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36 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
Which of the following does not physically loosen rocks on the surface?
Water contracting as it freezes Crystals of salt and other minerals that exert an outward force on fractures Roots that pry apart fractures as the root grows in size Joints that form when rock pressures are released Rodents and other burrowing organisms |
Water CONTRACTING as it freezes
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What happens to the surface area of exposed rock if a rock is fractured?
There are more pieces, but the surface area does not change The surface area does not change because the volume does not change The surface area increases as the rock is fractured The surface area decreases as the rock is fracture |
Surface area increases as the rock is fractured
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What is the main reason why the oceans are salty?
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Weathering of rocks releases chemical elements that make the oceans salty
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Where does quartz in granite typically end up?
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It ends up as sand in rivers, dunes, and beaches
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Soil that is reddish, intensely leached, and rich in iron and aluminum minerals most likely forms in
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tropical climates
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What is the main process by which soils form?
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Weathering
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What is the main force involved in the stability of slopes?
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Gravity
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What is the angle of repose?
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The steepest angle at which loose material remains stable
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Which of the following is a way that slopes fail?
Large blocks fall from cliffs Rocks, soil, sediment, and ice slides down steep hillsides Pieces of loose rock accumulate on talus slopes until the angle becomes too steep Soil and other loose material can flow rapidly down slopes, forming debris slopes |
All
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Which of the following has the lowest potential for landslides?
Pacific northwest Southern Cali Bluffs along rivers in the central US Florida Appalacian Mountains |
Florida
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The size of clasts that a stream can carry is primarily controlled by:
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The velocity and turbulence of the current
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Which of the folowing sediement sizes is likely to be transported mostly on the bottom of the stream bed?
Fine sand Sticky clay particles Pebbles and cobbles Dissolved materials |
Pebbles and cobbles
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Which particles of sediment are most likely to be transported as suspended load?
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Small, low density particles
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Which of the following is true about the base level of a stream?
Base level indicates the normal (or base) flow level before flooding The flat top of a mountain is the ultimate base level for most streams A mountain is close to its base level if bedrock is close to the surfcae Most streams have lower gradient close to their base level Base level generally is near the steepest part of a streams profile |
Most streams have lower gradient close to their base level
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Which of the following is most common cause of river and stream flooding?
The onset of cold weather Failure of levees Intense precipitation Overgazing Global Warming |
Intense precipitation
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What was the cause of flooding in the 1993 upper Mississippi River flood?
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Persistent thunderstorms caused large amounts of rainfall over a several state region
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Which two uses consume most freshwater in the US?
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Thermoelectric power and irrigation
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What is the main way groundwater accumulates?
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Precipitation and surface water infiltrate through upper layers of soil
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Which of the following materials probably has the lowest porosity?
Well sorted, fine-grained sediment Well sorted, coarse-grained sediment Unfractured granite Sand with well-rounded grains |
Unfractured granite
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Which of the following materials has high porosity and high permeability?
Unfractured granite Well-sorted gravel Compacted clay Uncompacted clay Poorly sorted sand, silt, and clay |
Well-sorted gravel
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In a material that holds groundwater, porosity:
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Controls the amount of water that can be stored
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What is a main way surface waters become groundwater?
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Water flows through the unsaturated zone and into the saturated zone
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What is a possible way to increase permeability?
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Fracture the rock
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Groundwater velocity (the rate of movement of ground water) is most strongly influenced by which of the following?
Local climate and humidity Depth to the water table Presence of wells The slope (gradient) of the water table |
The slope gradient of the water table
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Which of the following is true about the water table?
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The water table has a similar shape to topography but is more subdued
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The permeability of a material refers to:
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the ability of water to flow through a material
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Which of the following combinations make for the best groundwater reservoir?
Low permeability and low porosity Low permeability and high porosity High permeability and low porosity High permeability and high porosity |
High permeability and high porosity
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What mineral resource do we use the most of by weight?
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Sand, gravel, and stone
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What happens during the maturation of coal?
Impurities are driven off Coal is buried and squeezed to a smaller volume Energy content of the coal increases Methane is driven off |
All
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What is the starting material for coal?
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Plants
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Which of the following mostly occurs within ocean-floor sediments?
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Gas hydrate
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How is nuclear energy produced to generate electricity?
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Uranium decays into two small particles, releaseing heat in the process
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How is electricity generated form hydroelectric dams or ocean tides?
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Water piles up behind a dam or tidal barrier and flows down because of gravity
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Which of the following is an advantage of wind power?
It can be used nearly everywhere because all areas are windy enough Wind power is renewable and can be used in remote locations Variable winds allow variable amounts of power generation Wind turbines are attractive in scenic places, like off Cape Cod It already provides a large percentage of the worlds power requirements |
Wind power is renewable and can be used in remote locations
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For a rock to be considered an ore it must:
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Contain enough of a commodity to be mined at a profit
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The main material used to produce cement and concrete is:
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Limestone
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