A place where a seafloor plate is sliding under a continental plate. What are the two geological features that appear to set Earth apart from all the other terrestrial worlds?
plate tectonics and widespread erosion
(Neither of these features appears to exist on any other terrestrial world in our solar system.)
Which two factors are most important to the existence of plate tectonics on Earth?
| Question Answer | Which two factors are most important to the existence of plate tectonics on Earth? mantle convection and a thin lithosphere |
|---|
In what ways is Earth different from the other terrestrial planets?
While Earth is only the fifth largest planet in the solar system, it is the only world in our solar system with
liquid water
on the surface. Just slightly larger than nearby Venus, Earth is the biggest of the four planets closest to the Sun, all of which are made of rock and metal.
Which two geological processes have been most important in shaping the surface of the moon as we see it today?
The primary geologic processes that shaped the moon are
the formation of craters, volcanic activity, and tectonic activity
. Each of these will be dealt with in their respective sections below. Craters cover the surface of the moon. They are the result of high velocity impacts on the surface by meteorites.
Which of the following is not generally true of all the terrestrial world Lithospheres Which of the following is not generally true of all the terrestrial world Lithospheres?
| Question Answer | Which of the following is not generally true of all the terrestrial world lithospheres? The lithosphere is broken into a set of large plates that float upon the softer rock below . |
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Is Earth the only planet with life?
According to the panspermia hypothesis, microscopic life—distributed by meteoroids, asteroids and other small Solar System bodies—may exist throughout the Universe. Nonetheless,
Earth is the only place in the Universe known to harbor life
.
What features of Earth enables life to exist?
What makes the Earth habitable? It
is the right distance from the Sun, it is protected from harmful solar radiation by its magnetic field
, it is kept warm by an insulating atmosphere, and it has the right chemical ingredients for life, including water and carbon.
What causes the tectonic plates to move?
The heat from radioactive processes within the planet’s interior causes the plates
to move, sometimes toward and sometimes away from each other. This movement is called plate motion, or tectonic shift.
What will happen if Earth has no tectonic plates?
What would Earth be like without plate tectonics? We’d have many
fewer earthquakes and much less volcanism
, fewer mountains, and probably no deep-sea trenches. Our weather would be more uniform due to the lack of significant topography and landscapes would be older due to a lack of tectonic renewal.
What are the movement of plates?
The movement of the plates creates three types of tectonic boundaries:
convergent
, where plates move into one another; divergent, where plates move apart; and transform, where plates move sideways in relation to each other. They move at a rate of one to two inches (three to five centimeters) per year.
Why is Venus called Earth’s twin sister?
Venus and Earth are often called twins
because they are similar in size, mass, density, composition and gravity
. … Venus is the hottest planet in the solar system. Although Venus is not the planet closest to the sun, its dense atmosphere traps heat in a runaway version of the greenhouse effect that warms Earth.
What is the largest feature on the Moon?
Maria
are the largest topographic features on the Moon and can be seen from Earth with the unaided eye.
What gases are present on the Moon?
The three primary gases in the lunar atmosphere are
neon, helium, and hydrogen
, in roughly equal amounts. Small amounts of methane, carbon dioxide, ammonia, and water were also detected. In addition, argon-40 was detected, and its abundance increased at times of high seismic activity.
What is the significance of the yellow lines on this map of Earth quizlet?
What is the significance of the yellow lines on this map of Earth? They
represent boundaries between the plates that make up Earth’s lithosphere
. This diagram represents the conveyor-like action of plate tectonics on Earth.
Which two factors are most important to the existence of plate tectonics on Earth quizlet?
Which two factors are most important to the existence of plate tectonics on Earth?
Mantle convection helps move the plates, and the plates probably exist because
the lithosphere was thin enough to break into these plates.
What are the basic requirements for a terrestrial world?
What are the basic requirements for a terrestrial world to have a global magnetic field?
A core layer of molten, convecting material and sufficiently rapid rotation.
