Online Quiz


1	The shifting of large blocks of the Earth’s surface is usually referred to today as what?
		A)	The Dynamo Effect.
		B)	Continental Drift.
		C)	The Corilolis Effect.
		D)	Plate Tectonics.


2	What are the most common elements composing the Earth?
		A)	Hydrogen and helium.
		B)	Carbon and nitrogen.
		C)	Oxygen and silicon.
		D)	Uranium and plutonium.


3	About how hot is the core of the Earth?
		A)	15 million K.
		B)	15,000 K.
		C)	6500 K.
		D)	300 K.


4	The interior of the Earth is very hot because of _______.
		A)	fusion reactions
		B)	the radioactive decay of elements
		C)	oxidation
		D)	internal combustion


5	Why isn’t the Earth a perfect sphere?
		A)	Rotation causes the equator to bulge out.
		B)	Rotation causes the poles to bulge out.
		C)	The Earth's magnetic field causes the equator to bulge out.
		D)	The Earth is perfectly round.


6	What does the Greenhouse Effect cause?
		A)	It shields us from the Sun’s ultraviolet rays.
		B)	It causes the Earth’s surface and atmosphere to be warmer than they would be otherwise.
		C)	It is the main source of the Earth’s oxygen.
		D)	All of the above


7	What are the main constituents of the Earth's atmosphere?
		A)	Carbon dioxide and water vapor.
		B)	Hydrogen and helium.
		C)	Methane and ozone.
		D)	Nitrogen and oxygen.


8	The ozone layer protects us from
		A)	infrared radiation.
		B)	ultraviolet radiation.
		C)	gamma rays.
		D)	cosmic rays.


9	On what plate of the crust is North America located? Which way is it moving?
		A)	Pacific; East.
		B)	Pacific; West.
		C)	North American; East.
		D)	North American; West.


10	What is happening when two plates are smashing into one another?
		A)	Subduction causes mountains to be built up; earthquakes and volcanoes may also occur.
		B)	Rifting causes mountains to be built up; earthquakes and volcanoes may also occur.
		C)	Precession causes mountains to be built up; earthquakes and volcanoes may also occur.
		D)	Nothing.


11	How do we know the Earth has a liquid core?
		A)	Both S and P waves pass through it.
		B)	S waves pass through it, but P waves do not.
		C)	P waves pass through it, but S waves do not.
		D)	Because we have used X-rays to probe it.


12	Why is the inner core solid even though it is hotter than the outer liquid core?
		A)	This is not unusual: hotter things tend to be more solid.
		B)	The great pressure at Earth's center forces the atoms in the core together, causing it to solidify.
		C)	Radioactivity cause liquid materials to become solid.
		D)	The dynamo effect causes ions in the Earth's interior to become solid.


13	Currents in the Earth's molten iron core create the planet’s magnetic field. These current are probably caused by
		A)	rotational motion and radioactivity.
		B)	rotational motion and convection.
		C)	radioactivity and convection.
		D)	rifting and subduction.


14	How are the auroras related to the Earth's magnetic field?
		A)	The Earth's magnetic field causes volcanoes.
		B)	The Earth glows with magnetic energy.
		C)	Solar particles spiral in the Earth's magnetic field.
		D)	It's not related at all.


15	How is the age of the Earth measured?
		A)	By counting tree rings.
		B)	By analyzing the strength of the Earth’s magnetic field.
		C)	By studying the ratios of radioactive materials in rocks.
		D)	By measuring the amount of heat the planet emits into space.

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