Assignment 4
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
Rowan University *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
11120
Subject
Geology
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
3
Uploaded by DeanLightningFlamingo37
Assignment 4
1.
Explain briefly how the following phenomena happen on Earth, relating your answers to the theory of
plate tectonics
a.
Earthquakes- Earthquakes occur when the Earth's tectonic plates move against each other along
fault lines, the Earth's crust is divided into several large and small pieces known as tectonic
plates. These plates are constantly moving, albeit very slowly. When they move past each other,
they can sometimes get stuck due to friction. When the stress on the edge overcomes the friction,
there is an earthquake that releases energy in waves that travel through the earth's crust and
cause the shaking that we feel.
b.
mountain building – This occurs when two tectonic plates collide. In a process called subduction
one plate is forced beneath another and as it sinks into the mantle. It causes the overlying crust to
deform and thicken, leading to the formation of mountains.
c.
volcanic eruptions- These are primarily associated with the boundaries of tectonic plates. At
divergent boundaries is where plates are moving apart and magma rises to fill the gap. This is
creating new crust as it cools and solidifies. This can result in volcanic activity. At convergent
boundaries, where one plate is forced under another, the subducted plate melts and forms
magma, which can rise to the surface and cause a volcanic eruption.
a.
earthquakes
b.
mountain building
c.
volcanic eruptions
2.
Define the layers of the Earth and sketch a diagram illustrating each layer.
Inner core:
The innermost layer of the Earth, the inner core is primarily composed of iron and nickel. It is
extremely hot, with temperatures reaching up to 5700°C, and is under immense pressure. Despite the
high temperatures, the inner core is solid due to the immense pressure it is under. Outer Core:
Surrounding the inner core is the outer core which is also primarily composed of iron and nickel. Unlike
the inner core, the outer core is in a liquid state. The movement of the liquid iron within the outer core
generates the Earth's magnetic field. Mantle: The mantle is the largest layer of the Earth, making up
about 84% of the Earth's volume. It is composed of silicate rocks rich in iron and magnesium. The
mantle is semi-fluid with the uppermost part being rigid and the rest being able to flow very slowly.
Crust: The crust is the outermost layer of the Earth. It is the layer we live on and is composed of a
variety of rocks. The crust is divided into two types: the oceanic crust and the continental crust. The
crust and the uppermost part of the mantle form the lithosphere, which is broken into tectonic plates.
3.
How do asteroids differ from comets?
Asteroids are rocky bodies and are denser than the comets, which are made of icy material.
4.
Describe the differences in the chemical makeup of the inner and outer parts of the solar system. What is
the relationship between what the planets are made of and the temperature where they formed?
The differences
in the chemical makeup of the inner and outer part of the solar system is that those in
inner part of the solar system which we called the terrestrial planets are mostly small in diameter and
made of rock and hard elements such as metal they also are the planets near the sun which is mercury,
venus, earth and mars and on the other hand the outer part of the solar system which we also called as
the gas planets are those planets that has a bigger diameter and mostly made of gas and ice they are also
huge in diameter this planets are jupiter, saturn, uranus, and neptune. And with their property and
distance from the sun the terrestrial planets are more hotter and mostly have and active volcanoes in
their surface while gas planets given that they are far from the sun and their properties they are colder in
temperature and mostly made of ice and rock.
5.
What are two ways of determining an age of planet’s surface. Describe them.
The two ways of determining the age of a planet's surface are relative dating and absolute dating.
Relative dating involves looking at the relationships between different rocks and features on a planet's
surface. For example, if a layer of rock is found beneath another layer, it can be inferred that the lower
layer is older. This method also involves studying the features on the surface, such as craters. The more
craters a surface has, the older it is likely to be, as it has been exposed to space for a longer period of
time. Absolute dating, on the other hand, involves using scientific methods to determine the exact age of
rocks. This is often done using radiometric dating techniques, which measure the abundance of certain
isotopes in a rock sample. These isotopes decay at a known rate, so by measuring how much of the
isotope is left, scientists can calculate how long it has been since the rock formed. This method is often
used to date rocks from the Moon and meteorites, which can give us an idea of the age of other planets'
surfaces.
6.
Draw a diagram of our Solar System? (Roughly consider their size)
I can’t draw a diagram on my laptop so I picked one closest to my
reference.
7.
What is global warming? What is the main gas that is responsible for the greenhouse effect?
Global warming is the long-term increase in Earth's average temperature. The main gas responsible for
the greenhouse effect is carbon dioxide. Global warming refers to the long-term warming of the planet,
observed since the early 20th century. It is primarily a result of human activities, particularly the burning
of fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas, which releases certain types of gases into the atmosphere. Over
time, these gases, known as greenhouse gases, accumulate and form a kind of 'blanket' around the Earth,
trapping heat and leading to an increase in the planet's average temperature.
8.
A list of NASA solar system spacecraft missions can be found at
http://www.nasa.gov/content/solar
missions
-
list
.
Pick a mission. Look up when the mission was launched
and executed, and describe the mission goals, the basic characteristics of the spacecraft (type of
instruments, propellant, size, and so on), and what was learned from the mission.
The Mars Exploration Rover mission, which included the rovers Spirit and Opportunity, was launched
in 2003. The mission's primary scientific goal was to search for and characterize a wide range of rocks
and soils that hold clues to past water activity on Mars. The rovers were equipped with a variety of
instruments, including cameras, spectrometers, and a drill for collecting rock and soil samples. The
rovers used a combination of solar panels for power and a radioisotope heater unit for heat. Each rover
was about the size of a small golf cart. The mission provided substantial evidence of past water activity
on Mars and made several groundbreaking discoveries, including the identification of an ancient
habitable environment that could have supported microbial life.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help