Question 1

The outermost solid layer of the Earth that comprises both continental and oceanic crust is called the:

Accepted Answer

A)  hydrosphere. 
B)  lithosphere. 
C)  asthenosphere. 
D)  outer core. 
A)  hydrosphere. 
B)  lithosphere. 
C)  asthenosphere. 
D)  outer core.

Question 2

What do these things have in common: Paleomagnetism, seafloor spreading, Pangaea, Wadati-Benioff zones, transform faults, fracture zones, seamount chains, Pacific hotspots.

Accepted Answer

A)  They are used to study earthquakes. 
B)  They are involved with plate tectonics. 
C)  They are used to investigate the potential for undersea mining and mineral resource exploitation. 
D)  They are used to predict earthquake activity and warn people of imminent danger. 
A)  They are used to study earthquakes. 
B)  They are involved with plate tectonics. 
C)  They are used to investigate the potential for undersea mining and mineral resource exploitation. 
D)  They are used to predict earthquake activity and warn people of imminent danger.

Question 3

One cubic meter of which of these would weigh the most?

Accepted Answer

A)  seawater 
B)  granite rock 
C)  basaltic rock 
D)  mantle 
A)  seawater 
B)  granite rock 
C)  basaltic rock 
D)  mantle

Question 4

A boundary in which crustal plates move past one another is called a:

Accepted Answer

A)  transform fault. 
B)  convergent zone. 
C)  divergent zone. 
D)  rift valley. 
A)  transform fault. 
B)  convergent zone. 
C)  divergent zone. 
D)  rift valley.

Question 5

If two oceanic plates collide at a relatively fast speed, and one is much older and cooler (therefore more dense) than the other, what will happen?

Accepted Answer

A)  A deep trench will form. 
B)  Continental mountains will form. 
C)  Large earthquakes will occur. 
D)  A volcano will erupt. . 
A)  A deep trench will form. 
B)  Continental mountains will form. 
C)  Large earthquakes will occur. 
D)  A volcano will erupt. .

Question 6

The hot, partially melted, slowly flowing layer of the earth is called the:

Accepted Answer

A)  core. 
B)  asthenosphere. 
C)  lithosphere. 
D)  mantle. 
A)  core. 
B)  asthenosphere. 
C)  lithosphere. 
D)  mantle.

Question 7

The Emperor Seamounts were formed:

Accepted Answer

A)  as islands formed over a hot spot. 
B)  as an island arc that formed along a trench. 
C)  as islands formed over a spreading center 
D)  islands formed at a convergent zone. 
A)  as islands formed over a hot spot. 
B)  as an island arc that formed along a trench. 
C)  as islands formed over a spreading center 
D)  islands formed at a convergent zone.

Question 8

Evidence for plate tectonics can be seen in:

Accepted Answer

A)  the distribution of marine microbes. 
B)  ancient glaciers. 
C)  the distribution of dissolved compounds in isolated regions of the ocean. 
D)  modern snail species. 
A)  the distribution of marine microbes. 
B)  ancient glaciers. 
C)  the distribution of dissolved compounds in isolated regions of the ocean. 
D)  modern snail species.

Question 9

A "mystery" in our understanding of plate tectonics has been, until recently, the nature of the power source capable of moving the plates and the continents embedded within them. Recent evidence indicates the power source to be:

Accepted Answer

A)  the readjustment of the surface to continual shrinking of the whole Earth. 
B)  convection currents within the Earth's mantle is moving the plates. 
C)  the action of ocean currents is dragging along the seafloor, causing the seafloor and the continents to move. 
D)  the continual vibration from earthquakes and volcanoes slowly moves the continents equatorward under the influence of centrifugal force. 
A)  the readjustment of the surface to continual shrinking of the whole Earth. 
B)  convection currents within the Earth's mantle is moving the plates. 
C)  the action of ocean currents is dragging along the seafloor, causing the seafloor and the continents to move. 
D)  the continual vibration from earthquakes and volcanoes slowly moves the continents equatorward under the influence of centrifugal force.

Question 10

One piece of evidence that suggests the existence of Pangaea is continuous mountain ranges spanning Australia and Antarctica.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The oceanic crust is made of basalt.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

The asthenosphere is cooler than the lithosphere.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 13

The Hawaiian Islands were formed within the last 2 million years under a hot spot that is now inactive.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 14

Oceanographers believe the breakup of Pangaea occurred about:

Accepted Answer

A)  1 million years ago. 
B)  25 million years ago. 
C)  200 million years ago. 
D)  750 million years ago. 
A)  1 million years ago. 
B)  25 million years ago. 
C)  200 million years ago. 
D)  750 million years ago.

Question 15

New crust is being generated:

Accepted Answer

A)  in the deep trenches. 
B)  in submarine canyons. 
C)  in the rift valleys of the mid-ocean ridges. 
D)  at the centers of large continents. 
A)  in the deep trenches. 
B)  in submarine canyons. 
C)  in the rift valleys of the mid-ocean ridges. 
D)  at the centers of large continents.

Question 16

Buoyancy is the ability of an object to float in a fluid by:

Accepted Answer

A)  weighing less than the water surrounding it. 
B)  displacing a volume of water equal in weight to its own weight. 
C)  displacing a volume of water which weighs slightly more than its own weight. 
D)  displacing a volume of water which weighs slightly less than its own weight. 
A)  weighing less than the water surrounding it. 
B)  displacing a volume of water equal in weight to its own weight. 
C)  displacing a volume of water which weighs slightly more than its own weight. 
D)  displacing a volume of water which weighs slightly less than its own weight.

Question 17

Why is the inside of the Earth still hot?

Accepted Answer

A)  Because the outer layers have prevented the escape of heat trapped during the planet's initial formation, and no new heat has been formed. 
B)  Because the decay of large radioactive elements is creating heat in the Earth's inner layers. 
C)  Because a nuclear process like that found in stars is at work in Earth's interior. 
D)  Because huge quantities of oil and natural gas occasionally burn deep within the Earth. 
A)  Because the outer layers have prevented the escape of heat trapped during the planet's initial formation, and no new heat has been formed. 
B)  Because the decay of large radioactive elements is creating heat in the Earth's inner layers. 
C)  Because a nuclear process like that found in stars is at work in Earth's interior. 
D)  Because huge quantities of oil and natural gas occasionally burn deep within the Earth.

Question 18

The youngest seafloor rocks are found:

Accepted Answer

A)  nearest the continental slopes. 
B)  near the rift valleys of the mid-ocean ridges. 
C)  beneath the deep sea trenches. 
D)  evenly distributed over the ocean basins. 
A)  nearest the continental slopes. 
B)  near the rift valleys of the mid-ocean ridges. 
C)  beneath the deep sea trenches. 
D)  evenly distributed over the ocean basins.

Question 19

With the use of radiometric dating, one would expect to find the OLDEST rock to be found:

Accepted Answer

A)  in the center of the Earth's core. 
B)  near the middle of the Pacific plate. 
C)  in the center of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. 
D)  in the center of continents. 
A)  in the center of the Earth's core. 
B)  near the middle of the Pacific plate. 
C)  in the center of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. 
D)  in the center of continents.

Question 20

Using the Atlantic ocean basin as an example, describe in detail how an ocean basin is formed.

Accepted Answer

Ocean basins are formed at divergent pla

The outermost solid layer of the Earth that comprises both continental and oceanic crust is called the:

What do these things have in common: Paleomagnetism, seafloor spreading, Pangaea, Wadati-Benioff zones, transform faults, fracture zones, seamount chains, Pacific hotspots.

One cubic meter of which of these would weigh the most?

A boundary in which crustal plates move past one another is called a:

If two oceanic plates collide at a relatively fast speed, and one is much older and cooler (therefore more dense) than the other, what will happen?

The hot, partially melted, slowly flowing layer of the earth is called the:

The Emperor Seamounts were formed:

Evidence for plate tectonics can be seen in:

A "mystery" in our understanding of plate tectonics has been, until recently, the nature of the power source capable of moving the plates and the continents embedded within them. Recent evidence indicates the power source to be:

One piece of evidence that suggests the existence of Pangaea is continuous mountain ranges spanning Australia and Antarctica.

The oceanic crust is made of basalt.

The asthenosphere is cooler than the lithosphere.

The Hawaiian Islands were formed within the last 2 million years under a hot spot that is now inactive.

Oceanographers believe the breakup of Pangaea occurred about:

New crust is being generated:

Buoyancy is the ability of an object to float in a fluid by:

Why is the inside of the Earth still hot?

The youngest seafloor rocks are found:

With the use of radiometric dating, one would expect to find the OLDEST rock to be found:

Using the Atlantic ocean basin as an example, describe in detail how an ocean basin is formed.

The Origin of the Ocean

A History of Marine Science

Ocean Basins

Ocean Sediments

Water

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean Circulation

Waves

Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Pelagic Communities

Benthic Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

Filters

Exam 3: Earth Structure and Plate Tectonics

The outermost solid layer of the Earth that comprises both continental and oceanic crust is called the:

What do these things have in common: Paleomagnetism, seafloor spreading, Pangaea, Wadati-Benioff zones, transform faults, fracture zones, seamount chains, Pacific hotspots.

One cubic meter of which of these would weigh the most?

A boundary in which crustal plates move past one another is called a:

If two oceanic plates collide at a relatively fast speed, and one is much older and cooler (therefore more dense) than the other, what will happen?

The hot, partially melted, slowly flowing layer of the earth is called the:

The Emperor Seamounts were formed:

Evidence for plate tectonics can be seen in:

A "mystery" in our understanding of plate tectonics has been, until recently, the nature of the power source capable of moving the plates and the continents embedded within them. Recent evidence indicates the power source to be:

One piece of evidence that suggests the existence of Pangaea is continuous mountain ranges spanning Australia and Antarctica.

The oceanic crust is made of basalt.

The asthenosphere is cooler than the lithosphere.

The Hawaiian Islands were formed within the last 2 million years under a hot spot that is now inactive.

Oceanographers believe the breakup of Pangaea occurred about:

New crust is being generated:

Buoyancy is the ability of an object to float in a fluid by:

Why is the inside of the Earth still hot?

The youngest seafloor rocks are found:

With the use of radiometric dating, one would expect to find the OLDEST rock to be found:

Using the Atlantic ocean basin as an example, describe in detail how an ocean basin is formed.

The Origin of the Ocean

A History of Marine Science

Ocean Basins

Ocean Sediments

Water

Atmospheric Circulation

Ocean Circulation

Waves

Tides

Coasts

Life in the Ocean

Pelagic Communities

Benthic Communities

Uses and Abuses of the Ocean

Filters