Questions and Answers
Which subsystem of Earth includes all living things?
What is the range of temperatures in which life can exist on Earth?
What is the main component of Earth's atmosphere?
Which property of minerals is measured using the Mohs scale?
Signup and view all the answers
Which factor is NOT essential for making a planet habitable?
Signup and view all the answers
What does the term 'luster' refer to in minerals?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a factor that makes a planet habitable?
Signup and view all the answers
What role does Earth's atmosphere play in supporting life?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary result of hydrolysis in rock-forming minerals?
Signup and view all the answers
Which process is primarily responsible for the rusting of iron in rocks?
Signup and view all the answers
Which characteristic is true for all minerals?
Signup and view all the answers
What distinguishes intrusive igneous rocks from extrusive igneous rocks?
Signup and view all the answers
What causes convection in the Earth's interior?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a condition that leads to partial melting?
Signup and view all the answers
Which process involves sediments settling to form sedimentary rocks?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of rock is formed as a result of contact metamorphism?
Signup and view all the answers
What is a defining characteristic of igneous rocks?
Signup and view all the answers
How do minerals typically differ in color?
Signup and view all the answers
What geological feature is formed at a convergent plate boundary?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following processes includes erosion and folding?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the primary composition of sedimentary rocks?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the main purpose of erosion in geological processes?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of these statements about minerals is false?
Signup and view all the answers
What type of igneous rock forms when lava cools quickly?
Signup and view all the answers
What does absolute dating refer to?
Signup and view all the answers
Which era is known as 'the age of fish'?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following processes refers to the sinking of buildings due to ground shaking?
Signup and view all the answers
What is the principle of horizontality in geology?
Signup and view all the answers
Which region in the Philippines is most exposed to tropical cyclones?
Signup and view all the answers
Which is an example of a coastal process?
Signup and view all the answers
Which natural hazard is associated with the movement and weakening of ground materials?
Signup and view all the answers
What causes sea level rise?
Signup and view all the answers
What are metamorphic rocks formed from?
Signup and view all the answers
Which process is NOT considered an exogenic process?
Signup and view all the answers
How does physical weathering occur due to temperature changes?
Signup and view all the answers
What is frost wedging?
Signup and view all the answers
Which of the following is NOT a type of physical weathering?
Signup and view all the answers
How can human activity contribute to physical weathering?
Signup and view all the answers
What primarily causes abrasion in rocks?
Signup and view all the answers
Which statement about chemical weathering is true?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Earth
- Estimated 8.7 million different life forms exist, making Earth the only living planet in the solar system.
- Contains about 70% liquid water, crucial for life.
- Classified as a rocky, terrestrial planet with a solid, active surface.
- Earth and Venus maintain sufficient atmospheres due to their size.
Factors That Make a Planet Habitable
- Temperature: Life requires a temperature range from -15°C to 115°C, where liquid water can exist.
- Atmosphere: Earth’s atmosphere is 10 miles thick, keeping surface temperatures warm and shielding from radiation.
- Energy: Cells need a steady supply of light or chemical energy for vital chemical reactions.
- Nutrients: Water cycles and volcanic activity help transport essential chemicals for organisms.
Subsystems of Earth
- Biosphere: Comprises all living entities, including humans and wildlife.
- Hydrosphere: All water, including oceans, lakes, and rivers.
- Lithosphere/Geosphere: Solid components of Earth, including rocks, soils, and minerals.
- Atmosphere: The gaseous layer that insulates and protects the Earth while influencing weather and climate.
Minerals
- Defined as naturally occurring, inorganic solids with a crystalline structure and specific chemical composition.
Properties of Minerals
- Cleavage: Ability to break along specific planes, resulting in smooth surfaces.
- Hardness: Resistance to abrasion measured on the Mohs scale from 1 (softest) to 10 (hardest).
- Luster: Quality of reflected light from the mineral's surface.
- Streak: Color of a mineral powder, which can vary due to impurities.
- Crystal Form: The external shape that reflects the internal atomic structure of the mineral.
Characteristics of Minerals
- Inorganic, with never having been alive.
- Consistent chemical composition unique to the mineral.
- Naturally occurring in the environment.
- Consist of a crystalline structure.
- Solid, not liquid or gas.
Rocks
- Composed of one or more minerals, typically found in mixtures.
Types of Rocks
-
Igneous Rocks: Formed from cooled lava or magma.
- Extrusive (fine-grained, quick cooling from lava).
- Intrusive (coarse-grained, slow cooling beneath the surface).
- Sedimentary Rocks: Formed from layers of sediments, providing geological history.
- Metamorphic Rocks: Arise from existing rocks altered by heat and pressure.
Exogenic Processes
-
Weathering: Breakdown and alteration of rocks through:
- Physical Weathering: Caused by temperature changes, frost wedging, organic activity, human activities, and abrasion.
- Chemical Weathering: Includes dissolution, hydrolysis, and oxidation processes.
- Erosion: Involves transportation of materials by agents like wind, water, or ice.
Endogenic Processes
-
Heat Transfer:
- Conduction: Transfer of heat via collisions of atoms.
- Convection: Movement of heat in fluids, such as the mantle.
-
Melting Processes:
- Decompression Melting: Pressure reduction leads to melting of mantle rocks.
- Partial Melting: Involves addition of volatiles, increased temperature, or decreased pressure to generate magma.
Metamorphism
- Examples include slate and gneiss as foliated rocks, while non-foliated rocks result from contact metamorphism.
Geological Concepts
- Convergent Boundaries: Create landforms like volcanic arcs.
- Divergent Boundaries: Lead to oceanic lithosphere formation.
- Angular Unconformity: Involves erosion, folding, and marine regression.
Dating Techniques
- Absolute Dating: Determines the year or range of years using radioactive isotopes.
- Relative Dating: Establishes chronological order through rock positioning.
- Principle of Horizontality: Sediments layer in horizontal formations, which aids dating.
Geological Time Scale
- Divisions include periods, epochs, and eras.
- Paleozoic Era: Known as "the age of fish."
- Mesozoic Era: Fossils of dinosaurs and early mammals found from this period.
Natural Hazards
- Include earthquakes, hurricanes, and tsunamis.
- Liquefaction: A hazard that can lead to structural failures in buildings and infrastructure.
Risk and Mitigation
- Regions like Camiguin are high-risk for volcanic eruptions; landslides prone areas include Cebu, La Union, and Mountain Province.
- The Ring of Fire indicates high seismic and volcanic activity.
- Coastal processes such as storm surges and tides contribute to sea-level rise influenced by lunar gravity.
- Mitigation: Actions to reduce long-term risks and hazards in coastal areas.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the unique characteristics that make Earth a suitable planet for life. This quiz covers Earth's biological diversity, crucial environmental factors, and the subsystems essential for supporting life. Test your understanding of what enables our planet to thrive among other celestial bodies.
