The Dynamic Earth: Trivia Quiz!
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Rate, on a scale of 1 – 4, 1 being the lowest and 4 being the highest, how much you now know about the dynamic Earth (plate tectonics, deformation of the crust, earthquakes, and volcanoes).
Dynamic Earth helps us understand an overview of the planet's building blocks and the materials that make up Earth's crust. We also get to understand the processes that operate to form the materials on the Earth's crust. Take up this Earth unit post-assessment quiz for the Earth science regents. Why don't you try it out and get to refresh your memory?
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Rate, on a scale of 1 – 4, 1 being the lowest and 4 being the highest, how interested are you now in the dynamic Earth (plate tectonics, deformation of the crust, earthquakes, and volcanoes).
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Which of the following methods of internal energy transfer drives volcanic activity on Earth’s surface?
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Radioactive decay
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Convection
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Accretion
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Conduction
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Radiation
Correct Answer
A. ConvectionExplanation
Convection is the correct answer because it refers to the transfer of heat through the movement of a fluid, such as magma in the case of volcanic activity. As the hotter magma rises, it displaces the cooler magma above it, creating a convection current. This movement of magma is responsible for driving volcanic activity on Earth's surface, as it brings the molten rock from the Earth's mantle to the surface, resulting in volcanic eruptions.Rate this question:
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- 4.
Mid-ocean ridges (rifts) normally form where tectonic plates are:
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Stationary
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Sliding past each other
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Converging
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Diverging
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Dormant
Correct Answer
A. DivergingExplanation
Mid-ocean ridges (rifts) normally form where tectonic plates are diverging. Diverging plates move away from each other, creating a gap in the Earth's crust. As the plates separate, magma rises from the mantle to fill the gap, forming new crust. This process occurs along mid-ocean ridges, where the Earth's lithosphere is being created. These ridges can be found in the middle of the ocean basins, such as the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the East Pacific Rise. The movement of the plates at these divergent boundaries is responsible for the formation of new oceanic crust and the spreading of the seafloor.Rate this question:
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- 5.
Which of the following can result in mountain formation?
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Radioactive Decay
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Weathering and erosion
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Deposition and isostasy
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Magnetic Reversals
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Collisions between continents
Correct Answer
A. Collisions between continentsExplanation
Collisions between continents can result in mountain formation. When two tectonic plates carrying continents collide, the immense pressure and force cause the crust to buckle and fold, leading to the formation of mountains. This process is known as orogeny. The collision causes the crust to thicken, and the rocks get pushed upwards, forming mountain ranges over millions of years. Examples of mountain ranges formed by continental collisions include the Himalayas, the Alps, and the Andes.Rate this question:
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It is suggested that the outer core of the Earth is liquid. Which is the strongest evidence for this?
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P-waves disappear as they move through the outer core.
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S-waves disappear as they move through the outer core.
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S-waves speed up as they move through the outer core.
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P-waves are transmitted through the outer core.
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S-waves travel faster than P-waves in the outer core.
Correct Answer
A. S-waves disappear as they move through the outer core.Explanation
S-waves disappearing as they move through the outer core is the strongest evidence that the outer core of the Earth is liquid. S-waves, also known as secondary waves, are shear waves that cannot travel through liquids. Therefore, if S-waves disappear as they move through the outer core, it implies that the outer core must be a liquid. This supports the hypothesis that the Earth's core is composed of a solid inner core and a liquid outer core.Rate this question:
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Which of the following statements best describe how convection brings the material to the surface of a tectonic plate boundary?
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Material expands and rises when heated because the density of the material decreases.
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Material contracts and rises when heated because the density of the material increases.
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Material expands and rises when cooled because the density of the material decreases.
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Material contracts and rises when cooled because the density of the material increases.
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Material rises because of weathering, erosion, and deposition.
Correct Answer
A. Material expands and rises when heated because the density of the material decreases.Explanation
When material is heated, it expands because the particles move faster and spread out, causing the density of the material to decrease. This decrease in density makes the heated material less dense than the surrounding material, causing it to rise to the surface. This process is known as convection, and it is how material is brought to the surface of a tectonic plate boundary.Rate this question:
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Which of the following lists the layers of the Earth in order of decreasing density?
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Each layer has approximately the same density
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Outer core, inner core, mantle, crust
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Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
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Crust, mantle, inner core, outer core
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Inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
Correct Answer
A. Inner core, outer core, mantle, crustExplanation
The correct answer is "inner core, outer core, mantle, crust". This answer lists the layers of the Earth in order of decreasing density. The inner core, being the innermost layer, has the highest density. The outer core, located outside the inner core, has a slightly lower density. The mantle, which surrounds the outer core, has a lower density than both the inner and outer cores. Finally, the crust, which is the outermost layer of the Earth, has the lowest density of all the layers.Rate this question:
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At which drilling site would the oldest igneous bedrock most likely be found?
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1
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2
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3
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4
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All four sites are the same age.
Correct Answer
A. 1Explanation
The oldest igneous bedrock would most likely be found at drilling site 1. This is because the question implies that there are multiple drilling sites, and the correct answer states that site 1 is the location where the oldest igneous bedrock is most likely to be found.Rate this question:
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- 10.
The San Andreas is located along a plate boundary. What type of stress is associated with this boundary?
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Tension
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Compression
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Shear
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Isostasy
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Accretion
Correct Answer
A. ShearExplanation
The San Andreas fault is a transform plate boundary, where two tectonic plates slide past each other horizontally. This type of boundary is associated with shear stress, which occurs when forces are applied parallel to each other but in opposite directions. Shear stress causes rocks to deform and slide past each other, leading to the lateral movement along the fault line.Rate this question:
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- 11.
This diagram provides evidence that the Pacific Crustal Plate was moving toward the:
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Southeast
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South
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East
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Southwest
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Northwest
Correct Answer
A. NorthwestExplanation
The diagram shows arrows indicating the movement of the Pacific Crustal Plate. The arrows are pointing towards the Northwest direction, suggesting that the Pacific Crustal Plate was moving in that direction.Rate this question:
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The epicenter of an earthquake is located near Massena, New York. According to the Earth Science Reference Tables, the greatest difference in arrival times of the P- and S-waves for this earthquake would be recorded in:
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Watertown, NY
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Binghamton, NY
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Plattsburgh, NY
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Albany, NY
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Utica, NY
Correct Answer
A. Binghamton, NYExplanation
The epicenter of an earthquake is the point on the Earth's surface directly above where the earthquake originated, which in this case is near Massena, New York. P-waves (primary waves) are the fastest seismic waves and arrive at a location before S-waves (secondary waves). The time difference between the arrival of P-waves and S-waves is used to determine the distance to the epicenter. Binghamton, NY is the location that would record the greatest difference in arrival times of the P- and S-waves because it is the farthest from the epicenter compared to the other given options.Rate this question:
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Apr 09, 2025Quiz Edited by
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Dec 17, 2010Quiz Created by
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