Earth Science Branches Overview

What drives the interactions and functions of the 4 spheres on planet Earth?

What is the thickest layer of the Earth?

Which process can turn a mountain into a hill or change the coastline?

Which sphere of Earth is considered abiotic?

What can cause earthquakes, volcanoes, and other seismic activity in the Earth's crust?

Which layer of the Earth is composed primarily of rocks, metals, and minerals?

What is the definition of Earth science?

Which branch of Earth science studies the structure and components of the Earth?

What is the word root for 'study of' in geology?

Which specialty under geology is focused on understanding earthquakes?

What do meteorologists primarily study?

Why is oceanography important in understanding climate change?

What was the name given to the supercontinent before the continents split apart?

Which of the following is NOT a piece of evidence that supported Wegener's continental drift theory?

What was the initial reaction of the scientific community to Wegener's continental drift hypothesis?

Which of the following statements about plate tectonics is correct?

What were the two supercontinents formed when Pangaea began breaking apart approximately 200 million years ago?

Which layer of the Earth is responsible for causing the densest material to be pulled towards the center?

What was the main evidence that Alfred Wegener did not use to support his theory of continental drift?

What was the main discovery that led to a new understanding of how the Earth's crust is put together?

What is the primary driving force behind the movement of tectonic plates?

What type of boundary occurs when two tectonic plates move apart from each other?

What was the purpose of the Deep Sea Drilling Project (DSDP)?

What evidence did the samples collected by the Deep Sea Drilling Project provide regarding the theory of seafloor spreading?

What are the three main types of faults that cause earthquakes?

What is the fifth step in a typical tectonic earthquake sequence?

Which of the following is NOT a type of seismic wave mentioned in the text?

According to the elastic rebound theory, what causes the ground to shake during an earthquake?

What is the difference between the focus and the epicenter of an earthquake?

Which of the following is NOT one of the three regions mentioned in the text where most earthquakes occur?

What type of seismic wave produces most of the shaking felt during an earthquake?

What is the location where two tectonic plates meet called?

What machine do geologists use to measure the strength of earthquakes?

Which scale measures the magnitude of small to medium-sized earthquakes and uses the amplitude of the highest seismic wave?

What did Charles Richter develop in 1935 for measuring earthquakes?

What is the mainshock of an earthquake?

Which scale is most accurate for measuring energy released in small to medium-sized earthquakes?

What causes aftershocks following a mainshock?

What does the Richter scale use as a reference for measuring earthquake intensity?

Which scale is most accurate for measuring higher-intensity earthquakes?

What is the primary focus of the study of geology?

Which of the following is NOT a branch of Earth science mentioned in the text?

What is the primary responsibility of meteorologists?

What is the primary focus of the study of oceanography?

What is the meaning of the word root 'geo' in the term 'geology'?

Which of the following is NOT a specialty mentioned under the branch of geology?

What theory explains the movement of tectonic plates around the Earth's surface?

What is the name of the large landmass proposed to have existed around 280-230 million years ago?

Which scientist introduced the concept of continental drift with a large landmass made up of modern-day continents?

What caused Pangaea to eventually split into Laurasia and Gondwana?

What led to the acceptance of Alfred Wegener's continental drift theory by the scientific community?

How did Alfred Wegener support his hypothesis of continental drift through plant and animal fossils?

What is the process by which landforms are changed by the addition of new material?

Which layer of the Earth is primarily responsible for volcanic activity and earthquakes?

Which of the following is considered an abiotic sphere of Earth?

What is the primary driving force behind the interactions and functions of the four spheres on Earth?

Which layer of the Earth is the thinnest and forms the livable area?

What is the process by which landforms are changed through the action of water, air, or other forces?

What type of seismic wave is the fastest and the first to register on a seismograph during an earthquake?

How can scientists determine the distance of an earthquake using seismic waves?

What causes earthquakes by the slipping of tectonic plates along a fault?

Which region accounts for most earthquakes according to the text?

What instrument is used to measure ground shaking during an earthquake?

Which type of seismic wave travels through Earth's inner layers and compresses the ground as it moves?

What evidence from samples collected by the Deep Sea Drilling Project supported the theory of seafloor spreading?

What is the main driving force behind the movement of tectonic plates?

Which region can experience the formation of underwater mountain ranges due to divergent plate boundaries?

At which type of tectonic boundary do earthquakes frequently occur due to sliding past each other?

What is a key role of ridge push in plate tectonics?

What geological phenomenon is commonly associated with convergent boundaries?

What are the main causes of aftershocks following a mainshock earthquake?

What is the primary function of a seismograph?

What is the relationship between the Richter scale magnitude and the amount of ground shaking?

What is the primary difference between the Richter scale and the moment magnitude scale?

What is the definition of a fault line?

What is the mainshock of an earthquake?

What type of seismic wave produces most of the shaking felt during an earthquake?

What is the primary reason for the unpredictability of earthquake occurrences?

What is the primary factor that determines the accuracy of the Richter scale in measuring earthquake intensity?

What is the primary purpose of the moment magnitude scale?