Geologic Time and Scientific Inquiry
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Questions and Answers

Which discipline is specifically the study of the ocean within Earth Science?

  • Meteorology
  • Astronomy
  • Oceanography (correct)
  • Geology
  • What are the four subsystems of Earth that interact with each other?

  • Lithosphere, Atmosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere (correct)
  • Core, Mantle, Crust, Lithosphere
  • Ocean, Atmosphere, Exosphere, Geosphere
  • Hydrosphere, Exosphere, Magnetosphere, Thermosphere
  • Why is Earth Science considered vital for society?

  • It helps in understanding ancient civilizations.
  • It forecasts potential disasters and aids in resource access. (correct)
  • It uncovers new galaxies beyond the Milky Way.
  • It solely focuses on studying Mars and its surface.
  • Which of the following questions is not typically investigated by Earth Science?

    <p>What determines the lifespan of a species?</p> Signup and view all the answers

    The study of the universe and celestial objects falls under which branch of Earth Science?

    <p>Astronomy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of plate boundary involves plates moving towards each other?

    <p>Convergent</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the average elevation of continents?

    <p>0.8 km</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What feature is characterized by deep depressions in the ocean floor?

    <p>Deep-ocean trenches</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which form of energy primarily drives external geological processes on Earth?

    <p>Solar energy</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What subsystem does the hydrologic cycle belong to?

    <p>Earth system science</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What geological feature denotes the gently sloping platform extending seaward from a shore?

    <p>Continental shelf</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which type of system allows both matter and energy to flow into and out of it?

    <p>Open system</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which mountain range is primarily associated with major geological activity and is a key feature of the circum-Pacific belt?

    <p>The Himalayas</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the approximate age of the Earth?

    <p>4.6 billion years</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the lithosphere?

    <p>The entire crust and uppermost mantle</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What significant event led to the formation of Earth's layered structure?

    <p>The decay of radioactive elements and high-velocity impacts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which layer of Earth is primarily composed of solid iron and nickel?

    <p>Inner core</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What process describes the movement of Earth's lithospheric plates?

    <p>Plate tectonics</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does the Geologic Time Scale represent?

    <p>Divisions of Earth's history in different units</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which component of the Earth is made up of the ocean, lakes, and glaciers?

    <p>Hydrosphere</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What element is the primary component of the solar nebula according to the nebular theory?

    <p>Hydrogen</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of scientific inquiry?

    <p>To discover patterns in nature</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following best describes the hydrosphere?

    <p>The water component of Earth</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Geologic Time

    • Time elapsed since Earth's formation
    • Earth is 4.6 billion years old
    • The concept of "recent" is different in geologic time

    Magnitude of Geologic Time

    • Geologic Time Scale divides Earth's history into different units

    Scientific Inquiry

    • Science assumes the natural world is consistent and predictable
    • Goal of science is to discover patterns in nature and use that knowledge to predict
    • Hypothesis: A tentative or untested explanation
    • Theory: A tested and confirmed hypothesis
    • Paradigm: A theory that explains a large number of interrelated aspects of the natural world
    • Scientific method: Facts are gathered through observation, hypotheses and theories are formulated, experiments are conducted, and the hypothesis is then accepted, modified, or rejected

    Observation and Measurement

    • Key aspects of the scientific method

    Early Evolution of Earth

    • Most researchers believe Earth and other planets formed at the same time
    • Nebular theory: The solar system evolved from a rotating cloud called a solar nebula, primarily composed of hydrogen and helium.
    • 5 billion years ago, the nebula began to contract, forming a flat disk shape with the protosun at the center.
    • Inner planets formed from metallic and rocky clumps, outer planets from fragments with a high percentage of ices

    Earth's Spheres

    • Hydrosphere: Includes all water on Earth, primarily oceans (71% of Earth's surface, 97% of Earth's water), including fresh water in streams, lakes, and glaciers, and underground water.
    • Atmosphere: A thin blanket of air, with half of it lying below 5.6 kilometers (3.5 miles)
    • Biosphere: Includes all life, concentrated near the surface, extending from the ocean floor to several kilometers into the atmosphere
    • Geosphere: Solid Earth, extending from the surface to the center of the planet, the largest of Earth's four spheres

    Geosphere: Solid Earth

    • The geosphere is divided into the crust, mantle, and core based on compositional differences.
    • The outer portion of the geosphere is divided into the lithosphere and asthenosphere based on material behavior.

    Geosphere: Crust

    • Earth's thin, rocky outer skin
    • Continental Crust: Less dense, varied rock types, granitic
    • Oceanic Crust: Dense, basaltic rock

    Geosphere: Mantle

    • Solid, rocky shell
    • More than 82% of Earth's volume
    • Upper Mantle: Includes the lithosphere (crust and uppermost mantle) and the asthenosphere (a relatively soft layer)
    • Lower Mantle: A strengthened, very hot layer

    Geosphere: Core

    • Iron-nickel alloy
    • Outer Core: Liquid layer, responsible for Earth's magnetic field
    • Inner Core: Solid

    The Mobile Geosphere

    • Plate tectonics: Earth's lithosphere is broken into slabs called lithospheric plates, which are constantly moving.
    • Plates move very slowly
    • Three types of plate boundaries: Divergent (plates pull apart), Convergent (plates move together), Transform Fault (plates slide past each other)

    The Face of Earth

    • Continents: Flat features with an average elevation of 0.8 km (0.5 mi), composed of granitic rocks.
    • Ocean basins: Average 3.8 km (2.8 mi) below sea level, composed of basaltic rocks.

    Major Features of Continents

    • Mountain Belts: Primarily the circum-Pacific belt and the Alps/Himalayas
    • Stable Interior: Shields - expansive, flat regions of deformed crystalline rock, Stable Platforms - deformed rock covered by sedimentary rock.

    Major Features of Ocean Basins

    • Continental Margins: Portions of the seafloor adjacent to major landmasses, including the continental shelf (a gently sloping platform extending seaward from shore), the continental slope (a steep drop-off at the edge of the shelf), and the continental rise (a more gradual incline where the continental slope merges with thick sediment accumulations).
    • Deep-Ocean Basins: Located between continental margins and oceanic ridges, including abyssal plains (flat features of deep-ocean basins), deep-ocean trenches (deep depressions in the ocean floor), and seamounts (submerged volcanic structures).
    • Oceanic Ridge: Also called the mid-ocean ridge, it is a continuous mountain belt that winds around the globe, containing many layers of igneous rock, including the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the East Pacific Rise.

    Earth as a System

    • Earth is a dynamic system of interacting parts: spheres.
    • Earth system science studies Earth as a complex system composed of numerous subsystems.
    • System: Any size group of interacting parts forming a complex whole

    Earth as a System: Closed and Open Systems

    • Closed System: Self-contained (e.g., automobile cooling system)
    • Open System: Energy and matter flow in and out (e.g., a river system)

    Earth System Science: Earth as a System

    • Consists of numerous subsystems (e.g., hydrologic cycle, rock cycle)
    • Sources of energy: Sun (drives external processes such as weather, ocean circulation, and erosion), Earth's interior (drives internal processes such as volcanoes, earthquakes, and mountain building)
    • Humans are part of the Earth system

    Earth Science

    • Earth science is the study of our planet, its changing systems, and its position in the universe.

    Earth Science: What it Includes

    • Geology: Literal study of Earth
    • Oceanography: Study of the ocean
    • Meteorology: Study of the atmosphere and weather processes
    • Astronomy: Study of the universe

    Earth Science: Key Questions

    • Reasons for seasons
    • Weather prediction methods
    • Grouping and movement of stars
    • Landscape formation

    Earth Science: Environmental Science

    • Natural hazards
    • Resources
    • People's influence on Earth processes

    Why Earth Science is Important

    • Forecasting potential disasters to save lives and property
    • Access to Earth's resources
    • Environmental protection

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    Related Documents

    Earth Science Module 1 PDF

    Description

    Explore the vastness of geologic time, including Earth's 4.6 billion-year history and the divisions of the Geologic Time Scale. Understand the scientific method, which forms the basis for how scientists study the natural world, including observations, hypotheses, and theories.

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