Earth Science Quiz: Planet Characteristics
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Questions and Answers

Which statement accurately describes the characteristics of terrestrial planets?

  • They are large and gaseous with many moons.
  • They rotate slowly and possess prominent rings.
  • They are primarily composed of hydrogen and helium.
  • They have high densities and are poor in ices. (correct)

What is a distinctive feature of the outer planets compared to the inner planets?

  • They are rocky and poor in gases.
  • They rotate rapidly and have many moons. (correct)
  • They are located closer to the sun than terrestrial planets.
  • They are smaller and have higher densities.

What is the density range for gaseous outer planets?

  • 3.9 g/cm³ or more
  • 1.6 g/cm³ or less (correct)
  • Approximately 2.5 g/cm³
  • Between 4.0 g/cm³ and 6.0 g/cm³

Which of the following planets is classified as a terrestrial planet?

<p>Mars (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do the densities of inner planets compare to those of outer planets?

<p>Inner planets have higher densities than 3.9 g/cm³. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which location is home to some of the oldest known rocks on Earth?

<p>Isukasia region of Greenland (A), Canadian Shield near Great Slave Lake (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the Earth's surface is covered by the hydrosphere?

<p>71% (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT one of the Earth's spheres?

<p>Episphere (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the Earth's atmosphere is composed of nitrogen?

<p>78% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the atmosphere is primarily responsible for the occurrence of weather?

<p>Troposphere (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What types of rocks compose the Earth's crust?

<p>Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the hydrosphere is true?

<p>Freshwater makes up only 2.1% of the Earth's total water (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which atmospheric layer contains the ozone layer responsible for filtering UV rays?

<p>Stratosphere (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following gases is NOT a major component of the Earth's atmosphere?

<p>Helium (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the correct order of the atmospheric layers starting from the Earth's surface?

<p>Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the maximum depth reached by the deepest well drilled in the Earth's crust?

<p>12 km (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate maximum thickness of the continental crust?

<p>75 km (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the approximate temperature at the bottom of the deepest well drilled into the Earth's crust?

<p>190°C (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of rock fragments are known as xenoliths?

<p>Foreign rock pieces from the mantle (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic best describes the density of oceanic crust?

<p>3.0 g/cm³ (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the Earth is part of the lithosphere?

<p>Crust plus upper mantle (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method is NOT typically used to study the Earth's interior?

<p>Direct observation of the mantle (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about the asthenosphere is correct?

<p>It flows and is part of the mantle. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about volcanic activity is true?

<p>Volcanic activity can reveal insights about the Earth's mantle. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated age of the oceanic crust?

<p>Under 200 million years old (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements accurately characterizes the Earth's Crust?

<p>Continental crust is primarily composed of granite. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What determines the classification of Earth's layers based on physical properties?

<p>Layers are categorized primarily by temperature and pressure variations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role does self-gravity play in the formation of celestial bodies according to the Nebular Theory?

<p>It contracts the gas cloud, initiating the formation process. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which layer of the Earth is characterized as the outermost compositional layer?

<p>The crust (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the conservation of angular momentum affect a gas cloud in the context of the Nebular Theory?

<p>It pulls the gas cloud into a rotating disk structure. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary composition of oceanic crust?

<p>Basalt (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the estimated age of the Earth based on radiometric dating techniques?

<p>Between 4.5 to 4.6 billion years. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which incorrectly describes the physical layers of the Earth?

<p>The asthenosphere is entirely solid and non-flowing. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens when centrifugal force balances gravitational forces in the formation process?

<p>A ring structure is formed around the central mass. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which instrument is primarily used for radiometric dating to estimate the age of Earth?

<p>Mass spectrometer. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What primarily composes the Earth's core?

<p>Iron and nickel (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the state of matter of the inner core due to extreme pressure?

<p>Solid (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following descriptions about the Earth's core is accurate?

<p>The core comprises 1/3 of Earth's mass. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of volume, how does the core compare to other layers of the Earth?

<p>It occupies 1/8 of Earth's volume. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the mass of the Earth's core relate to the overall mass of the planet?

<p>It comprises 1/3 of Earth's mass. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Inner Planets

Rocky planets close to the sun (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars).

Outer Planets

Large, gaseous planets further from the sun (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).

Terrestrial Planets

The inner planets: rocky, small, high-density, little ice or rings

Jovian Planets

The outer planets: large, gaseous, low-density, rings and many moons

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Inner Planet Density

High density (3.9 g/cm³ or more).

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Outer Planet Density

Low density (1.6 g/cm³ or less).

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Solar System

A star (the sun) with orbiting planets of two main types.

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Nebular Theory

Theory describing the formation of our solar system from a rotating cloud of gas and dust.

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Self-gravity

The force that causes a gas cloud to collapse inward.

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Conservation of angular momentum

The principle that states that the rotation of a spinning object will increase as it shrinks.

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Proto-sun

The early stage of a star, formed in the center of a collapsing nebula.

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Centrifugal force

Force pushing outward from the axis of rotation.

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Disk formation

Process where a spinning cloud flattens into a disk.

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Planet formation

Process where matter in the disk condenses to form planets.

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Earth's age

4.5-4.6 billion years, estimated via radiometric dating.

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Radiometric dating

Using radioactive elements to measure the age of a material.

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Biosphere

All living things on Earth, including plants and animals, on land and in the sea.

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Atmosphere Composition

Mostly nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), with smaller amounts of carbon dioxide, argon, and water vapor.

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Troposphere

The atmospheric layer closest to Earth's surface, where weather occurs.

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Stratosphere

Atmospheric layer containing the ozone layer, protecting us from UV rays.

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Atmosphere Layers

The different levels of the Earth's atmosphere: troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere.

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Oldest Earth Rocks

Found in the Canadian Shield (near Great Slave Lake), approximately 3.46 billion years old.

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Even Older Rocks

Rocks older than those in the Canadian Shield were discovered in Greenland, estimated to be 3.8 billion years old.

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Earth's Spheres

Four major parts of Earth: Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Lithosphere.

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Earth's Crust

Made up of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

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Hydrosphere Composition

71% of Earth's surface is covered by water; with 48% in oceans and 2.1% in glaciers/groundwater/lakes/streams (fresh water).

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Earth's Compositional Layers

The Earth is divided into layers based on their chemical makeup: Crust, Mantle, and Core.

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Crust

The outermost layer of Earth, composed of different types of rocks, specifically Continental and Oceanic crust.

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Mantle

Layer beneath the Crust, it's very hot and dense.

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Core

The innermost layer of the Earth, primarily composed of iron and nickel.

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Continental Crust

The thicker type of crust making up continents.

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Oceanic Crust

Thinner crust found beneath the oceans.

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Earth's Layers

The Earth is structured in layers with different chemical and physical properties.

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Earth's Interior

The structure and composition of the Earth below the surface.

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Drilling

Using wells to obtain samples of the Earth's upper crust, but mostly limited, for the most successful well, the Soviet well, to the upper 12km of the earth's crust.

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Soviet Well

Deepest geological well ever drilled, stopping at approximately 12km deep.

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Xenolith

Foreign rock brought up from below in lava flows.

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Volcanic Activity (sample)

Study of materials erupted from eruptions, like foreign rock.

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Seismic waves

Waves generated by earthquakes, used to study Earth's interior (with waves patterns and travel time).

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Meteorites

Rocks from space which can provide information about solar system composition(including possible Earth's inner core material).

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Earth's Core Composition

The Earth's core is primarily composed of iron and nickel.

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Earth's Core Temperature

The Earth's core remains very hot despite billions of years of cooling.

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Inner Core State

The inner core is solid due to immense pressure.

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Outer Core State

The outer core is liquid.

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Mantle's Mass vs. Volume

The mantle accounts for 2/3 of Earth's mass and 5/6 of its volume.

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Core's Mass vs. Volume

The core makes up 1/3 of Earth's mass and 1/8 of its volume.

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Atmosphere Mass

The atmosphere represents 1/10,000,000 of Earth's total mass.

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Ocean Mass

The oceans account for 2.1/10,000 of Earth's total mass.

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Crust Mass

The crust accounts for 1/250 of Earth's total mass.

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Continental Crust Thickness

Up to 75 kilometers thick.

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Continental Crust Density

2.7 grams per cubic centimeter.

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Continental Crust Age

Billions of years old, much older than oceanic crust

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Oceanic Crust Thickness

About 8 kilometers thick.

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Oceanic Crust Density

3.0 grams per cubic centimeter.

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Oceanic Crust Age

Under 200 million years old, much younger than continental crust.

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Asthenosphere

Part of Earth's mantle that flows.

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Physical Layer: Lithosphere

Solid, rigid layer including crust and upper mantle, varying thickness.

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Physical Layer: Mantle

Earth's middle layer, mostly solid but can deform slowly.

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Earth's Layers

Including crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core

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