Continental Drift Theory

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Questions and Answers

Which geological processes are included in the internal (endogenic) processes?

Plateaus, rift valleys, Block Mountains

Weathering, mass transfer, erosion

Volcanic activity, folding, orogenesis (correct)

Erosion, deposition, epeirogenesis

What do the external (exogenic) processes act upon?

Tectonic processes

Volcanic and structural landforms (correct)

Plateaus and rift valleys

Erosion and deposition

Which Era is known as the age of mammals?

Cenozoic Era (correct)

Paleozoic Era

Precambrian Era

Mesozoic Era

What is the largest unit of time in the geological time scale?

Eon Signup and view all the answers

What was believed to have been formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago?

The Earth Signup and view all the answers

Which unit of time on the geological time scale encompasses a period of millions of years?

Epoch Signup and view all the answers

What was the name of the supercontinent proposed by Alfred Wegener?

Pangaea Signup and view all the answers

What evidence did Wegener use to support his Continental Drift Theory?

All of the above Signup and view all the answers

What is the principal focus of geology?

Study of Earth's materials and structures Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the processes responsible for changes in Earth's materials, structures, and organisms?

Endogenic forces Signup and view all the answers

During which period did the dinosaurs go extinct?

Cretaceous Signup and view all the answers

Which period saw the beginning of the breakup of Pangaea?

Jurassic Signup and view all the answers

During which period did the first mammals and dinosaurs appear?

Triassic Signup and view all the answers

What technique uses geological evidence to assign comparative ages of fossils?

Relative dating Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of absolute dating techniques in geology?

To establish the actual numerical age of rocks Signup and view all the answers

What problem may arise when using the Potassium-Argon technique for dating rocks?

Leakage of argon from the rock Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of the half-life of a radioactive element in radiometric dating?

It measures the intensity of radioactive decay Signup and view all the answers

Which geological process was a major event during the Precambrian Era?

Intense folding leading to orogenesis Signup and view all the answers

What do radioactive elements such as uranium (U) and thorium (Th) naturally decay into?

Different elements or isotopes of the same element Signup and view all the answers

What do endogenic processes in geology primarily involve?

Changes in Earth's materials, structures, and organisms Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Geological Processes

Internal (endogenic) processes include geological processes that occur within the Earth's interior, such as plate tectonics, volcanic activity, and mountain building.
External (exogenic) processes act upon the Earth's surface, such as weathering, erosion, and deposition.

Geological Time Scale

The largest unit of time in the geological time scale is the Eon.
The Era known as the age of mammals is the Cenozoic Era.
The unit of time on the geological time scale that encompasses a period of millions of years is the Epoch.

Continental Drift

The supercontinent proposed by Alfred Wegener is Pangaea.
Wegener used evidence such as fit of the continents, similarity of coastlines, and fossil distribution to support his Continental Drift Theory.

Focus of Geology

The principal focus of geology is the study of Earth's materials, structures, and organisms.
The term that refers to the processes responsible for changes in Earth's materials, structures, and organisms is geology.

Periods and Eras

The period during which the dinosaurs went extinct is the Cretaceous Period.
The period that saw the beginning of the breakup of Pangaea is the Jurassic Period.
The period during which the first mammals and dinosaurs appeared is the Triassic Period.

Dating Techniques

The technique that uses geological evidence to assign comparative ages of fossils is relative dating.
The main purpose of absolute dating techniques in geology is to determine the exact age of rocks and fossils.
A problem that may arise when using the Potassium-Argon technique for dating rocks is contamination with atmospheric argon.
The significance of the half-life of a radioactive element in radiometric dating is that it allows for the calculation of the age of the rock.

Precambrian Era

A major event during the Precambrian Era was the formation of the Earth's crust.

Radioactive Elements

Radioactive elements such as uranium (U) and thorium (Th) naturally decay into lead (Pb).
Endogenic processes in geology primarily involve the movement of tectonic plates and the resulting geological activity.

Earth's Formation

The Earth is believed to have been formed approximately 4.5 billion years ago.

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Description

Test your knowledge about the Continental Drift Theory, which suggests that the Earth's continents were once connected as a supercontinent called Pangaea before drifting apart to form the present arrangement of continents.