Geosphere and Earth's Layers

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Questions and Answers

What occurs at the Curie temperature?

Materials gain permanent magnetic properties.

All materials become superconductors.

Materials permanently become magnets.

Materials lose their permanent magnetic properties. (correct)

What is the composition of Earth's crust primarily made of?

Basaltic and Granitic materials (correct)

Peridotite and Sulfate

Iron and Nickel

Methane and Ammonia

Which of the following is an implication of the apparent polar wandering path?

The Earth has a fixed magnetic pole.

There has been no continental drift.

Different continents have moved. (correct)

Magnetic poles are permanent fixtures.

What phenomenon caused heavy metals to sink while lighter materials floated during the early formation of the Earth?

Differentiation Signup and view all the answers

What term refers to the single land mass that Wegener proposed existed in the past?

Pangaea Signup and view all the answers

In which type of plate boundary do earthquakes commonly occur due to tectonic plates moving apart?

Divergent Boundary Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a component of the Earth's layers?

Lithosphere Signup and view all the answers

What type of crust is typically produced at oceanic ridges?

Basaltic crust Signup and view all the answers

Which evidence supports the concept of continental drift through the resemblance of coastlines?

Jigsaw Fit of Continents Signup and view all the answers

Which process describes the formation of oceanic crust along mid-ocean ridges?

Seafloor Spreading Signup and view all the answers

Which geological feature is formed at convergent boundaries?

Seafloor trenches Signup and view all the answers

What is unique about Earth compared to the other planets in the solar system?

It possesses liquid water on its surface. Signup and view all the answers

What happens during subduction at a convergent boundary?

The heavier oceanic plate subducts beneath the lighter continental plate. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of lithologies is considered when comparing continents?

Physical characteristics Signup and view all the answers

What are the inner planets of the solar system?

Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars Signup and view all the answers

What is the current axial tilt of Earth?

23.5 degrees Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon explains the generation of Earth's magnetic field within its core?

Geodynamo Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon commonly occurs at divergent boundaries?

Creation of new oceanic crust Signup and view all the answers

Which type of boundary is characterized by tectonic plates colliding?

Convergent Boundary Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary composition of the Earth's outer core?

Liquid metal Signup and view all the answers

What is observed in today's glaciers that supports past climatic conditions?

Tropical fossils Signup and view all the answers

At what temperatures do rocks with magnetic minerals align to the Earth's magnetic field?

Below Curie Temperature Signup and view all the answers

Which theory posits that all continents were once joined together?

Continental Drift Theory Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of rift zones?

Volcanoes are rifting or splitting apart. Signup and view all the answers

Which geological feature indicates that ocean floors are younger than the continental rocks?

Seafloor symmetry Signup and view all the answers

How did the theory of plate tectonics revolutionize Earth sciences?

By providing a unified context for understanding geological processes. Signup and view all the answers

What was the early Earth primarily formed through?

Accretion Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following elements is NOT one of the four major elements that compose the Earth?

Hydrogen Signup and view all the answers

What type of evidence involves the study of fossils across separated continents?

Spread of Index Fossils Signup and view all the answers

What geological age corresponds to rocks that are red to orange in color?

0 to 40 million years Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

The Geosphere: History and Origin

The geosphere is the Earth itself.
Early Earth was extremely hot.
Differentiation: Heavier elements sank, lighter elements rose.
Accretion: Dust clumps together through static electricity and gravity to create larger objects.
Velocity and distance from the sun influenced the amount of material available for accretion.

Earth's Layers

Crust: Outermost, thinnest layer (continental and oceanic).
Mantle: Primarily composed of peridotite, a solid layer.
Outer Core: Liquid layer.
Inner Core: Solid, dense sphere.
Pressure in the inner core is greater than the outer core, maintaining it in a solid state.

The Planets and Vital Stats of Earth

Inner planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
Outer planets: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune.
Earth is primarily composed of oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and iron.
Earth is approximately 4.54 billion years old.
Earth is an oblate spheroid (slightly flattened sphere).

Continental Drift Theory

Continents were once joined together as one large landmass called Pangaea.
Continents have drifted to their current positions over time.
Alfred Wegener proposed the theory of continental drift.

Evidence of Continental Drift

Jigsaw fit of continents
Spread of fossils across continents
Similar rock formations across continents
Evidence of past glacial activity and tropical climates in different locations.

Seafloor Spreading

A geologic process where tectonic plates separate from each other.
New oceanic crust is formed at mid-ocean ridges.
Oceanic crust moves away from the ridges in both directions from the source.

Plate Tectonics

Theory describing the movement and interaction of the Earth's lithospheric plates.
Types of plate boundaries: divergent (plates move apart), convergent (plates collide), transform (plates slide past each other).

Plate Boundaries and Features

Divergent boundaries: Plates move apart, forming mid-ocean ridges and rift valleys.
Convergent boundaries: Plates collide, forming trenches, volcanic arcs, and mountain ranges.
Transform boundaries: Plates slide past each other, often resulting in earthquakes.

Paleomagnetism

Rocks preserve a record of Earth's magnetic field at the time they formed.
This record can be used to reconstruct past positions of continents and to track movements over time.
Curie Temperature - when the metal cools past a certain temperature, the magnetic qualities will be locked into place.

The Earth's Magnetic Field

The Earth's core generates a magnetic field.
Paleomagnetism helps track the movement of continents.

Philippine Plate

The Philippines sits on a complex network of tectonic plates.
Philippine Mobile Belt (PMB).
The movement of plates has created changes in the landscape, such as the presence of volcanoes and earthquakes.
Parts of the Philippines are on the edge of plates that are converging.

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Description

Explore the history and origin of the geosphere, including the formation of Earth's layers and the vital statistics of our planet. Understand the processes of differentiation and accretion that shaped Earth and learn about the characteristics of its inner and outer layers. This quiz provides an in-depth look at the fundamental components of our planet.