

a)

A

1.

planetesimal

b)

B

2.

Protoplanet

c)

C

3.

Planet

3.

Match the following

a)

Gravity causes the solar nebula to collapse

b)

The protosun forms at the center of the nebular disk

c)

Planetesimals form through accretion

d)

Protoplanets form

e)

Constant bombardment causes Earth to become molten

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
4.

Match the following

a)

Planetesimals form through accretion

b)

Protoplanets form

c)

Constant bombardment causes Earth to become molten

d)

Chemical differentiation occurs

e)

The Earth cools

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
5.

How did the Earth get its water?

a)

much of it was trapped inside the Earth as it formed and released as the Earth cooled

b)

much of it was delivered to Earth through the impact of comets and other icy bodies

c)

much of it was pulled from the moon's surface when the moon was much closer

d)

early cyanobacteria produced it as a by product of photosynthesis

e)

much of it was trapped in the form of glaciers and was released as the Earth warmed

6.

Which 2 gases made up the majority of Earth's atmosphere when it first formed?

a)

carbon dioxide

b)

oxygen

c)

ozone

d)

water vapor

e)

ammonia

7.

The waste gas released by plants as they synthesize food sugars (photosynthesis) from carbon dioxide and water is ________.

a)

oxygen

b)

methane

c)

nitrogen

d)

carbon dioxide

8.

The graph below represents the change of two atmospheric gases over Earth's history.  Which gas does the red line represent?

a)

carbon dioxide

b)

oxygen

c)

nitrogen

d)

argon

e)

Ammonia

9.

The graph below represents the change of two atmospheric gases over Earth's history.  Which gas does the blue line represent?

a)

carbon dioxide

b)

oxygen

c)

nitrogen

d)

argon

e)

Ammonia

10.

In the early history of Earth, the solid surface of the earth weathered more rapidly than now because ________.

a)

the early rain was very acidic

b)

the rocks at the surface were weak because there was little oxygen available

c)

the atmosphere contained large amounts of corrosive methane

d)

there was little topography so shallow water washed across the surface often

e)

there were numerous earthquakes and volcanoes breaking up the surface

11.

Which of these is a major reason that oceans are salty?

a)

Many of the objects that bombarded the early Earth were full of salty minerals

b)

The weathering of rocks on the continents produced salt that was washed into the oceans

c)

The Earth's early crust was full of salts and other sediments that leeched into the oceans

d)

They're always getting picked on by the continents

12.

The process of outgassing is responsible for the formation of the:

a)

Early atmosphere on Earth

b)

The first land masses on Earth

c)

The first complex life on Earth

d)

The first hurricanes on Earth

e)

The first elements on Earth

13.

The Earth formed from gas and dust in space, known as a:

a)

Solar nebula

b)

Black hole

c)

Main sequence star

d)

Wormhole

e)

Galaxy

14.

The process of rocky material growing in size due to repeated collisions with other space debris is called:

a)
Erosion
b)
Accretion
c)
Subduction
d)
Sedimentation
e)

Subtraction

15.

The earliest organisms that converted sunlight and carbon dioxide into oxygen were:

a)
Dinosaurs
b)
Mammals
c)
Fish
d)
Cyanobacteria
e)

Insects

16.

The Earth's early atmosphere decreased in carbon dioxide and increased in oxygen due to:

a)
Volcanic eruptions
b)
Meteor impacts
c)
Photosynthesis by early life forms
d)
Nuclear reactions in the Earth's core
17.

Reorder the following

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
18.

Reorder the following

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
19.

Reorder the following

a)

Gravity causes the solar nebula to collapse

b)

The protosun forms at the center of the nebular disk

c)

Planetesimals form through accretion

d)

Protoplanets form

e)

Constant bombardment causes Earth to become molten

1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
20.

The early oceans on Earth became salty due to:

a)
Evaporation of water
b)
Rainfall
c)
Decomposition of marine organisms
d)

Weathering of minerals and salts from Earth's crust

21.

The early atmosphere on Earth formed from a process known as:

a)
Photosynthesis
b)
Outgassing
c)
Evaporation
d)
Condensation
22.

Outgassing occurs on Earth today and is known as:

a)
Volcanic eruption
b)
Earthquake
c)
Tsunami
d)
Global warming
23.

Which of the following are responsible for increasing the amount of salt in the early oceans on Earth?

a)

Hydrothermal vents

b)

Weathering and erosion of rocks and minerals

c)

Evaporation of large quantities of water

d)

Photosynthetic bacteria

e)

Clouds in the atmosphere dropped salt