Study Guide for Intro. to Geology (Heinzel)
Exam Two – Friday, March 29, 2013
This document does not state everything that may appear on the exam, it is merely a
starting point. If you want to do well on this exam study, learn not memorize the
material, and ask a lot questions.
When studying for the exam use
1. Your lecture notes AND our class discussions
2. The pictures, graphs, drawings, etc. from our lectures
www.exploreiowageology.org Tabs: Teaching, Intro. to Geology
3. The chapter readings
Chapters for Exam 2 include:
Plate Tectonics Chapter 3 – Drifting continents and spreading seas
Chapter 4 – The way the Earth works Plate Tectonics
Chapter 9 – Volcanic eruptions
Chapter 10 – Earthquakes
Chapter 16 - Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements
If you understand and can apply the BIG IDEAs of our lectures and the text’s TAKE
HOME messages you should do well on this exam!
Examples of Lecture Highlights:
Chapters
3 Drifting Continents and Spreading Seas
- What was Alfred Wegner’s evidence for Continental Drift?
- What evidence from the sea-floor defines the dynamic nature of plate tectonics
- How do we know that the Earth’s magnetic reverses through time… How does this help
prove or disprove the sea-floor spreading hypothesis…
4 The way the Earth works Plate Tectonics
- Define the geography of plate tectonics (Figures 4.1, 4.2)
- What plate is Hawaii on? What plate is Antarctica on? What plate is Europe on?
- What type of activities occur along plate boundaries
- What are the different pathways/motions between the plates and what are the associated
energies responsible for these movements
- What is the difference between a hot spot and plate boundary triple junction
- What is the general range of movement per year for most plates, how is this known?
- How is crust generally created, changed, or destroyed
9 Volcanic eruptions
- Why do volcanoes exist?
- Are all eruptions the same? No why are some explosive and others not?
- Compare and Contrast Basaltic, Andesitic, or Rhyolitic lava flows
- What type of material exits a volcano
- How can vesicules be used to map lava flows
- Volcanic explosions to remember Box 9.1
- How are the volcanoes of Iceland unique
- What types of hazards are associated with volcanic eruptions
- The effect of volcanoes on climate and civilization (p. 296+)
10 Earthquakes
- Why do earthquakes happen? Why does the energy come from to create change within the
Earth’s crust?
- What is the difference between a fault and fracture
- Be able to recognize the three different types of fault movement
- How does earthquake energy travel?
- How are Earthquakes measured?
- What is the relationship between Earthquakes and Tsunamis?
- Are there faults in Iowa?
- Be able to compare and contrast plate boundary vs. intra-plate earthquakes
First part of Ch. 16 – Unsafe Ground: Landslides and other mass movements
- What is primary driving force behind mass wasting, what are the common contributing factors?
- Be able to compare and contrast the different types of mass wasting.
- Why is understanding and studying mass wasting important?
- What can society do to lessen the negative effects of mass wasting?