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Questions and Answers
Which mineral property describes how a mineral can resist separation?
What is the term for minerals that allow most light to pass through undistorted?
Which group of minerals is known as rock-forming minerals?
What is the correct statement regarding the taste of minerals?
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Which property refers to the dull or clay-like appearance of a mineral?
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What was launched in 2007 to study Pluto and its satellite Charon?
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Which of the following is NOT recognized as a dwarf planet by the International Astronomical Union?
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What term refers to celestial bodies that revolve around the sun, are round in shape, and are located beyond Neptune?
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What is the boundary between the crust and the mantle called?
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Which layer of the Earth is composed mainly of aluminum and silicate?
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Which type of crust is thicker and comprises the continents?
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What is the primary composition of the Earth's mantle?
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What drives tectonic movements in the Earth?
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What is the primary purpose of space agencies?
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Which type of spacecraft is designed specifically for manned missions?
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What significant achievement did the Mariner 9 probe accomplish?
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Which of the following spacecraft are examples of space probes?
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What was the primary goal of the Mars 2020 mission?
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What is the main component of the atmosphere?
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What is the name of the rovers that began exploring the surface of Mars in 2004?
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Which layer of the atmosphere is where most weather occurs?
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What percentage of the Earth's surface does the hydrosphere comprise?
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Which spacecraft serves as a home for scientists studying the solar system?
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What was a significant finding by the rovers Spirit and Opportunity on Mars?
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Which layer of the atmosphere contains the ozone layer?
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What is the temperature range of the stratosphere?
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Which of the following is a characteristic of the mesosphere?
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What is the main characteristic of saltwater?
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What forms of water are found within the hydrosphere?
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What is the primary characteristic of the asthenosphere in relation to plate tectonics?
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Which component of the Earth's core is responsible for generating the magnetic field?
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How deep is the Gutenberg Discontinuity, which separates the mantle and the core?
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Which layers of the Earth make up the lithosphere?
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What distinguishes a rock from a mineral?
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What is a characteristic property used to describe minerals?
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What process involves organizing atoms to form crystalline solids in mineral formation?
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What materials mainly compose the outer core?
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Study Notes
Subsystems of Earth's Environment
- Geosphere: Solid part of Earth; includes landforms, landmasses, tectonic plates, rocks, minerals, and internal layers.
- Atmosphere: Gaseous layer enveloping Earth, composed primarily of Nitrogen (78%) and Oxygen (21%); contains traces of other gases like carbon dioxide and water vapor.
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Layers of the Atmosphere:
- Troposphere: Lowest layer; 75% of the atmosphere; weather occurs here; temperature ranges from 15°C to -57°C.
- Stratosphere: Ranges 15-50 km up; contains the ozone layer; temperature from -57°C to -5°C.
- Mesosphere: Between 50-80 km; cool and dense; where meteors burn upon entry.
- Thermosphere: Above 80 km; temperature can reach 1,727°C; gases arranged by mass.
Hydrosphere
- Liquid portion of Earth, covering three-quarters of the surface; predominantly composed of water (H2O).
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Forms of Water:
- Liquid (oceans, lakes).
- Vapor (clouds, fog).
- Ice (glaciers, polar caps).
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Types of Water:
- Saltwater (97% of Earth's water, found in oceans).
Space Agencies
- Institutions promoting astronomy and exploring celestial bodies; examples include NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos.
Spacecraft Types
- Space Shuttles: Manned missions (e.g., Discovery, Challenger).
- Space Probes: Unmanned spacecraft collecting data (e.g., Viking 1, Pioneer 11).
- Rockets: Launch satellites (e.g., Apollo missions, Voyager).
- Space Stations: Habitats for scientists (e.g., Skylab).
Mars Exploration
- Numerous missions targeting Mars's geology and potential habitability; started in the 1960s.
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Significant Missions:
- Mars 2 and Mars 3 (1971): First contact with Martian surface.
- Mariner 9 (1971): First spacecraft to orbit Mars.
- Spirit and Opportunity (2004): Found evidence of past water.
- MAVEN (2013): Studying Mars's upper atmosphere.
- ExoMars project: Aims to find signs of past life.
- Mars 2020: Focused on gathering evidence of life forms.
Pluto and Dwarf Planets
- New Horizons mission (2007) studied Pluto and Charon; first probe to fly by Pluto in 2015.
- Five recognized dwarf planets: Ceres, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, Eris.
- Plutoids: Bodies beyond Neptune that are round and orbit the Sun.
Earth's Layers
- Crust: Outermost layer, thin (1% of Earth's mass); includes continental (35-70 km thick) and oceanic crust (5-10 km thick).
- Mantle: Thickest layer (2,900 km), comprised of solid and semi-solid rock, drives tectonic movements; divided into lithosphere (upper) and asthenosphere (lower).
- Core: Inner layer; 2,500 km deep; includes a liquid outer core responsible for Earth's magnetic field and a solid inner core.
Minerals and Rocks
- Rocks: Naturally occurring solid made up of minerals.
- Mineral Formation: Inorganic crystallization and re-crystallization.
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Properties of Minerals:
- Luster: Reflectivity; can be metallic or non-metallic.
- Specific Gravity: Density comparison with water.
- Tenacity: Strength and cohesion of particles.
- Diaphaneity: Light transmission capability (transparent, translucent, opaque).
- Odor and Taste: Some minerals react to heat or moisture; solubility gives taste.
Mineral Groups
- Silicates: Most abundant group of rock-forming minerals (e.g., quartz, feldspar).
- Other groups include native elements, sulfides, oxides, carbonates, phosphates, and halides.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the geosphere and atmosphere of Earth. This quiz covers essential topics such as landforms, mineral composition, and the atmospheric layers along with their gas composition. Dive deep into the interactions between Earth's solid portions and its gaseous blanket.
