Question 1

Why did the asteroid impact mean a mass extinction for dinosaurs, but other species survived?

Accepted Answer

The K-Pg extinction brought an end to the large dinosaurs, which had been at the top of the food chain for 100 million years or more. Their demise allowed small mammals to diversify and evolve into the approximately 4000 species, including humans, that are alive today.

Question 2

Explain briefly how an impact crater is formed.

Accepted Answer

Impacts involve extremely high velocity, energy, pressure, and temperatures. Most of the energy of the impact is in the form of kinetic energy. This energy is transferred to Earth's surface through a shock wave that propagates into Earth. The shock wave compresses, heats, melts, and excavates earth materials. It is this transfer of kinetic energy that produces the crater. The shock can metamorphose some rocks in the impact area, while others are melted and mixed with the materials of the impacting object itself. Most of the metamorphism consists of high-pressure modifications of minerals, such as quartz. These modifications are characteristic of meteorite impact, so they are extremely helpful in confirming the origin of an impact crater.

Question 3

For several centuries geologists have accepted the idea that the Earth could be hit by large objects from outer space.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False  False

Question 4

Why couldn't researchers find the crater created by the asteroid that resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs?

Accepted Answer

A)  It was in a remote part of the world where nobody lives. 
B)  It was too small for anyone to notice. 
C)  It was destroyed by plate tectonic processes. 
D)  It was buried by sedimentary rock and the seafloor. 
E)  It was buried in snow and ice. 
A)  It was in a remote part of the world where nobody lives. 
B)  It was too small for anyone to notice. 
C)  It was destroyed by plate tectonic processes. 
D)  It was buried by sedimentary rock and the seafloor. 
E)  It was buried in snow and ice.

Question 5

Which of the following describes a meteorite?

Accepted Answer

A)  Large diameter (10m-1000km) object originating from belt between Jupiter and Mars 
B)  Moderate diameter (<10m) object originating from collisions of asteroids 
C)  Small diameter (<10 cm) object destroyed in Earth's atmosphere 
D)  Variable-sized object that intersects the Earth's surface 
E)  Icy object that appears to have a tail as it burns, originates from outside our solar system 
A)  Large diameter (10m-1000km) object originating from belt between Jupiter and Mars 
B)  Moderate diameter (<10m) object originating from collisions of asteroids 
C)  Small diameter (<10 cm) object destroyed in Earth's atmosphere 
D)  Variable-sized object that intersects the Earth's surface 
E)  Icy object that appears to have a tail as it burns, originates from outside our solar system

Question 6

The dinosaurs were killed by the asteroid because their habitat was near the impact area, whereas mammals were not killed because their habitat was much farther away.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 7

Which of the following is NOT an extraterrestrial particle?

Accepted Answer

A)  Asteroid 
B)  Meteoroid 
C)  Meteor 
D)  Comet 
E)  Cupid 
A)  Asteroid 
B)  Meteoroid 
C)  Meteor 
D)  Comet 
E)  Cupid

Question 8

What is the recurrence interval for asteroid impacts such as the one that resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs?

Accepted Answer

A)  About one thousand to ten thousand years 
B)  About 100 thousand to one million years 
C)  About ten million to 100 million years 
D)  About 1 billion to 10 billion years 
A)  About one thousand to ten thousand years 
B)  About 100 thousand to one million years 
C)  About ten million to 100 million years 
D)  About 1 billion to 10 billion years

Question 9

The risk from asteroid impacts is higher than that of drowning or a car accident.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 10

Craters formed by meteorites are unique from craters formed by other processes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

People be shouldn't be overly worried about asteroid impacts. Which of the following is NOT a reason why?

Accepted Answer

A)  The incidence of large asteroid impacts is rare. 
B)  Risk, although relatively high, is averaged over thousands of years. 
C)  Scientists are working on methods to prevent possible asteroid impacts. 
D)  The Earth's atmosphere will vaporize all asteroids before they reach the ground. 
A)  The incidence of large asteroid impacts is rare. 
B)  Risk, although relatively high, is averaged over thousands of years. 
C)  Scientists are working on methods to prevent possible asteroid impacts. 
D)  The Earth's atmosphere will vaporize all asteroids before they reach the ground.

Question 12

How are impact craters different from volcanic craters?

Accepted Answer

A)  They aren't. Scientists have to use other methods to determine whether the crater is volcanic or from asteroids. 
B)  Impact craters are larger than volcanic craters. 
C)  Impact craters involve heating of underlying rocks and volcanic craters do not. 
D)  Volcanic craters involve intense pressure on underlying rocks and impact craters do not. 
E)  Impact craters involve pressure and heating to rocks in much greater degrees than with volcanic processes. 
A)  They aren't. Scientists have to use other methods to determine whether the crater is volcanic or from asteroids. 
B)  Impact craters are larger than volcanic craters. 
C)  Impact craters involve heating of underlying rocks and volcanic craters do not. 
D)  Volcanic craters involve intense pressure on underlying rocks and impact craters do not. 
E)  Impact craters involve pressure and heating to rocks in much greater degrees than with volcanic processes.

Question 13

What is our best option if a large asteroid was detected and it was headed directly towards Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)  Blow it up in space before it enters our atmosphere 
B)  Divert it so that it doesn't collide with Earth 
C)  Allow our atmosphere to vaporize it 
D)  Send the space shuttle up to tow it out into space 
E)  Evacuate areas that would be impacted 
A)  Blow it up in space before it enters our atmosphere 
B)  Divert it so that it doesn't collide with Earth 
C)  Allow our atmosphere to vaporize it 
D)  Send the space shuttle up to tow it out into space 
E)  Evacuate areas that would be impacted

Question 14

If scientists spot an object that might collide with Earth, they will probably have thousands of years to study it before the collision.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 15

Why did scientists FIRST hypothesize that a meteorite impact caused the extinction at the K-Pg Boundary?

Accepted Answer

A)  They found evidence of a giant tsunami on the Gulf coast. 
B)  They found evidence of an impact crater in Mexico. 
C)  They found evidence of wildfires in many regions throughout the globe. 
D)  They found evidence of Iridium enrichments in a clay layer that led them to believe that the Iridium was the remains of a meteorite impact. 
E)  They found evidence of acid rain in the rocks in the Southern Hemisphere. 
A)  They found evidence of a giant tsunami on the Gulf coast. 
B)  They found evidence of an impact crater in Mexico. 
C)  They found evidence of wildfires in many regions throughout the globe. 
D)  They found evidence of Iridium enrichments in a clay layer that led them to believe that the Iridium was the remains of a meteorite impact. 
E)  They found evidence of acid rain in the rocks in the Southern Hemisphere.

Question 16

An asteroid impact of the size found in the Yucatan peninsula would have global consequences far from the impact site.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 17

Asteroids mostly originate in a belt found between Mars and Jupiter.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 18

Which of the following statements about meteorite impacts is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

A)  During the Earth's history there have been only a few meteorite impacts due to the protection by the Earth's atmosphere, which vaporizes nearly all meteorites. 
B)  When a large meteorite strikes the Earth, there is a shock wave that compresses, heats, melts, and excavates earth materials. 
C)  Meteorite impact craters cannot be distinguished from volcanic craters. 
D)  Meteor Crater in Arizona has been accepted as having formed by a meteorite impact since it was discovered by geologists in the late nineteenth century. 
E)  Impact craters are all roughly the same size. 
A)  During the Earth's history there have been only a few meteorite impacts due to the protection by the Earth's atmosphere, which vaporizes nearly all meteorites. 
B)  When a large meteorite strikes the Earth, there is a shock wave that compresses, heats, melts, and excavates earth materials. 
C)  Meteorite impact craters cannot be distinguished from volcanic craters. 
D)  Meteor Crater in Arizona has been accepted as having formed by a meteorite impact since it was discovered by geologists in the late nineteenth century. 
E)  Impact craters are all roughly the same size.

Question 19

What are some causes of mass extinction?

Accepted Answer

Most hypotheses for mass extinctions inv

Question 20

Although the risk from asteroids is high, we probably should not worry too much because incidence is extremely rare.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Why did the asteroid impact mean a mass extinction for dinosaurs, but other species survived?

Explain briefly how an impact crater is formed.

For several centuries geologists have accepted the idea that the Earth could be hit by large objects from outer space.

Why couldn't researchers find the crater created by the asteroid that resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs?

Which of the following describes a meteorite?

The dinosaurs were killed by the asteroid because their habitat was near the impact area, whereas mammals were not killed because their habitat was much farther away.

Which of the following is NOT an extraterrestrial particle?

What is the recurrence interval for asteroid impacts such as the one that resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs?

The risk from asteroid impacts is higher than that of drowning or a car accident.

Craters formed by meteorites are unique from craters formed by other processes.

People be shouldn't be overly worried about asteroid impacts. Which of the following is NOT a reason why?

How are impact craters different from volcanic craters?

What is our best option if a large asteroid was detected and it was headed directly towards Earth?

If scientists spot an object that might collide with Earth, they will probably have thousands of years to study it before the collision.

Why did scientists FIRST hypothesize that a meteorite impact caused the extinction at the K-Pg Boundary?

An asteroid impact of the size found in the Yucatan peninsula would have global consequences far from the impact site.

Asteroids mostly originate in a belt found between Mars and Jupiter.

Which of the following statements about meteorite impacts is TRUE?

What are some causes of mass extinction?

Although the risk from asteroids is high, we probably should not worry too much because incidence is extremely rare.

Introduction to Natural Hazards

Internal Structure of the Earth and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes

Tsunamis

Volcanoes

Flooding

Mass Wasting

Subsidence and Soils

Atmosphere and Severe Weather

Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones

Coastal Hazards

Climate and Climate Change

Wildfires

Filters

Exam 14: Impacts and Extinctions

Why did the asteroid impact mean a mass extinction for dinosaurs, but other species survived?

Explain briefly how an impact crater is formed.

For several centuries geologists have accepted the idea that the Earth could be hit by large objects from outer space.

Why couldn't researchers find the crater created by the asteroid that resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs?

Which of the following describes a meteorite?

The dinosaurs were killed by the asteroid because their habitat was near the impact area, whereas mammals were not killed because their habitat was much farther away.

Which of the following is NOT an extraterrestrial particle?

What is the recurrence interval for asteroid impacts such as the one that resulted in the extinction of the dinosaurs?

The risk from asteroid impacts is higher than that of drowning or a car accident.

Craters formed by meteorites are unique from craters formed by other processes.

People be shouldn't be overly worried about asteroid impacts. Which of the following is NOT a reason why?

How are impact craters different from volcanic craters?

What is our best option if a large asteroid was detected and it was headed directly towards Earth?

If scientists spot an object that might collide with Earth, they will probably have thousands of years to study it before the collision.

Why did scientists FIRST hypothesize that a meteorite impact caused the extinction at the K-Pg Boundary?

An asteroid impact of the size found in the Yucatan peninsula would have global consequences far from the impact site.

Asteroids mostly originate in a belt found between Mars and Jupiter.

Which of the following statements about meteorite impacts is TRUE?

What are some causes of mass extinction?

Although the risk from asteroids is high, we probably should not worry too much because incidence is extremely rare.

Introduction to Natural Hazards

Internal Structure of the Earth and Plate Tectonics

Earthquakes

Tsunamis

Volcanoes

Flooding

Mass Wasting

Subsidence and Soils

Atmosphere and Severe Weather

Hurricanes and Extratropical Cyclones

Coastal Hazards

Climate and Climate Change

Wildfires

Filters