Geology and Earth Science Quiz

Study Notes

Nonrenewable Energy Resources

Nonrenewable resources cannot be replaced within a human lifetime.
Coal is an example; it forms from ancient plant/animal remains over millions of years.
Renewable resources like solar, wind, and hydro are naturally replenished.

Primary Causes of Earthquakes

Plate tectonics is the primary cause of earthquakes.
Plate movements (collision, separation, sliding) cause ground shaking.
Volcanic eruptions and erosion can also cause earthquakes, but less frequently.

Dinosaur Extinction

Dinosaurs became extinct during the Cretaceous Period, ~66 million years ago.
Possible causes include asteroid impact and major volcanic activity, leading to climate change.

Earth's Crust

Silicon is the primary component of Earth's crust, with oxygen and other elements.
Iron and aluminum are also significant components.

Fossils

Fossils are preserved remains of ancient organisms.
They are predominantly found in sedimentary rocks, which are formed from sediment layers.

Weathering and Erosion

Weathering is the breakdown of rocks at the Earth's surface (e.g., by wind, water, temperature).
Erosion involves the movement of weathered rock fragments to a new location by agents like wind, water, or ice.

Rock Formation

Metamorphic Rocks: Formed under intense heat and pressure (e.g., marble).
Igneous Rocks: Formed from cooled magma or lava.
Sedimentary Rocks: Formed from compressed sediment layers.

Supercontinent Pangaea

Pangaea was a supercontinent that existed ~200 million years ago.
Plate tectonics movements broke Pangaea apart.

Earth's Liquid Layer

The outer core is Earth's liquid layer, composed of molten iron and nickel.
The other layers: crust (solid), mantle (semi-solid), and inner core (solid).

Coal as Nonrenewable

Coal takes millions of years to form from compressed plant remains.

Plate Tectonics vs. Weathering

Plate tectonics involves large-scale Earth movements (e.g., earthquakes).
Weathering is the breakdown of rocks at the surface.

Description

Test your knowledge on nonrenewable energy resources, earthquake causes, and dinosaur extinction. This quiz covers essential topics related to Earth's crust, fossils, and geological processes. Ideal for students in earth science courses.