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SCIN 100 FINAL EXAM
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Exam of 8 pages for the course SCIN 100 at SCIN 100 (SCIN 100 FINAL EXAM)
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SCIN 100 FINAL EXAM QUESTIONS ANDANSWERS GRADED A+
sWhat is deformation? - the general term for the processes of folding, faulting, shearing, compression,
or extension of rocks as the result of various natural force
Describe elastic, brittle, and ductile deformation. - Elastic deformation is rock deformation in which the
rock will return to nearly its original size and shape when the stress is removed. Brittle deformation is
deformation that involves the fracturing of rock usually associated with rocks near the surface. Ductile
deformation is a type of solid state flow that produces a change in the size and shape of a rock body
without fracturing. Ductile deformation occurs at depths where temperatures and confining pressures
are high.
Defin anticline - a fold in sedimentary strata that resembles an arch; the opposite of syncline
Define syncline - a linear down fold in sedimentary strata; the opposite of anticline
Define dome - a roughly circular up folded structure similar to an anticline
Define basin - a circular down folded structure
Describe the formation of Earth's atmosphere and oceans (pg. 379-381) - Earth's atmosphere started
with the basic gases hydrogen, helium, methane, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and water vapor. A process
in early Earth affecting the atmosphere was outgassing. Outgassing is the process through which gases
trapped in the planet's interior are released. Though outgassing the gases water vapor, carbon dioxide,
and sulfur dioxide, with minor amounts of other gases were the gases being released. Free oxygen was
not present in early Earth's atmosphere. As time went on the Earth began to cool allowing for the water
vapor to condense resulting in clouds. From the clouds torrential rains began to fill low-lying areas
forming our first oceans.
Describe the Permian Extinction - occurred towards the end of the period. Approximately 70 percent of
all land- dwelling vertebrate species and perhaps 90 percent of all marine organisms were obliterated; it
was the most significant of five mass extinctions that occurred over the past 500 million years. Each
extinction in turn affects other species causing issues in the biosphere and other extinctions
consequently. However what was left of these extinctions, species of animals and plants were more
diverse than before. This mass extinction is thought to be caused by volcanic activity
Describe the Cretaceous-Tertiary Extinction - occurred approximately 65 million years ago. Accredited as
the extinction of dinosaurs. The extinction is thought to have been caused by a colliding asteroid which
would have hit now Mexico creating a crater at the top of the Yucatan peninsula
What age range is represented by the Precambrian Eon? - 4.6 billion years ago to 541 million years ago
What age range is represented by the Phanerozoic Eon? - 541 million years ago to the present
, What is an unconformity? - a surface that represents a break in the rock record, caused by erosion or
non deposition
How does the law of superposition determine relative age dates? - The law of superposition states that
in an undeformed sequence of sedimentary rocks, each bed is older than the one above and younger
than the one below.
How does principle of original horizontality determine relative age dates? - the principle that layers of
sediment are generally deposited in a horizontal position. So if we observe rock layers that are flat, it
means they have not been disturbed and still have their original horizontality.
How does crosscutting relationships determine relative age dates? - the idea that geologic features that
cut across rocks must have formed after the rocks they cut through formed
How does correlation determine relative age dates? - establishes the equivalence of rocks of similar age
in different areas
How does fossil succession determine relative age dates? - Fossil Succession is the principle in which
fossil organisms succeed one another in a definite and determinable order, so any time period can be
recognized by its fossil content.
Explain how radiometric age dating is completed - works by comparing a parent isotope to a daughter
isotope to observe how much the isotope has decayed. The rate of decay is expressed through half lives,
a specific amount of time is needed for the parent isotope to decay half of the way.
Which isotopes are most valuable for use in ancient rocks? - Rubidium-87, uranium-238, and uranium-
235, and potassium-40, argon-40
Which isotope is useful for very recent geological history? - carbon-14
According to the Geologic Time Scale, what Eon, Era, Period and Epoch are we currently living in? -
Phanerozoic Eon, the Cenozoic Era, the Quaternary Period and the Holocene Epoch
What is the supercontinent cycle? - the idea that the rifting and dispersal of one supercontinent is
followed by a long period during which the fragments gradually reassemble into a new supercontinent
What supercontinent preceded Pangea? - Gondwana
What is the cause of surface water waves? - wind
What is the cause of deep water circulation? - density differences
Explain the positions of the Earth, Moon, and Sun in relation to the daily tides - The spring tide, the
highest tidal range, occurs during the times of the new and full moons. This tide occurs when the Sun,
Moon, and Earth are all in line. The neap tide, the lowest tidal range, occurs near the times of the first
and third quarter phases of the Moon. This tide occurs when the Sun, Moon, and Earth are at a 90
degree angle to each other.
What is the Gulf Stream? - an important surface, western boundary current flowing northward. Streams
such as this one are set in motion by winds.
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