Exam 1: The Origin of the Ocean

Amino acids, sugars, proteins, and nucleotides are considered the building blocks of life.

The Earth was formed by the condensation of a cloud comprised of dust and gas.

There were multiple sources of water that contributed to the ocean. How was the majority of the ocean's water formed?

The outermost gases of early Earth were initially destroyed by radiation from the sun, but the underlying atmosphere remained intact.

____ is a critical aspect of science.

Which does not describe a law?

What created Earth's moon?

What conditions are necessary to maintain an ocean of liquid water permanently? Why is having a liquid ocean so important?

A(n) ____ is an explanation that can be tested by additional observations or controlled experiments.

How much of the Earth's water is found in the ocean?

The spinning of a shrinking nebula marks the transition from a protostar to a star.

How long ago did the big bang catalyze the beginning of the universe?

What could ultimately be linked to the lack of water on Mars?

Which is not necessarily a characteristic of a red giant?

What was the composition of the early atmosphere of Earth? What changes occurred to the early atmosphere? What was the key factor in creating an atmosphere similar to today?

Despite a multitude of names given to describe portions of the ocean, it is more accurate to call it a single dynamic world ocean.

The scientific method is characterized as:

Studying microbes in extreme environments is tricky because when you retrieve the rocks they often change what they are doing.

What type of marine scientist studies the Earth's ocean, continents, and climate?

Describe how the Earth's ocean accumulated. What aspects of the initial atmospheric conditions prohibited the formation of liquid water? Once in place, how did the water become saline?