Exam 1: Introduction to Earth Science

The composition of the core of Earth is thought to be ________.

Active mountain belts are most likely to be found ________.

The continental shelf is located ________.

According to the nebular hypothesis, all of the bodies in the universe evolved from a rotating cloud of gases and dust about five billion years ago.

Shields and stable platforms are typically found in the interior regions of a continent.

The asthenosphere is a relatively cool and rigid shell that overlies the lithosphere.

Earth's physical environment is traditionally divided in the hydrosphere, atmosphere, and the solid Earth. Remembering the scientific method, why do you think that scientists tend to categorize and classify various features, phenomena, and characteristics of the natural world into groups or subdivisions? Also, are there potential pitfalls or problems if we only consider the natural world as individual groups or categories rather than as a whole?

A scientific theory is a tentative or untested explanation that is proposed to explain scientific observations.

The ________ is the most prominent feature on the ocean floor.

A(n) ________ system is one in which energy moves freely in and out, but no matter enters or leaves the system.

All of the following are possible steps of scientific investigation except for ________.

The currently accepted age of Earth is approximately 4.5 million years.

In natural systems, mechanisms that drive or enhance change are called ________.

Moving from the shoreline towards the deep-ocean basin, the continental margin includes the ________ and the ________.

Word Analysis. Examine the words and/or phrases for each question below and determine the relationship among the majority of words/phrases. Choose the option which does not fit the pattern.

The asthenosphere is actually a part of the ________ of the Earth.

A good scientific theory is one which has survived extensive scrutiny by the scientific community and also best explains observable facts. What are some observations regarding our solar system that are explained by the nebular hypothesis? Are there any observations which are not easily explained by the nebular hypothesis?

The lithosphere, asthenosphere, and mesosphere are all layers of Earth defined by their composition.

A(n) ________ resource is one which can be replenished over a relatively short time span.

The convective flow of liquid, metallic iron in the ________ is thought to generate Earth's magnetic field.