Questions and Answers
In which era did mammals emerge?
Cenozoic
Which is a difference between the Paleozoic and Mesozoic era?
Animal complexity increased during the Paleozoic while the first flowering plants appeared in the Mesozoic era.
What describes what is gained or lost during radioactive decay?
Atoms lose smaller particles.
Which measurement do geologists use to find the absolute age of once-living things?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement accurately describes the geologic features?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of fossil is formed by sediments and found in sedimentary rock?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement explains what similar fossils found on distant continents suggest about Earth's history?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of these is one characteristic of topographic maps?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement describes one feature that maps and globes share?
Signup and view all the answers
Which phrase describes the location of Antarctica?
Signup and view all the answers
Which materials are moved by runoff?
Signup and view all the answers
Which action can humans take to reduce wave erosion?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement explains what happens to sediment during deposition?
Signup and view all the answers
Which type of mass movement is the most destructive?
Signup and view all the answers
What term describes weathering?
Signup and view all the answers
How do rock types contribute to the rate of weathering?
Signup and view all the answers
Which phrase describes the formation of the Hawaiian Islands?
Signup and view all the answers
Which describes pressure during a volcanic eruption?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement describes earthquakes?
Signup and view all the answers
How are S waves and surface waves similar?
Signup and view all the answers
By which mechanism does older oceanic rock move at a ridge?
Signup and view all the answers
Which discovery did scientists make at mid-ocean ridges that caused them to conclude that new rock was being formed by molten material?
Signup and view all the answers
At which point is subduction occurring?
Signup and view all the answers
At which point is crust neither created nor destroyed?
Signup and view all the answers
Which two large landmasses formed when Pangaea first started to separate?
Signup and view all the answers
Which explanation provides support for continental drift theory?
Signup and view all the answers
Which phrases describe S waves?
Signup and view all the answers
Which example best illustrates a method to show differences among Earth's layers?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement accurately describes these rocks?
Signup and view all the answers
Existing rocks are buried and forced toward the mantle, increasing heat and pressure. This is the first step in the formation of metamorphic rocks. What best describes the next step in the formation of metamorphic rocks?
Signup and view all the answers
Which is one characteristic that is used to identify types of metamorphic rocks?
Signup and view all the answers
Which process of sedimentary rock formation occurs last?
Signup and view all the answers
Which rock is an example of an organic sedimentary rock?
Signup and view all the answers
Which describes a feature of extrusive igneous rocks after formation?
Signup and view all the answers
An igneous rock has large red, black, and green crystals. How else can this rock be accurately described?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Geologic Eras and Features
- Mammals emerged during the Cenozoic era.
- The Paleozoic era saw an increase in animal complexity, while the Mesozoic era introduced the first flowering plants.
Radioactive Decay and Dating Techniques
- During radioactive decay, atoms lose smaller particles.
- Geologists determine the absolute age of once-living things by measuring carbon-14 and nitrogen-14 in their remains.
Geological Features and Fossils
- Geological features can be analyzed, indicating processes like event D occurring after event B.
- A mold of a fish is a type of fossil found in sedimentary rock, formed by sediments.
Continental Movement and Fossil Evidence
- Similar fossils found on distant continents imply that the continents have shifted over time.
Maps and Topography
- Topographic maps feature contour lines that indicate elevation.
- Both maps and globes serve as scale models representing Earth's surface.
Earth's Location and Environmental Factors
- Antarctica is located on the prime meridian.
- Runoff can transport nutrients, affecting ecosystems.
Erosion and Sediment Movement
- Building breakwaters helps humans mitigate wave erosion.
- During deposition, sediment is released from a transporting medium.
Mass Movement and Weathering
- Landslides are the most destructive form of mass movement.
- Weathering breaks down rock, and its rate varies by rock type; porous minerals weather more quickly.
Island Formation and Volcanic Activity
- The Hawaiian Islands formed in the middle of a tectonic plate.
- Pressure in magma traps dissolved gases, contributing to volcanic eruptions.
Earthquake Dynamics
- Earthquakes release energy, and both S waves and surface waves arrive after P waves.
Plate Tectonics
- Older oceanic rock moves at a ridge when new molten material rises, displacing it.
- Pillow-shaped rocks discovered at mid-ocean ridges indicate the formation of new rock from molten material.
Subduction and Continental Drift
- Subduction occurs at specific tectonic boundaries.
- Crust is neither created nor destroyed at transform boundaries.
- The two landmasses formed when Pangaea began separating are Laurasia and Gondwanaland.
Evidence for Continental Drift
- Coal fields matching up across continents support the theory of continental drift.
Seismic Waves and Earth's Layers
- S waves behave like ripples, indicating another type of seismic wave behavior.
- Analyzing seismic wave activity provides insights into differences among Earth's layers.
Rock Identification and Formation
- Non-foliated rocks are characterized by certain features.
- The formation of metamorphic rocks begins with rocks being buried and subjected to heat and pressure; magma pockets later rise, changing minerals due to thermal conditions.
- Grain arrangement helps identify various types of metamorphic rocks.
Sedimentary Rock Formation
- Cementation is the last process in sedimentary rock formation.
- Limestone serves as an example of an organic sedimentary rock.
Igneous Rock Characteristics
- Extrusive igneous rocks typically have a fine texture.
- An igneous rock displaying large red, black, and green crystals can be described as having an intrusive origin.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Test your knowledge of geological eras and radioactive decay with these flashcards. Each card presents a question that challenges your understanding of key concepts in earth science. Perfect for exam preparation and review!