Study Guide Chapter 14 PDF

Preview

Summary

Study guide from chapter for weekly quizzes and unit exams...

Description

Dakota Bartsch A01823843 Unit 4: Assignment 4

Exam 4 Study Guide: Part 4 Chapter 14: Impacts and Extinctions Instructions: Use the chapter 14 reading and lecture materials to answer the following questions. Some questions have multiple parts so carefully read the questions and provide detailed and specific responses. Generally, the difference between a good grade and a poor grade on an assignment is based on whether or not the questions were answered completely. The purpose of this assignment is to test your understanding of course materials covered from Chapter 14. Additionally, this assignment doubles as Part 4 of the Exam 4 study guide. 1. Describe how the solar system formed. Include ages. (1 pt) Beginning with the Big Bang, which created particles that would later form matter about 14 billion tears ago. Within the first billion years after, stars began to form. 5 billion years ago our sun was formed, followed by our Earth 4.6 billion years ago. 2. Describe the differences between an asteroid, meteor, comet, meteoroid, and meteorite. (1 pt) An asteroid is a group of particles that can range between 10m-1000km, found in the asteroid belt. Asteroids can break into smaller pieces, called meteoroids, which can range from dust particles to a few meters wide. When meteoroids enter the Earth’s atmosphere they are known as meteors. They can be mistaken for shooting stars. When they hit Earth’s surface, they are known as meteorites. Comets are particles with a trail of glowing gas and dust. They range in size . 3. Define airburst. List the two airburst that occurred in Russia. (1 pt) If a meteor explodes instead of colliding with Earth, it is known as an airburst. Russia experienced the Tunguska, an airburst that would have flattened Russian towns if it had occurred just hours later. Many witnessed it. 4. Why does the Earth have so few impact craters compared to the Moon? (1 pt) Most of the craters on Earth are formed in the ocean, where they are quickly filled and unidentifiable. The craters on land are also eroded or hidden with land and vegetation. Lastly, the atmosphere tends to burn up more of the smaller meteors, reducing the number of impacts. 5. Differentiate between simple and complex craters. (1 pt) Simple craters are small, only a few kilometers wide. Complex craters created a different shape. It grows to over 100km, the rim collapses, and the center lifts a little bit from the impact 6. Define catastrophism, uniformitarianism (gradualism), and punctuated uniformitarianism. (1 pt) Catastrophism explains that most of the defining events leading to the creation of earth were catastrophic in nature. Uniformitarianism recognizes that the study of current geological processes helps us determine

the past ones. Punctuated uniformitarianism clarifies that even if we study the present to assume the past, catastrophes can still occur periodically and cause mass extinctions. 7. Define mass extinction. What are the hypotheses for the cause of mass extinctions? (1 pt) Mass extinction is a sudden loss of large numbers of plants and animals relative to new species being added. Most hypotheses involve a climate change of some sort. Plate tectonics, volcanic eruptions, global warming, and volcanic ash in the atmosphere can cause climate cooling. 8. What caused the K-Pg mass extinction, and what is the main evidence to support the event? (1 pt) The K-Pg extinction was most likely caused by an asteroid, hitting near the Yucatan peninsula. The main evidence is the loss of large dinosaurs and evolution of smaller mammals. A buried impact crater was found beneath the peninsula. 9. How can we minimize the impact hazard? (1 pt) Most important is to recognize objects in the solar system that could pose a threat. Recognizing and measuring risk of NEO helps us to be educated and gives us time to prepare. If the NEO is detected to be large and on a collision path, there is almost nothing we can do to save us from the destruction. Smaller NEOs can be detected on their way and evacuation is possible. 10. Explain the various hazards linked to a large extraterrestrial impact. (1 pt) Hazards linked to a large extraterrestrial impact include tsunamis, wildfires, earthquakes, mass wasting, climate change, and volcanic eruptions. The impact in the ocean can send tsunamis. Airbursts can contribute to wildfires. Seismic waves can cause landslides and mass wasting....