FAQ about the mid-term When: Thursday, February 19, 2015 during normal class period Where: If your last name starts with A to L : Leacock-219 (this room) If your last name starts with M to Z: Otto Maass, Room 10 Short questions; short answers. No multiple choice questions. Book chapters covered: Chapters 1 to 5

UNDERSTANDING PLANET EARTH EPSC-201 MID-TERM TEST QUESTIONS DATE:   NAME: STUDENT #:   INSTRUCTIONS: Answer ten (10) of the fifteen (15) questions in the spaces provided. If you chose to answer more than 10 questions, only the first 10 answers will be marked. Provide sketches where appropriate. All questions are weighted equally. No documentation permitted. Basic calculator only.

Question 1: What two pieces of evidence are typically presented in support of the Big Bang theory?

Question 2: What is an ion? What is a positive ion called? Why are positive ions typically smaller than negative ions having a similar number of electrons in their electronic cloud?

Question 3: Briefly outline a theory for the birth and death of stars. Where do gravity, red giants and supernovae fit into this theory?

Question 4: What are the four possible states of matter?

Question 5: What is the highest mountain on the surface of the Earth (the one that stands highest above sea level)? Where and at what depth is the deepest oceanic floor?

Question 6: What three lines of evidence support Wegener’s hypothesis of continental drift?

Question 7: Explain what is meant by the term “polar wandering”.

Question 8: How is it possible to determine rates of seafloor spreading? Name three methods.

Question 9: The Hawaiian Islands represent a chain of volcanic islands. Why did they form?

Question 10: a) Is the refined “white” sugar you use to sweeten your morning coffee a mineral? b) Explain your answer with respect to the mineralogical criteria.

Question 11: Few metals are found in their “native” state in nature (metal atoms with no charge, i.e., #é = #protons). Name three “native” metals found in natural deposits.

Question 12: Describe the molecular structure of pyroxene (a silicate mineral).

Question 13: What are pyroclastic flows? Give two reasons why they are so devastating?

Question 14: Explain why melting of mantle occurs at subduction zones.

Question 15: When a rock undergoes mechanical weathering it is broken into smaller and smaller pieces, each retaining the characteristics (i.e., mineralogy, composition) of the original or parent material. How does this affect chemical weathering rates?