Questions and Answers
What is the primary composition of Earth's atmosphere?
Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
What does the Plate Tectonics Theory explain?
Which type of tectonic boundary is associated with the creation of trenches?
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Which oceanic zone is exposed during low tide?
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Which zone is known for having no sunlight?
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What occurs in the thermosphere?
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What is the Principle of Superposition used for in geology?
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What type of fossil is created when remains leave an imprint in sediments?
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Alfred Wegener's Continental Drift Theory was ultimately disproven because:
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Which layer in the atmosphere is known as the coldest?
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Which of the following statements about absolute dating is true?
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What defines the Hadal Zone in oceanography?
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Which principle states that a geological feature that cuts through another is younger?
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How are fossils significant in the study of evolution?
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Which zone is home to about 400 known species and is largely unexplored?
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What is the primary characteristic that differentiates foliated metamorphic rocks from non-foliated metamorphic rocks?
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Which of the following best describes 'Moh's Hardness Scale'?
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What term is used to describe the ability of a mineral to break along specific planes?
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In terms of crystal habit, which shape is described as 'broad and flat'?
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Which term refers to the visible color of a mineral in its natural form?
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How is specific gravity defined in relation to minerals?
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What kind of rocks are formed when magma or lava cools and hardens?
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Which of the following crystal habits is described as 'needlelike'?
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What is the primary objective of the Primer on Natural Disaster Preparedness and Coping Mechanisms published by UNESCO?
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Which of the following is NOT a result of volcanic eruptions?
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What phenomenon is primarily responsible for causing tsunamis?
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What do the terms 'Habagat' and 'Amihan' refer to in the context of the Philippine climate?
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Which of the following describes the process of erosion?
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What type of storm forms in the Indian Ocean and Southwest Pacific?
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How is magnitude measured during an earthquake?
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Which of the following processes involves the gradual breakdown of rocks into smaller sediments?
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What results from the slow cooling of magma?
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Which texture corresponds to granules that are visible to the naked eye?
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Which type of sedimentary rock forms from the accumulation of fragments of other rocks?
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What is the primary characteristic of light-colored igneous rocks?
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Which process is involved in the conversion of sediments into sedimentary rocks through water interaction?
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What type of sedimentary rocks are formed by the evaporation of water?
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Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of sedimentary rocks?
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What is the term for the alteration of pre-existing rocks due to heat, pressure, and chemical processes?
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Study Notes
Earth’s Subsystems
- Lithosphere: Solid outer layer of Earth, comprising the crust and upper mantle; divided into tectonic plates on the asthenosphere.
- Continental Drift Theory: Proposed by Alfred Wegener, suggests all continents were once part of a supercontinent called Pangaea; supported by identical rocks across the Atlantic, similar landforms, and ancient fossils.
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Plate Tectonics Theory: Explains the movement of tectonic plates with three boundary types:
- Divergent: Plates move apart, creating rifts, volcanoes, and underwater mountains.
- Convergent: Plates collide, forming trenches, earthquakes, and volcanoes; destroys ocean floor.
- Transform: Plates slide past one another, causing earthquakes.
Atmosphere
- Consists of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% trace gases; reflects 30% of solar radiation.
- Troposphere: Closest layer with the highest air pressure; contains water vapor, carbon dioxide, and weather phenomena.
- Stratosphere: Houses the ozone layer; cold initially but warms at the ozone level; used for weather balloons.
- Mesosphere: Coldest layer where meteors burn up.
- Thermosphere: Hottest layer, presence of auroras, low air pressure.
- Exosphere: Outermost layer where satellites orbit; blends into outer space.
Hydrosphere
- Contains all of Earth’s water, including ice and vapor; nearly three-quarters of Earth’s surface.
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Ocean Zones:
- Coastal Zone: Exposed during low tide.
- Pelagic Zone: Open water away from shores, generally nutrient poor.
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Vertical Ocean Zones:
- Epipelagic: Sunlit layer, home to 90% of marine life.
- Mesopelagic: Twilight zone with limited sunlight.
- Bathypelagic: No sunlight; very few organisms.
- Abyssopelagic: High pressure, low temperature, minimal life.
- Hadalpelagic: Deepest zone, approximately 400 known species.
Biosphere
- The zone of life on Earth; encompasses all ecosystems and living beings.
Relative Dating Principles
- Original Horizontality: Sedimentary rocks are originally deposited in horizontal layers.
- Superposition: In layered rocks, the oldest layers are at the bottom, younger on top.
- Cross-cutting Relationships: Features that cut through others are younger than what they cut.
- Inclusion: A rock containing another rock is younger than the rock it contains.
Absolute Dating
- Involves measuring physical properties to determine age; radiocarbon dating uses radioactive decay.
Fossils
- Preserved remains of organisms provide evidence for evolution; types include molds, casts, trace fossils, and true form fossils.
Minerals
- Naturally occurring with specific chemical compositions; identified by their crystal structure, hardness, color, streak, transparency, luster, cleavage, fracture, and specific gravity.
Rocks Classification
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Igneous Rocks: Formed from cooled magma or lava; categorized as intrusive (below surface) or extrusive (on surface).
- Crystal sizes depend on cooling speed (slow forms large crystals).
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Sedimentary Rocks: Formed from accumulated sediments through lithification; contain fossils and clues about past environments.
- Includes detrital (formed from fragments) and chemical rocks (formed from precipitation of minerals).
- Metamorphic Rocks: Result from alteration of existing rocks due to heat, pressure, and chemical processes.
Geological Processes and Hazards
- The Philippines is situated in the Pacific Ring of Fire, increasing the likelihood of earthquakes and volcanic activity.
- Earthquakes: Sudden energy releases create seismic waves; measured by magnitude and intensity.
- Volcanic Eruptions: Magma movement leads to eruptions driven by internal heat and pressure.
- Landslides: Movement of rock and soil down slopes due to gravity.
- Tsunamis: Large ocean waves caused by disturbances like earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
Hydrometeorological Processes
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Monsoons: Seasonal winds create heavy rains and dry periods; important for agriculture.
- Habagat: Provides rain but can lead to flooding.
- Amihan: Brings drier conditions.
- Cyclones, Typhoons, and Hurricanes: Storm systems categorized by their formation locations; affect millions through extreme weather.
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Description
Test your knowledge on Earth's lithosphere, atmosphere, and the theories of continental drift and plate tectonics. This quiz covers the fundamental concepts and characteristics of the different Earth systems and their interactions. Dive into the exciting dynamics of our planet's structure and composition!
