Physical Geology (1403)
Stafford Campus
Study Guide Test #3
Short Answer Questions
The short answer questions appearing on the test are taken directly from the group of questions on the
study guide. Each test contains about four short answer questions. I award partial credit for incomplete
responses.
Chapter 13 – Earthquakes
 Distinguish between the Richter and Mercalli scales.
 Describe the three types of seismic waves.
 What is the difference between an earthquake’s epicenter and focus?
 Explain what is meant by elastic rebound.
Chapter 14 – Exploring Earth’s Interior
 What evidence indicates that the earth’s outer core is molten (liquid)?
 What evidence indicates that the earth’s inner and outer core is mostly composed of iron?
 What is the low velocity zone and why does it occur?
 Define the term paleomagnetism and how does this happen?
Chapter 16 – Weathering, Erosion, and Mass Wasting
 How does mechanical weathering add to the effectiveness of chemical weathering?
 Heat speeds up a chemical reaction. Why then does chemical weathering proceed slowly in a desert?
 Name two ways water weakens unconsolidated material.
 What is the controlling force of mass wasting? What other factors can trigger mass wasting?
Chapter 17 – Hydrologic Cycle and Groundwater
 What is meant by the term artesian? What conditions must be present in order for an artesian well to
exist?
 How do porosity and permeability differ?
 What is karst topography? What are the three conditions typically needed for karst formation?
 What controls the velocity of groundwater flow?
Chapter 18 – Stream Transport
 Differentiate between competence and capacity.
 Describe a situation that might cause a stream channel to become braided.
 What is a graded stream and what conditions might upset the graded condition?
 How does a superposed stream differ from an antecedent stream?
Scantron Questions
The scantron portion of the test consists of the usual multiple choice, true and false, and word choice
questions. A sizeable number of the lecture test’s scantron questions are taken from the “practice” tests
distributed by the instructor for each chapter.
Selected Figures/Diagrams
Pay particular attention to the figures listed below. Be able to identify the various features and details
when you are presented with a similar figure or diagram on the test.
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Physical Geology (1403)
Stafford Campus
Chapter 13: 13.5 (epicenter vs. focus, panel 1), 13.8a. and b. (wave motion),
Chapter 14: Fig. 14.7 (zones of the Earth/upper fig.), 14.8 (lithosphere vs. asthenosphere)
Chapter 16: Fig. 16.3, 16.11 (soil profile, see p. 432), 16.19, 16.24, 16.26a
Chapter 17: Fig. 17.2, 17.10, 17.14
Chapter 18: Fig. 18.1, 18.3(panel 6), 18.8
Comprehensive
Rock cycle (see your notes), Fig. 2.8 (Plate boundaries), 7.8a, b and d
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