Name______Date______Period______
Geology Chapter 1 Study Guide
*Key*
Ms. Harris
Test will be on 1/27
Things you will need to help you prepare:
Lab Book
Science Textbook
Study Guide
Time!
Chapter 1 Section 1 (pages 6-13 textbook)
1.) What are the two types of Crust?
ContinentalOceanic
2.) List each type of rock that make up the Crustand Explain two characteristics about each one.
A. (ROCK) Granite
1.) Characteristic Light in Color 2.) Characteristic Low Density
B. (ROCK) Basalt
1.)Characteristic Dark in Color 2.) Characteristic High Denisty
3.) Two main types of methods that Geologists use to learn about Earth’s interior?
#1 Indirectly#2 Directly
4.) Explain examples that demonstrate collecting evidence using these two methods.
Method#1 Gathering evidence by using an Indirect Method allows Geologists to examine data
that they would normally be unable to view. This is done by analyzing the seismic waves that are emitted
from an earthquake. This method has helped to determine that the Outer Core is liquid.
Method#2 An example of how Direct Methods may be used is when Geologists collect
samples and study them through direct contact. When a Volcano erupts samples are collect and taken back
to a lab for further studies.
5.) Describe the job of a Geologist?
Geologist are responsible for studying the Earth, the materials of which is it made, the structure of those materials and the processes acting upon them.
6.) Use the word bank below to label the Earth’s many layers.
Asthenosphere Ocean Inner CoreContinental Crust Lithosphere Lower Mantle
Outer Core Upper Mantle Oceanic Crust
7.) Describe a Characteristics about the Composition of each Layer.
Continental Crust- Cool, dry, rigid, rocky, thin
Oceanic Crust- Makes up the ocean floor, largely composed of dense Basalt rocks, the youngest rock, and is destroyed in subduction zones.
Lithosphere- The combination of the Crust and the Upper Mantle make up this area.
Asthenosphere- Thick, soft, molten rock layer, filled with Convection Currents
Lower Mantle-High Temperatures and Pressure, molten rock
Outer Core- Liquid iron and nickel, responsible for creating the Earth’s magnetic field
Inner Core-Immense heat and Pressure, very dense area of solid iron and nickel
8.) Describe what happens to Temperature and Pressure as depth increases in the interior?
The deeper you go into the interior, temperature and pressure increase. As depth increases, so
do temperature and pressure. All the layers vary greatly in temperature and pressure. Refer to Page 9 but
do not memorize temperatures.
9.) Explain why Earth has a strong magnetic field.
It is believed that the Earth’s magnetic filed exists because of the liquid iron and nickel swooshing
around in the outer core as the planet rotates on it’s axis create areas of magnetism.
10.) What does it protect us from?
The magnetic field wraps around Earth protecting us from dangerous radiation that the
Sun blasts out into space.
------Chapter 1 Section 2 (pages 14-17)------
1.) How does heat always move?
Heat always travels from the warmer object to the colder object.
2.) What does Temperature measure?
Temperature measure’s the speed of the molecules, how fast or slow they are moving.
3.) What are the three types of Heat Transfer?
a.Conduction b.Radiaton c. Convection Currents
4.) What is the definition of a?
Conduction is the movement of heat through direct contact. Objects must be touching.
Insulators are poor Conductors of heat.
5.) What is the definition of b?
Radiation is heat that is being transferred through the open space between objects.
(example: campfire, sun)
6.) What is the definition of c?
Heat that is transferred between fluids (liquids and gases).
7.) Consider the pictures below, then label which type of Heat Transfer is taking place.
(how does this lamp spin?)
a. Radiation b. Conduction c. Convection
8.) How does a convection current work and what sets them in motion?
When fluids get heated there will be temperature differences within it creating areas of varying densities. Particles will move faster when heated, causing them to be less dense. Areas that are cooling down will move slower, causing them to be denser. Less dense fluids will rise and denser fluids will sink. The differences in density will result in spinning wheels of fluids due to density differences within. These particles will follow this rising and sinking pattern until the heat source is removed.
9.) What causes convection currents in Earth’s interior?
Heat from the core and mantle cause convection currents.
------Chapter 1 Section 3 (pages 18-22)------
1.) Who is Alfred Wegener?
Alfred Wegener was a German scientist that became curious about the relationship of the continents and their positions. He spent most of his life attempting to prove
2.) What was the name of his Theory and describe what it means?
The Theory of Continental Drift
Wegener hypothesis was that all the continents were once joined together in a single landmass and have since broken and drifted apart.
3.) What is Pangaea?
Pangaea means all lands. This is the name that Wegener gave to his supercontinent.
4.) List the three types of evidence did he found?
a. Plant and Animal Fossils b. Climate Change c. Mountains
5.) Why was his theory rejected?
Wegener’s theory was continually rejected because he could not provide an explanation for the force that pushes or pulls the continents.
------Chapter 1 Section 4 (pages 23-29)------
1.) What are mid-ocean ridges?
Mid-Ocean ridges are long curving mountain ranges that run along the ocean floor. This is the longest mountain range on Earth.
2.) What device was used to help scientist map mid-ocean ridges?
During World War II they mapped out the ocean floor using sonar.
3.) Explain the process of Sea Floor Spreading?
Sea floor spreading is the process in which the sea floor spreads apart along both sides of a mid-ocean ridge as new crust is added from the mantle. The sea floor is constantly being pushed, moving towards Continental Crust. Here the sea floor subducts into ocean trenches as new crust is being added at the ridge. New crust spreads from the ridges as old crust gets pushed into the trench.
4.) What type of evidence was found to support the theory of sea-floor spreading?
Molten material in the form of pillow lava erupting along the mid-ocean ridge.
Patterns were discovered in rocks of the ocean floor that show how the magnetic field has reversed
itself through out history.
When drilling samples of the ocean floor it was discovered that the age of rocks closer to the Mid-Oceanic
Ridge were much younger than rocks further from the ridge.
5.) What is the process of subduction?
Subduction is the process in which a dense plate goes underneath a plate that is less dense
In sea-floor spreading, the ocean floor sinks into a deep-ocean trench and then back to the mantle
*Examine the Sea Floor Spreading diagram in your Lab Book and be able to identify features and explain processes that are taking place.
------Chapter 1 Section 5 (pages 32-36)------
1.) What is the theory of plate tectonics?
The Theory of Plate Tectonics explains the formation, movement, and the subduction of Earth’s plates. The Lithosphere is broken into pieces called plates, throughout history these plates have moved all around the globe.
2.) What is a fault?
Fault is the place where Earth’s crust has been under stress causing it to be broken or cracked.
3.) List the three types of plate boundaries.
a. Divergent Boundary b. Convergent Boundary c. Transform Boundary
4.) Describe their movements.
a. Plates are slowly moving away from each other in different directions.
Feature= Valley or Trench
b. Two plates are colliding with one another.
Feature= Mountain or Volcano
c. Plates are sliding past each other.
Feature= Nothing
5.) What determines the outcome in a Convergent Boundary and how does it happen?
Density- the plate that is denser will subduct under the less dense plate
6.) Describe what is happening to oceanic crust at subduction zones?
At subduction zones, old crust gets subducted (pushed) through an ocean trench because it is denser than the crust it is colliding with.
*Oceanic Crust (Basalt) is more dense than Continental Crust (Granite)
*Oceanic Curst will get subducted (pushed) deep into the mantle while building up the Continental crust.