GED 151: Basic Geology Quiz at KNUST

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Questions and Answers

What is the diameter of the Sun in miles?

860,000 (correct)

700,000

1,000,000

1,200,000

What is the theory that explains the origin of the universe?

Nebula Hypothesis

Earth Composition Theory

Solar System Formation

Big Bang (correct)

What is the biggest object in our solar system?

Uranus

Jupiter

The Sun (correct)

Earth

What is the purpose of geophysical surveys?

To infer the Earth's structure Signup and view all the answers

What is the process that formed the stars and planets from gas clouds?

Cooling and Condensation Signup and view all the answers

What is the source of seismic waves?

Earthquakes Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of seismic data in understanding the Earth's interior?

It helps in understanding the structure of the Earth's interior Signup and view all the answers

What type of seismic wave depends on the elastic properties of the rock?

P-waves Signup and view all the answers

What is the main objective of applying basic geological principles?

To determine the relative ages of rocks Signup and view all the answers

What causes intense ground shaking during an earthquake?

Release of energy Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the location directly below the epicenter of an earthquake?

Focus Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of measuring the time of travel of refracted and reflected seismic waves?

To infer the Earth's structure Signup and view all the answers

What is the center of the solar nebula?

The dense center of the nebula Signup and view all the answers

How did the planets form in the solar nebula?

By accumulating material within the swirling currents of the cloud Signup and view all the answers

What type of planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars?

Rocky or Terrestrial Planets Signup and view all the answers

What is the outer layer of the Earth composed of?

Regolith Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the solar nebula theory?

To explain the formation of the planets Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about the Earth's surface?

It is covered with an irregular blanket of loose rock debris Signup and view all the answers

What is the fundamental principle of Uniformitarianism?

The present is the key to the past Signup and view all the answers

In a succession of undisturbed strata, what is the relationship between the position of the younger and older layers?

The younger layers lie above the older Signup and view all the answers

What is the characteristic of each bed in a succession of strata?

It is characterized by a particular kind or group of fossils Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between the age of an igneous intrusion and the rock it contains fragments of?

The igneous intrusion is younger than the rock fragments Signup and view all the answers

What happens to surrounding rocks when an igneous intrusion occurs?

They are metamorphosed Signup and view all the answers

What can be determined from the relationships between veins in a rock?

The sequence of geologic events Signup and view all the answers

What is the main difference between ancient human history and geologic history in terms of time units?

Human history is measured in thousands of years, while geologic history is measured in millions of years Signup and view all the answers

What was the primary method used to date the Geologic Time Scale in years?

Radiometric dating techniques Signup and view all the answers

What is the sequence of the hierarchy of events in the Geologic Time Scale?

Eons, Eras, Period, Epoch, Age Signup and view all the answers

Who contributed to the development of the Geologic Time Scale?

Many 19th-century geologists Signup and view all the answers

What is the study of the sequence of strata referred to as?

Stratigraphy Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the combination of principles in geology that describes the relationship between different rock formations?

Principle of Superposition Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Earth and its Historical Framework

The universe began with a sudden expansion of energy and space from a single point, known as the Big Bang.
The Solar System is composed of the Sun, planets, and other objects.

The Solar System and its Origin

The Sun is a star at the center of the Solar System, with a diameter of 860,000 miles (1,392,000 km).
The Sun's gravity holds the planets in place.
The Nebula hypothesis proposes that the Solar System formed from a cloud of gas and dust that condensed and collapsed due to gravity.

The Planets

There are two types of planets: Rocky or Terrestrial Planets (e.g., Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars) and Jovian or Gas Planets (e.g., Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune).
Rocky planets are small and composed of similar materials to Earth, while Jovian planets are large and composed of hydrogen, helium, and other gases.

Structure of the Earth

The Earth is composed of several layers, including the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere, and solid surface.
The Regolith is a layer of loose rock debris covering the Earth's surface, resulting from weathering.

Seismic Data and Earth's Interior

Seismic data can be used to understand the structure of the Earth's interior.
The time of travel of refracted and reflected seismic waves can be used to infer the Earth's layered structure.
Earthquakes occur when energy stored in elastically strained rocks is suddenly released, causing ground shaking and sending seismic waves throughout the Earth.

Geologic Principles

The principle of Uniformitarianism states that "the present is the key to the past".
Other useful principles include Superposition, Original Horizontality, Original Continuity, Cross-cutting Relations, Inclusions, and Baked Boundaries.

Geologic Time

Geologic time is measured in millions, hundreds of millions, and billions of years.
The Geologic Time Scale was constructed by piecing together information from numerous rock exposures and using radiometric dating techniques.
The hierarchy of geologic time is organized into Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs, and Ages.

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Description

Test your knowledge of basic geology concepts, including the earth's composition and structure, geologic time, and early geological principles. This quiz is based on the course material taught by Prof. Simon K.Y. Gawu and Blestmond A. Brako at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.