Earth Science Study Guide 2013
Name:_______________________________________________________________ period________
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1. What are convection currents? In what layer of the earth do we observe convection currents?
2. What is radiometric/radioactive dating? How does it use the concept of half- life?
3. What are 3 characteristics that make a good index fossil?
4. Explain how a geyser is formed.
5. How does oceanic crust differ from continental? Why does oceanic crust subduct under continental?
6. What is the theory of continental drift?
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7. What evidence do we have to support the theory of Continental Drift?
8. What is the Pacific Ring of Fire?
Explain the following laws:
9. Law of Superposition-
10. Principle of Inclusion-
11. Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships-
Matching: layers of the earth
A. Crust
B. Mantle
C. Inner Core
D. Outer Core
E. Lithosphere
12. Solid and rigid on the outer edge, but gets softer and plastic-like on the inside_____
13. Made entirely of liquid metal_____
14. Thin layer of crust and upper mantle that makes up the tectonic plates_____
15. Hottest layer of the earth_____
16. Convection currents here may contribute to the movement of the tectonic plates_____
17. This layer is the least dense and therefore floats on the others._____
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Youngest
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
______
Oldest
Rock bodies in this cross-section are labeled A through H. One of these rock bodies is an intrusion. Intrusions
occur when molten rock called magma penetrates into layers from below. The magma is always younger than
the layers that it penetrates. Likewise, a fault is always younger than the layers that have faulted. A fault is a
crack or break that occurs across rock layers, and the term faulting is used to describe the occurrence of a
fault. The broken layers may move so that one side of the fault is higher than the other. Faulted layers may
also tilt.
18. List the rock bodies illustrated above in order based on when they formed. (in the box above)
19. Relative to the other rock bodies, when did the fault occur? How do you know?
20. Compared with the formation of the rock bodies, when did the stream form? Justify your answer.
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21. Label the following as Reverse, Normal or Strike Slip faults and then write if it occurs at a Transform,
Convergent or Divergent plate boundary.
A- __________________________
_________________________
B- _________________________
A
B
__________________________
C- _________________________
_________________________
C
22. Draw what happens during seafloor spreading. Label where the rocks are the youngest and oldest.
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