Question 1

Tectonic forces are an example of

Accepted Answer

Tectonic forces are related to the movement and deformation of the Earth's crust and are caused by internal processes like mantle convection, which makes it an example of endogenic processes.

Question 2

Which of the following is correct in regards to the geologic time scale?

Accepted Answer

The largest defined unit in the geologic time scale is an eon, and in some classifications, a supereon is used to group multiple eons.

Question 3

When geologists conclude that the Grand Canyon sequence of rocks was formed through hundreds of millions of years of deposition, mountain building, and erosion, they are basing this conclusion on the principle of ________ which states that ________.

Accepted Answer

Geologists use the principle of uniformitarianism, which states that the geologic processes that operated in the past are the same as those that operate today, and they occurred in accordance with the same laws of nature that are operating today. This principle allows geologists to infer the age and history of a rock sequence by studying the processes that formed it and how those processes continue to shape the Earth's surface today.

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of the principle of uniformitarianism?

Accepted Answer

The principle of uniformitarianism suggests that the same geologic processes that operate today have also operated in the past, and therefore the present is the key to the past. Choice B reflects this principle by stating that the processes by which streams carve valleys now are the same as those that did so millions of years ago, implying that the same natural laws have operated over time.

Question 5

The Precambrian Eon encompasses what percentage of Earth's total history?

Accepted Answer

The Precambrian Eon encompasses approximately 88.3% of Earth's total history.

Question 6

Boundaries between intervals of the geological time scale are determined by

Accepted Answer

Boundaries between intervals of the geological time scale are determined by major events in the Earth's history, such as major extinctions. These events are used as reference points to divide the history of the Earth into different intervals, such as the Permian-Triassic boundary or the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary. This method is based on significant changes in the composition and diversity of life, as well as changes in the Earth's climate and geology, that mark important transitions in the history of our planet.

Question 7

Which of the following is correct regarding the geologic time scale?

Accepted Answer

The bulk of Earth's history has occurred during the Precambrian eon, which lasted from about 4.6 billion years ago to 541 million years ago. The Paleozoic, Mesozoic, and Cenozoic eras make up only about 13 percent of Earth's history.

Answer: D 
 We do not live in the Tertiary period. The Tertiary period, which lasted from 65 million to 2.6 million years ago, is now recognized as part of the larger Cenozoic era. We currently live in the Quaternary period of the Cenozoic era.

Therefore, the correct answer is C.

Question 8

Which of the following is not an example of an age-relationship based on absolute dating?

Accepted Answer

Option D is an example of a relative age relationship, not absolute dating. Relative dating involves determining the chronological order of events based on their position in the geological record, while absolute dating gives a numerical age to a rock or fossil. Option D describes the relative order of two rock formations, and not their numerical ages. Options A, B, and C are all examples of absolute dating.

Question 9

The scientific study of rock strata (layers) is known as ________ and based on the principle of ________.

Accepted Answer

The scientific study of rock strata is known as stratigraphy, and it is based on the principle of superposition, which states that the oldest layer is at the bottom, and the youngest layer is at the top. Geomorphology is the study of landforms, and uniformitarianism is the principle that the same geological processes that occur today have been occurring throughout history. Paleontology is the study of fossils, and catastrophism is the idea that major geological events have occurred suddenly and dramatically. Paleogeography is the study of the physical features of ancient Earth, and plate tectonics is the theory that the Earth's crust is made up of plates that move and interact with each other.

Question 10

The principle that the same physical processes currently active in the environment were operating throughout Earth's history is known as

Accepted Answer

Uniformitarianism is the principle that the same physical processes that are observed in the present have been operating throughout Earth's history. It suggests that geological and evolutionary processes occur at a gradual and uniform rate, rather than sudden and catastrophic events (as proposed by catastrophism). Parallelism is not a widely recognized principle in geology, and statis (or steady-state) is not related to the concept of maintaining the same physical processes throughout Earth's history.

Question 11

Which of the following is an endogenic process?

Accepted Answer

Endogenic processes originate from forces within the Earth, such as tectonic activity and volcanic eruptions. Therefore, the best choice for an endogenic process is C) volcanism. Weathering and glacial erosion are examples of exogenic processes, which originate from external forces such as wind and water. Stream deposition is also an exogenic process, as it involves the movement and deposition of sediment by flowing water.

Question 12

In terms of dating of specific rocks, structures, or landscapes, numerical age refers to

Accepted Answer

Numerical age refers to the precise age of a geological feature based on isotopic dating techniques. This method involves calculating the age of a sample by measuring the decay of certain isotopes and their half-lives. This provides a numeric value for the age of the sample, allowing for precise dating of specific rocks, structures, or landscapes.

Question 13

The subfield of geography and geology concerned with the study of the origins, evolutions, form, and spatial distribution of the Earth's landforms is

Accepted Answer

Geomorphology is the subfield of geography and geology that deals with the study of landforms, their origins, evolution, form, and spatial distribution. Geophysics is concerned with the physical properties and processes of the Earth, while lithology is the study of rocks and their properties. Pedology is the study of soils.

Question 14

Which of the following is incorrectly matched?

Accepted Answer

Radioactive decay heat is an endogenic energy source, not exogenic.

Question 15

Earth's magnetic poles

Accepted Answer

Earth's magnetic poles are not fixed and do migrate approximately 55 to 60 km (34 to 37 mi) per year. This movement is known as magnetic drift. While Earth's magnetic poles are misaligned from Earth's axis, the angle is not 23.5 degrees.

Question 16

Which of the following is an example of an age-relationship based on relative dating?

Accepted Answer

Relative dating determines the age of an artifact, fossil or rock based on the age relationship to other objects. In this case, the age of Australopithecines is determined based on the fact that they evolved before Homo erectus, which makes choice C the correct answer. Choices A and B are absolute dating techniques and choice D is a specific date obtained through radiocarbon dating, which is also an absolute dating technique.

Question 17

Uniformitarianism assumes that

Accepted Answer

Uniformitarianism is the idea that the same physical processes we observe today have always been operating throughout Earth's history. This idea assumes that Earth is old and that slow, gradual processes are responsible for shaping the planet's surface features. It is the opposite of the idea that catastrophic events are responsible for the majority of Earth's features (choice B and D).

Question 18

Which of the following plays a role in the shaping of Earth's surface?

Accepted Answer

All of the listed factors play a role in shaping Earth's surface. Gravity causes erosion and weathering, wind, water, and ice physically reshape the land through erosion, deposition, and weathering, and radioactive decay contributes to the heat and pressure that drives tectonic activity and volcanic eruptions.

Question 19

In terms of dating of specific rocks, structures, or landscapes, relative age refers to

Accepted Answer

Relative age refers to the age of one feature with respect to another within a sequence of events and deduced from the positions of rock strata above and below one another. It is based on the principle of superposition, which states that in an undisturbed sequence of layers, the youngest layer is on top and the oldest layer is on bottom. It does not provide an exact age, but rather a relative age.

Question 20

Which of the following is an exogenic process?

Accepted Answer

Exogenic processes are the external processes that occur on or near the Earth's surface. Weathering is a prime example of an exogenic process as it involves the breakdown and decay of rocks and minerals due to atmospheric, biological, and chemical factors. Earthquakes and volcanism are endogenic processes that occur within the Earth's interior, while flows of heat and materials in the mantle are also endogenic as they involve the movement of material within the Earth's interior.

Quiz 12: The Dynamic Planet