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Earthquakes Review

Total questions: 48

Worksheet time: 2hrs 55mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

If the first P-wave arrived at seismic station A at

10hrs:22min:30sec, what was the origin time for the

earthquake?

a)

A) 02hrs:02min:30sec

b)

B) 10hrs:30min:50sec

c)

C) 10hrs:14min:10sec

d)

D) 10hrs:22min:30sec

2.

If it takes 50 seconds for the P-wave to arrive at Buffalo, how long would it take for the S-wave from this same earthquake to arrive at Buffalo? [Refer to the Earth Science Reference Tables.]

a)

A) 0min50sec

b)

B) 6min40sec

c)

C) 4min00sec

d)

D) 1min40sec

3.

What is the approximate distance between the earthquake's

epicenter and station A? [Refer to the Earth Science

Reference Tables.]

a)

A) 7,500 km

b)

B) 1,130 km

c)

C) 5,100 km

d)

D) 2,400 km

4.

Which seismic station could be located in New York State?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

5.

Which of the four seismic stations is located farthest from

the epicenter?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

6.

A seismograph station records a difference in arrival time between the S- and P-wave of 4 minutes. About how far away is the earthquake epicenter?

a)

A) 1,000 km

b)

B) 5,200 km

c)

C) 2,600 km

d)

D) 1,900 km

7.

Which graph best represents the relationship between the

differences in arrival times of P-waves and S-waves for

locations at varying distances from an earthquake?

a)
b)
c)
d)
8.

A P-wave reaches a seismograph station 2,600 kilometers

from an earthquake epicenter at 12:10 p.m. According to the

Earth Science Reference Tables, at what time did the

earthquake occur?

a)

A) 12:01 p.m.

b)

B) 12:15 p.m.

c)

C) 12:19 p.m.

d)

D) 12:05 p.m.

9.

An earthquake occurred at 5:00:00 a.m. According to the

Earth Science Reference Tables, at what time would the

P-wave reach a seismic station 3,000 kilometers from the

epicenter?

a)

A) 5:04:30 a.m.

b)

B) 5:05:40 a.m.

c)

C) 5:01:40 a.m.

d)

D) 5:10:15 a.m.

10.

The epicenter of an earthquake is located near Massena,

New York. According to the Earth Science Reference

Tables, the greatest difference in arrival times of the P- and

S-waves for this earthquake would be recorded in

a)

A) Utica, New York

b)

B) Binghamton, New York

c)

C) Plattsburgh, New York

d)

D) Albany, New York

11.

On another day, location A records the arrival of

compression waves (P-waves), but not shear waves

(S-waves), from a distant earthquake. Which statement best

explains why shear waves were not received?

a)

A) Shear waves are stopped by the iron and nickel inner

core.

b)

B) Shear waves are transmitted through all parts of the

Earth.

c)

C) Shear waves are not transmitted through the Earth's

outer core.

d)

D) Shear waves are faster than compression waves.

12.
The arrival time of the first earthquake P-wave at a seismograph station was 10:11:20 (hours:minutes:seconds). If the epicenter of the earthquake is 8000 km away, what was the approximate arrival time of the first S-wave from this earthquake? 
a)
10:02:00
b)
10:09:20
c)
10:20:40
d)
10:32:00
13.

A seismic recording station located 4000 km from the epicenter of an earthquake received the first P-wave at 7:10:00 pm (h:min:s). Other information that could be determined from this recording was that the earthquake occured at approximately

a)

7:03:00 pm, and the S-wave arrived at this station at 7:12:40 pm

b)

7:03:00 pm, and the S-wave arrived at this station at 7:15:40 pm

c)

7:17:00 pm, and the S-wave arrived at this station at 7:12:40 pm

d)

7:17:00 pm, and the S-wave arrived at this station at 7:15:40 pm

14.

Earth's crustal bedrock at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge is composed mostly of

a)

basalt, with a density of 2.7 g/cm3

b)

basalt, with a density of 3.0 g/cm3

c)

granite, with a density of 2.7 g/cm3

d)

granite, with a density of 3.0 g/cm3

15.
A seismic station is located 8000 kilometers from the epicenter of an earthquake. How long did it take the first P-wave to travel from the epicenter to the seismic station?
a)
9 minutes 20 seconds
b)
11 minutes 20 seconds
c)
20 minutes 40 seconds
d)
4 minutes 20 seconds
16.

A seismograph records the arrival of a P-wave at 11:13 am. If the earthquake occurred 4000 kilometers from the recording station, when did the earthquake occur?

a)

11:06 am

b)

11:13 am

c)

11:11 am

d)

11:00 am

17.
Which statement correctly compares seismic P-waves with seismic S-waves?
a)
P-waves travel faster than S-waves and pass through Earth’s liquid zones.
b)
P-waves travel faster than S-waves and do not pass through Earth’s liquid zones.
c)
P-waves travel slower than S-waves and pass through Earth’s liquid zones.
d)
P-waves travel slower than S-waves and do not pass through Earth’s liquid zones.
18.
How many seismic stations must report seismogram information in order to locate an epicenter?
a)
One
b)
Two
c)
Three
d)
Four
19.

In which layer of Earth’s interior is the inferred temperature 6,000º C?

a)

crust

b)

outer core

c)

inner core

d)

mantle

20.
The arrival time of the first earthquake P-wave at a seismograph station was 10:11:20 (hours:minutes:seconds). If the epicenter of the earthquake is 8000 km away, what was the approximate arrival time of the first S-wave from this earthquake? 
a)
10:02:00
b)
10:09:20
c)
10:20:40
d)
10:32:00
21.
Which tectonic plate boundary is best represented by this diagram? 
a)
Nazca Plate and Pacific Plate boundary
b)
Scotia Plate and South American Plate boundary
c)
Juan de Fuca Plate and North American Plate boundary 
d)
Antarctic Plate and Indian-Australian Plate boundary 
22.

At 4,500 kilometers below the surface

of the Earth, the pressure is estimated to

be

a)

A) 1.4 million atmospheres

b)

B) 2.0 million atmospheres

c)

C) 2.8 million atmospheres

d)

D) 3.1 million atmospheres

23.

A seismic station 4000 kilometers from

the epicenter of an earthquake records

the arrival time of the first P-wave at

10:00:00. At what time did the first Swave

arrive at this station?

a)

A) 9:55:00

b)

B) 10:05:40

c)

C) 10:07:05

d)

D) 10:12:40

24.

How far from an earthquake epicenter

is a city where the difference between the

P-wave and S-wave arrival times is 6

minutes and 20 seconds?

a)

A) 1.7 × 103 km

b)

B) 9.9 × 103 km

c)

C) 3.5 × 103 km

d)

D) 4.7 × 103 km

25.

The epicenter of an earthquake is located 2,800 kilometers from a seismic station. Approximately

how long did the S-wave take to travel from the epicenter to the station?

a)

A) 11 min 15 sec

b)

B) 9 min 35 sec

c)

C) 5 min 20 sec

d)

D) 4 min 20 sec

26.

How long would it take for the first S-wave to arrive at a seismic station 4,000 kilometers away from

the epicenter of an earthquake?

a)

A) 5 min 40 sec

b)

B) 7 min 0 sec

c)

C) 12 min 40 sec

d)

D) 13 min 20 sec

27.

Which statement correctly compares seismic P-waves with seismic S-waves?

a)

A) P-waves travel faster than S-waves and pass through Earth's liquid zones.

b)

B) P-waves travel faster than S-waves and do not pass through Earth's liquid zones.

c)

C) P-waves travel slower than S-waves and pass through Earth's liquid zones.

d)

D) P-waves travel slower than S-waves and do not pass through Earth's liquid zones.

28.

26. A seismic recording station located 4000

kilometers from the epicenter of an earthquake

received the first P-wave at 7: 10:00 p.m. (h:min:s).

Other information that could be determined from

this recording was that the earthquake occurred

at approximately

a)

7:03:00 p.m., and the S-wave arrived at this

station at 7:12:40 p.m.

b)

7:03:00 p.m., and the S-wave arrived at this

station at 7:15:40 p.m.

c)

7:17:00 p.m., and the S-wave arrived at this

station at 7:12:40 p.m.

d)

7:17:00 p.m., and the S-wave arrived at this

station at 7:15:40 p.m.

29.

48. Which activity could best prepare residents along the Mediterranean coast to reduce the loss of human life

during a future tsunami?

a)

Board up windows.

b)

Remove heavy objects from the walls in homes.

c)

Plan evacuation routes to higher ground.

d)

Build reinforced basements.

30.

Only P-waves were recorded at seismic station C because P-waves travel

a)
  1. only through Earth’s interior, and S-waves travel only on Earth’s surface

b)
  1. fast enough to penetrate the core, and S-waves travel too slowly

c)
  1. through iron and nickel, while S-waves cannot

d)
  1. through liquids, while S-waves cannot

31.

Convection currents in the plastic mantle are believed to cause divergence of lithospheric plates at the

a)
  1. Peru-Chile Trench

b)
  1. Mariana Trench

c)
  1. Canary Islands Hot Spot

d)
  1. Iceland Hot Spot

32.

In which Earth layer are most convection currents that cause seafloor spreading thought to be located?

a)
  1. crust

b)
  1. asthenosphere

c)
  1. outer core

d)

inner core

33.

The first S-wave reaches a seismic station 22 minutes after an earthquake occurred. How long did it take the first P-wave to reach the same seismic station?

a)
  1. 8 minutes 50 seconds

b)
  1. 10 minutes 00 seconds

c)
  1. 12 minutes 00 seconds

d)

12 minutes 50 seconds

34.

How long after receiving the first P-wave from an earthquake centered 4000 kilometers away does a seismic station receive its first S-wave from the same earthquake?

a)
  1. 1 minute

b)
  1. 5 minutes 35 seconds

c)
  1. 7 minutes

d)
  1. 12 minutes 40 seconds

35.

Which part of this seismogram is used to find the distance to the epicenter of the earthquake?

a)
  1. P-wave arrival time, only

b)
  1. S-wave arrival time, only

c)
  1. difference in the arrival time of the P-wave and S-wave

d)

difference in the height of the P-wave and S-wave

36.

A seismic station receives a P-wave at 12:07 a.m. and an S-wave at 12:12 a.m.  The station's distance from the epicenter is approximately

a)
  1. 2,600 km

b)
  1. 3,400 km

c)
  1. 4,000 km

d)

8,800 km

37.

The map below shows the location of an earthquake epicenter in New York State. Seismic stations A, B, and C received the data used to locate the earthquake epicenter.


The seismogram recorded at station A would show the...

a)
  1. arrival of P-waves, only

b)
  1. earliest arrival time of P-waves

  2.   

c)
  1. greatest difference in the arrival times of P-waves and S-waves

d)
  1. arrival of S-waves before the arrival of P-waves  

38.

Which statement correctly describes the distance between the earthquake epicenter and these seismic stations?

a)
  1. A is closest to the epicenter, and C is farthest from the epicenter.

b)
  1. B is closest to the epicenter, and C is farthest from the epicenter.

c)
  1. C is closest to the epicenter, and A is farthest from the epicenter.

d)

A is closest to the epicenter, and B is farthest from the epicenter.

39.
The inferred temperature and pressure of Earth’s interior at a depth of 3,000 kilometers are approximately
a)
1000°C and 0.5 million atmospheres
b)
1000°C and 1.0 million atmospheres
c)
5000°C and 1.5 million atmospheres
d)
5000°C and 3.0 million atmospheres
40.

The p-waves of an earthquake arrived at a seismic station at 08:55:50 and the s-waves arrived at 09:03:40. What is the distance to the epicenter from this seismic station?

a)

4700 km

b)

6100 km

c)

2200 km

d)

750 km

41.
Which evidence recorded at seismic stations
following an earthquake supports the inference
that Earth’s interior changes from solid rock to
molten iron and nickel at the mantle-core
boundary?
a)
P-waves arrive earlier than S-waves.
b)
P-waves and S-waves are both recorded at all
stations.
c)
Only S-waves are recorded at all stations.
d)
Only P-waves are recorded on the opposite
side of Earth.
42.
What is the range of pressure in Earth’s interior
where rock with a density range of 9.9 to
12.2 g/cm3 is found?
a)
0.2 to 1.4 million atmospheres
b)
0.8 to 2.3 million atmospheres
c)
1.4 to 3.1 million atmospheres
d)
2.3 to 3.5 million atmospheres
43.
Which star is cooler and less luminous than the Sun? 
a)
Proxima Centuri
b)
Pollux
c)
Rigel
d)
40  Eridani B
44.

The diagram represents a model of Earth’s surface and internal structure. Letters A, B, C, and D represent four different layers. Some depths below Earth’s surface are shown. Which Earth layer is inferred to be composed of solid nickel and iron?

a)

A

b)

B

c)

C

d)

D

45.

36.  Based on the graph, the first low tide on December 26 occurred at approximately

a)

6 a.m.

b)

11 a.m.

c)

6 p.m.

d)

11 p.m.

46.

Which table correctly shows the interior temperature, melting point, and state (phase) of matter of the materials located 4000 kilometers below Earth’s surface?

a)

b)

c)

d)

47.

What is the approximate location of the Tasman Hot Spot in the Pacific Ocean?

a)

36° N 160° W

b)

36° S 160° E

c)

160° N 36° W

d)

160° S 36° E

48.


The map below shows two locations, labeled A and B, separated by a mountain range. The locations are at the same elevation. The arrow represents the direction of prevailing winds.

Compared to the climate at location A, the climate at location B is most likely...

a)


warmer and drier

b)


warmer and wetter

c)


cooler and drier

d)


cooler and wetter