Introduction to Geology: Terms, Definitions, and Theories, Quizzes of Geology

Download Introduction to Geology: Terms, Definitions, and Theories and more Quizzes Geology in PDF only on Docsity! TERM 1 the beginning DEFINITION 1 *earth is 4.6 billion years old*created out of a nebula which surrounded the proto-sun TERM 2 accreation DEFINITION 2 *planet with a crust, mantle and core*heavier material in the center, less dense material working its way up to surface TERM 3 the cold dark DEFINITION 3 *theory that universe continues to expand, stars burn out ,no new ones are made, everything goes cold and dark*what happens if there isn't enough mass TERM 4 the big crunch DEFINITION 4 *universe stops expanding, its mass exerts gravity on itself and begins to rush back on itself , becomes very bright , collapses on itself*too much mass TERM 5 see saw DEFINITION 5 *there is just enough mass*universe will slow in expansion but not start to draw in among-st itself TERM 6 Evolving concepts of geological time DEFINITION 6 1) Ussher- an irish archbishop used the bible to determine the age, indeed the exact time of creation of the Earth: Sunday, Oct. 23, 4004 bc2) Louis de Buffon- attempted to solve the problem by calculating how long it would take a molten iron sphere to cool3) attempt was made by calculating the salinity of the ocean waters, and measuring the amount of salt in the world's streams today TERM 7 uniformitarianism DEFINITION 7 *James Hutton - idea that the same processes which are occuring (sedimentation, weathering, erosion) today have always been occuring and that these processes are responsible for Earth. Earth is very old*Charles Lyell - wrote book which stated same thing as Hutton but much easier to read TERM 8 absolute dating DEFINITION 8 *the knowledge that certain radioactive elements break down into daughter elements at a certain fixed rate, or half lifemain ones are carbon, argon, uranium TERM 9 radiometric dating DEFINITION 9 *every radioactive element decays at a certain, constant rate independent of other physical influences into "daughter" elements and isotopes which are more stable until it reaches one that is completely stable. This decay is called a half life. For a certain amount of element will decay into a more stable daughter element TERM 10 carbon 14 problems DEFINITION 10 1) only good for specimines younger than 60,0002) object must still have carbon in it (must have been alive)3) easily contaminated