Biodiversity
Brain
Genetics
Marine Biology
Microbiology
PaleontOLogy
Zoology
Anthropology
Archaeology
Astronomy
Climate Change
Earth
Physics
Water
What Do You Know About Earth?
Test your knowledge about our planet by taking this quiz!
Which type of rock forms from melted rock deep within Earth ?
sedimentary
metamorphic
igneous
ANSWER: igneous
There are two kinds of igneous rocks . Some are extrusive, which means they are formed from magma that erupted from a volcano. Some are intrusive, which means that they are formed from magma underground. Igneous rocks, like all rocks, can give us clues about the history of the Earth.
Where are most volcanoes in the world located?
Australia
underwater
Indonesia
ANSWER: underwater
About 90 percent of all the volcanoes that erupt on Earth each year occur at the bottom of the ocean where plates are spreading apart. Magma from Earth's upper mantle rises up to fill the cracks that occur when plates separate. While these volcanoes don't explode like some volcanoes on land, they are constantly erupting.
Earth's thin, outer shell is broken up into big pieces called tectonic plates . What happens along plate boundaries?
hot spots
tornadoes
volcanoes and earthquakes
ANSWER: volcanoes and earthquakes
Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes tend to occur along plate boundaries. Volcanoes form and erupt when one plate subducts, or sinks below another, or where plates are spreading apart. Earthquakes occur along all types of plate boundaries — anytime plates grind together and pressure builds up.
Rocks have stories to tell. They can tell us:
how a mountain was formed
what the climate used to be like
both A and B
ANSWER: both A and B
Rocks hold important clues about our planet. They can tell us about remote places that we can't go to and about distant times in the past. Scientists study rocks to learn about the history of Earth.
Almost all rocks are made of:
glass
minerals
sand
ANSWER: minerals
Rocks differ in part because they contain different types and amounts of minerals. You can identify rocks by the kinds of minerals present, their shape and size, and their quantity.
Rocks can by collected:
by anyone
only by geologists
only in the United States
ANSWER: by anyone
Rocks can be collected by anyone. You don't need to be an expert. Remember to always have an adult with you and don't go on private property.
Fossils are the remains of ancient plants and animals. Fossils are found in which type of rock?
igneous
metamorphic
sedimentary
ANSWER: sedimentary
Sedimentary rocks are mostly formed from layers of sand, silt, dead plants, and animal skeletons. These rocks are like time capsules. They can show you what life was like at different times. Generally, as you dig deeper into sedimentary rocks, you are going back in time.
The heat that moves the tectonic plates comes from:
Earth's mantle and core
Earth's crust
Earth's atmosphere
ANSWER: Earth's mantle and core
The natural radioactive decay of elements in the mantle produces heat. Plus, Earth's core is hotter than the surface of the Sun. The heat from the core and mantle together is the driving force that makes the mantle flow. It flows very, very slowly, but it's enough to cause the plates to move over long periods of time.
How old is our planet Earth?
4.5 billion years old
2 million years old
3,000 years old
ANSWER: 4.5 billion years old
Earth, the Sun , and all the planets in our solar system formed at the same time, about 4.5 billion years ago. The solar system started with a cloud of dust and gas called a solar nebula. Over time, the dust formed rocks, and eventually planets.
What is the Pacific Ring of Fire?
the longest fire in history
a chain of over 500 active volcanoes
a circle of volcanoes that erupt at the same time each year
ANSWER: a chain of over 500 active volcanoes
The Pacific Plate is subducting under several other plates. This movement forms a long chain of volcanoes called the Ring of Fire . It stretches from New Zealand, along the eastern edge of Asia, north across the Aleutian Islands of Alaska, and south along the western coast of North and South America. These are some of the most explosive volcanoes in the world.
You might also like...
Image Credits: