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Chapter 8: Problem 1

_______,_______, and _________, build up structures on the terrestrial planets, while _______ tears them down. a. impacts, erosion, volcanism; tectonism b. impacts, tectonism, volcanism; erosion c. tectonism, volcanism, erosion; impacts d. tectonism, impacts, erosion; volcanism

Short Answer

Expert verified
b. impacts, tectonism, volcanism; erosion

Step by step solution

01

Understand the Types of Processes

Identify the processes that build up structures on terrestrial planets. These include impacts (collisions of asteroids and comets), tectonism (movement of planetary crust), and volcanism (formation of volcanoes and volcanic activity).
02

Identify the Destructive Process

Determine which process is responsible for tearing down structures. Erosion is the process that wears away and removes rock and soil, typically due to wind, water, and ice.
03

Match the Processes to the Given Options

Compare the identified constructive processes and the destructive process to the options provided. Verify which option lists impacts, tectonism, and volcanism as building processes and erosion as the tearing down process.
04

Select the Correct Option

Option b correctly matches the constructive processes (impacts, tectonism, volcanism) and the destructive process (erosion).

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Key Concepts

These are the key concepts you need to understand to accurately answer the question.

impacts
Impacts, or collisions with asteroids and comets, play a significant role in shaping planetary surfaces. When a large object strikes a planet, it can create craters, which are bowl-shaped depressions. The energy released during these collisions can be immense, causing rock to melt and creating new structures. Notably, impacts can also bring materials from other parts of the solar system to a planet.
Here are some key points about impacts:
  • Impact craters can range from small pits to large basins.
  • Impact events can alter a planet's geology and atmosphere.
  • These collisions can introduce new minerals and compounds to the planet's surface.
Understanding impacts helps us recognize the history of planetary surfaces and their continual evolution.
tectonism
Tectonism refers to the movement and deformation of a planet’s crust. This process is driven by internal forces, such as the convection of molten rock in the mantle. Tectonic activity can result in the formation of mountains, valleys, and various other surface features. Unlike impacts, tectonism is mainly an internal process.
Here are some examples of tectonism effects:
  • Formation of mountain ranges due to crustal collision or folding.
  • Creation of valleys and rift systems where the crust splits apart.
  • Occurrence of earthquakes due to the movement of tectonic plates.
By studying tectonism, we can gain insights into a planet’s internal structure and its geological history.
volcanism
Volcanism involves the eruption of molten rock, or magma, from a planet’s interior onto its surface. Volcanoes build up structures by depositing lava and ash. This process not only forms mountains but also creates new landforms. Volcanism is a critical aspect of planetary geology, as it reveals much about a planet's internal heat and composition.
Key points to know about volcanism include:
  • Different types of volcanoes, such as shield volcanoes and stratovolcanoes, create varying landscape features.
  • Lava flows can cover large areas, altering the planet's surface.
  • Volcanoes can release gases that contribute to a planet's atmosphere.
Volcanism can dramatically change a planet’s topography and influence its climate over time.
erosion
Erosion is the process that wears down and removes rock and soil from a planet’s surface. It is primarily driven by elements such as wind, water, and ice. Erosion tends to smooth out planetary features, breaking down mountains and filling in craters. This geological process is essential for understanding how landscapes evolve over time.
Important factors of erosion include:
  • Wind erosion, which can create features like sand dunes.
  • Water erosion, forming valleys and canyons through the action of rivers and rain.
  • Ice erosion, where glaciers carve out vast expanses of rock and soil.
Erosion helps to recycle planetary materials and is key to studying long-term changes in planetary environments.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

Go to the website for Moon Zoo (http://moonzoo.org), a project that lets everyone participate in the analysis of images from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter. Read through the FAQ; then click on "Tutorials" and select "How to Take Part." (You will need to create an account if you haven't already done so for PlanetHunters in Chapter \(7 ;\) all of these Zooniverse projects use the same log-in.) You will be counting craters on the Moon, noting where there are boulders, classifying some of these features, and looking for hardware left over from exploration missions.

Scientists know that Earth was once completely molten because a. the surface is smooth. b. the interior layers are denser. c. the chemical composition indicates that. d. volcanoes exist today.

Use the Google Earth platform to explore the Moon, Mercury, and Mars. a. View all sides of the Moon. Does one hemisphere look more heavily cratered than others, and if so, why? b. View the planet Mercury. In what ways is Mercury similar to and in what ways different from the Moon? (You might need to get the Mercury KMZ file: http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/the_mission/google.html) c. View all sides of the planet Mars. What differences can you see between the northern and southern hemispheres?

The first science fiction film, the short Voyage to the Moon (George Méliès, 1902 ), is in the public domain and can be viewed at http://archive.org/details/Levoyagedanslalune (a newer, digitized version was released in 2011 ). Where do the "Selenians" live on the Moon? In this first cinematic depiction of contact with life from outside of Earth, what do the human astronomers do to the Selenians? Contrast what the astronomers in the film find on the Moon with what the Apollo astronauts actually saw.

Explain how scientists know that rock layers at the bottom of Arizona's Grand Canyon are older than those found on the rim.
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