Geology Study Guide
1. What do geologists study?
2. Compare constructive and destructive forces. Give an example of each.
3. Are scientists able to study the layers of the Earth directly? If no, explain how they determine
the make up of the layers.
4. What happens to the temperature and pressure as you travel deeper into the Earth’s layers?
5. Which type of crust is more dense, continental or oceanic?
6. The rigid layer that includes the crust and the upper most part of the mantle is referred to as
the…
7. The hotter, upper mantle that is below the lithosphere and flows like silly-putty is referred to as
the…
8. Heat from the core creates _______________________ currents in the mantle.
9. Who was the scientist who developed the theory of continental drift?
10. What were the three pieces of evidence he used to support his theory?
11. Why was his theory rejected?
12. What device was used to map the ocean floor?
13. The theory that states that new land is continually being added to the ocean basin is known as…
14. A deep ocean trench is created when…
15. If new land is being created, why is the Earth not getting bigger?
16. Discovery of the Mid-Atlantic ridge, magnetic variations on the ocean floor, and the
development of new ocean crust were all pieces of evidence that helped support the theory of…
17. The Earth’s “shell” is broken up into (asthenospheric, lithospheric, or biospheric) plates.
18. Name the three main types of boundaries.
19. At which boundary is crust neither created nor destroyed?
20. The circle of intense volcanic and earthquake activity around the Pacific is known as…
21. Volcanoes are mostly found on convergent boundaries.
22. The Andes Mountains are volcanic. They must lie along a ____________________ boundary.
23. The sudden release of energy within the Earth’s crust causes an…
24. Faults, earthquakes, and volcanoes usually occur along…
25. Are volcanoes constructive or destructive forces? Or both?
26. At which boundary are volcanoes NOT likely to occur?
27. Series of volcanic islands (such as the Hawaiian Islands) are the result of …
28. Volcanic eruptions can release magma, dissolved gasses, and ash/soot.
29. What is viscosity?
30. A volcano that is sleeping is…
31. In order to be considered “volcanic activity” there must be an eruption of lava, water, and gas.
32. What’s the difference between a geyser and a hot spring?
33. Convection currents cause plates to move apart or towards each other?
34. Glacial deposits in Massachusetts show evidence of change over time.
35. Describe the age of the seafloor at mid-ocean ridges compared to against the continents.
36. Fossils are least likely to occur in igneous intrusions or sedimentary rocks?
37. What does the principle of crosscutting relations state?
38. Faults are __________________ than the rocks they cut through.
39. If identical index fossils are found in two different rock layers, what can you conclude about
those rock layers?
40. The figure shows rock layers from 2 continents that were once apart of a super continent. When
did the continents break apart?
41. What is an unconformity? Between what 2 layers is there an unconformity?
42. Define uniformitarianism.
Open Response Topics
1. Convection Currents: What is happening and how they are the cause for movement of
lithospheric plates. Diagrams would be helpful. How the earth continues to make new crust but
the size of the earth does not increase.
2. Relative Age Dating: Ordering rock layers (relative age), evidence to back up ordering (geologic
principles, fossils, etc.). How environments have changed over time using fossil evidence (ex.
Marine environment turning to land or vise versa and what might have caused this (volcano
creating new land).