Physical Science for Non-Science Majors Test Bank
Course Introduction
This course provides an overview of fundamental physical science concepts tailored for students with limited backgrounds in science. Covering topics from physics, chemistry, earth science, and astronomy, the course emphasizes basic principles and real-world applications. Students will explore the nature of matter, energy, motion, and the universe through interactive lectures, demonstrations, and hands-on activities. Designed to foster scientific literacy and critical thinking, the course aims to make physical science accessible and relevant to daily life, preparing non-science majors to better understand and evaluate scientific issues in society.
Recommended Textbook
Earth Portrait of a Planet 5th Edition by Stephen Marshak
Available Study Resources on Quizplus
23 Chapters
1125 Verified Questions
1125 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/study-set/1830 Page 2
Chapter 1: Cosmology and the Birth of Earth
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36385
Sample Questions
Q1) The inner planets are terrestrial because _________________ .
A)they are made of volatile materials
B)they are made of refractory materials
C)as our Solar System's proto-Sun formed,the inner part of our protoplanetary disk got hotter causing evaporation
D)B and C are both correct.
E) A and C are both correct.
Answer: D
Q2) The Big Bang theory states that ____________.
A)all stars will end their lives explosively as supernovas
B)Earth formed through a series of violent collisions
C)meteors were responsible for the extinction of the dinosaurs
D)all matter in the Universe was once confined to a single point
Answer: D
Q3) Chemically,the Moon is quite similar to ____________.
A)sea water
B)Earth's crust
C)Earth's mantle
D)Earth's core
Answer: C
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 3
Chapter 2: Journey to the Center of the Earth
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36386
Sample Questions
Q1) In order to be defined as a mineral,a substance must ______________.
A)be solid
B)be naturally occurring
C)have atoms arranged in an orderly pattern
D)All of the above are correct.
Answer: D
Q2) As compared to ultramafic rocks,mafic rocks have a ____________.
A)greater proportion of silica
B)lesser proportion of silica
C)greater proportion of iron and magnesium atoms
Answer: A
Q3) The Moho ____________.
A)lies at uniform depth everywhere it is found in Earth
B)is found deeper underneath continents than under oceans
C)is found deeper underneath oceans than under continents
D)is found well below the crust/mantle boundary
Answer: B
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 4
Chapter 3: Drifting Continents and Spreading Seas
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
51 Verified Questions
51 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36387
Sample Questions
Q1) By deep-sea drilling,the Glomar Challenger proved the theory that if the model of sea-floor spreading was correct,then sea-floor sediment should be ____________ and ____________ as one moves away from the spreading axis.
A)thicker;younger
B)thicker;older
C)thinner;younger
D)thinner;older
Answer: B
Q2) Marine magnetic anomaly belts run parallel to ____________.
A)mid-ocean ridges
B)fracture zones
C)continental coastlines
D)continental shelves
Answer: A
Q3) It is not the continents that move relative to a fixed pole,but rather it is the pole that moves relative to fixed continents.
A)True
B)False
Answer: False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Page 5
Chapter 4: The Way the Earth Works: Plate Tectonics
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
64 Verified Questions
64 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36388
Sample Questions
Q1) The volcanoes of the Cascades Mountains are related to melting of rock associated with a ____________ plate boundary.
A)convergent
B)divergent
C)transform
Q2) All lithospheric plates are approximately the same size and contain a combination of oceanic and continental crust.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Summed over the entire surface of Earth,____________.
A)the rate of lithospheric production at ridges is greater than the rate of lithospheric consumption at subduction zones
B)the rate of lithospheric consumption at subduction zones is greater than the rate of lithospheric production at ridges
C)rates of lithospheric production and consumption are equal
Q4) Deep oceanic trenches are features of ____________ plate boundaries.
A)convergent
B)divergent
C)transform
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 6
Chapter 5: Patterns in Nature: Minerals
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
51 Verified Questions
51 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36389
Sample Questions
Q1) The diamonds we see today do not display their natural crystal faces,but rather ____________,a typical engagement ring bearing 57 of them.
A)faces
B)facets
C)cleavage planes
D)facades
Q2) In silicate minerals,tetrahedra may be coordinated to form ____________.
A)long one-dimensional chains
B)extensive two-dimensional sheets
C)massive three-dimensional frameworks
D)All of the above are correct.
Q3) The vast majority of mineral types _____________ .
A)are quite common
B)are rare
C)form under special conditions
D)occur in a variety of rock types
E)A and D are both correct.
F)B and C are both correct.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 6: Up From the Inferno: Magma and Igneous Rock
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
55 Verified Questions
55 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36390
Sample Questions
Q1) If a body of igneous (source)rock is subjected to partial melting,the magma that is produced is expected to be ____________.
A)identical in chemical composition to the source rock
B)more mafic than the source rock
C)more felsic than the source rock
Q2) All other factors being equal,intrusive rocks that form deep within Earth ____________ than intrusive rocks that cool near the surface.
A)are more felsic
B)contain a smaller proportion of volatiles
C)cool more slowly
D)cool more rapidly
Q3) Due to fractional crystallization and assimilation of surrounding host rock,most magmas that rise slowly through the crust chemically evolve to become
A)more felsic
B)more mafic
C)dominated by nonsilicate minerals
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
8
Chapter 7: Pages of Earths Past: Sedimentary Rocks
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
56 Verified Questions
56 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36391
Sample Questions
Q1) If a geologist were to dig below the current beach and find offshore sediments underlain by beach and swamp deposits then he or she could conclude that ____________ has occurred.
A)transgression
B)regression
Q2) Which transport medium carries the largest particles?
A)ice
B)water
C)wind
Q3) What effect would plants have on a sand dune environment?
A)encourage sand movement
B)deter sand movement
C)Plants have no effect on a sand dune environment.
Q4) Swamps,channels,floodplains,and submarine slopes all play a role in the development of ____________.
A)deltas
B)marine deltas
C)alluvial fans
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 9
Chapter 8: Metamorphism: A Process of Change
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
53 Verified Questions
53 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36392
Sample Questions
Q1) Slaty cleavage,schistosity,and compositional banding are all examples of
A)mineral cleavage
B)foliation
C)recrystallization
D)sedimentary structures
Q2) Regional metamorphism ____________.
A)takes place at cool temperatures and low pressure
B)takes place at cool temperatures but high pressure
C)is another name for thermal metamorphism
D)is another name for dynamothermal metamorphism
Q3) All metamorphic rocks are formed within a fairly narrow range of temperature,approximately 400 to 600°C.
A)True
B)False
Q4) ____________ commonly serves as a protolith in the formation of marble.
A)Limestone
B)Sandstone
C)Shale
D)Slate
Page 10
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 9: The Wrath of Vulcan: Volcanic Eruptions
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36393
Sample Questions
Q1) One of the reasons volcanic eruptions are so deadly is that there is no way to predict where an eruption will occur in the near future.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Hot-spot volcanoes ____________.
A)can arise from the ocean floor
B)can arise on continents
C)may arise in the interior of lithospheric plates
D)All of the above are correct.
Q3) Of the three primary forms of subaerial volcanoes,____________ consist of alternating layers of tephra and solidified lava.
A)stratovolcanoes
B)cinder cones
C)shield volcanoes
Q4) Mt.Fuji in Japan is an example of a ____________.
A)stratovolcano
B)cinder cone
C)shield volcano
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
11
Chapter 10: A Violent Pulse: Earthquakes
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36394
Sample Questions
Q1) Body waves include ____________.
A)both S- and P-waves
B)both L- and R-waves
C)both surface and interior waves
D)P-waves only
Q2) Faults that have moved recently or are likely to move in the future are referred to as ____________.
A)passive
B)active
C)normal
D)reverse
Q3) Earthquakes are likely to occur along ____________.
A)convergent-plate boundaries only
B)divergent-plate boundaries only
C)transform-plate boundaries only
D)All of the above are correct.
Q4) All discovered faults are likely to experience earthquakes in the next few hundred years.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 12
Chapter
Deformation and Mountain Building
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36395
Sample Questions
Q1) The balance between the weight of a mountain range and the buoyancy provided by the underlying mantle is termed ____________.
A)punctuated equilibrium
B)homeostatic equilibrium
C)isostatic equilibrium
D)osmotic equilibrium
Q2) The outer portion of a craton,where deformed rocks are covered by sediments,is termed the ____________.
A)shield
B)platform
C)convergent margin
Q3) It is possible for offset along an oblique-slip fault to have both ____________ and ____________ components.
A)normal;reverse
B)right-lateral;left-lateral
C)normal;left-lateral
Q4) A joint always occurs as a single,isolated plane within a rock.
A)True
B)False
13
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 12:
Deep Time: How Old Is Old
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36396
Sample Questions
Q1) The age of Earth CANNOT be reliably estimated from sediment thicknesses because
A)sedimentation rates are not likely to remain constant at any one locality over all of Earth's history
B)sedimentary rocks can be metamorphosed or melted
C)locally,much of Earth's history is represented by unconformities between strata rather than the strata themselves
D)All of the above are correct.
Q2) In the area immediately surrounding an igneous intrusion,a host limestone is locally metamorphosed to produce marble.Which of the following statements is correct?
A)The intrusive igneous rock must be older than the limestone.
B)The limestone must be older than the marble.
C)The marble must be older than the intrusive rock.
D)The relative ages of the three units cannot be determined with the information given.
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 13: A Biography of Earth
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
57 Verified Questions
57 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36397
Sample Questions
Q1) When did the human genus,Homo,first appear on Earth?
A)200 million years ago
B)2.4 million years ago
C)100,000 years ago
D)10,000 years ago
Q2) North and South America have been physically connected for the last ____________.
A)65 million years
B)5 million years
C)2.5 million years
D)75,000 years
Q3) The Cambrian explosion not only produced an abundance of new animal species but also gave rise to the first shells,spines,and active swimmers.This suggests the important influence of ____________ in driving animal evolution.
A)photosynthetic organisms
B)atmospheric oxygen
C)carnivorous predators
D)filter-feeding organisms
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 15
Chapter 14: Squeezing Power From a Stone: Energy Resources
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36398
Sample Questions
Q1) Which of the following is a renewable resource?
A)coal
B)oil
C)wind
D)natural gas
Q2) ____________ occurs when a neutron strikes a radioactive atom.
A)Fusion
B)Fission
C)Splitting
D)Splicing
Q3) Hydrocarbons consisting of short carbon chains are ____________.
A)more volatile than hydrocarbons with longer chains
B)more viscous than hydrocarbons with longer chains
C)typically stable in a solid state at room temperatures
D)All of the above are correct.
Q4) If a drilled well encounters both oil and natural gas,the ____________.
A)gas will naturally be floating on top of the oil
B)oil will float above the level of the gas
C)gas and oil are expected to be thoroughly mixed together
D)gas will exist in a dissolved state within the oil
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 16
Chapter 15: Riches in Rock: Mineral Resources
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36399
Sample Questions
Q1) Concrete is ____________.
A)synonymous with the term "cement"
B)synonymous with the term "Portland cement"
C)a combination of cement,sand,and gravel
D)powdered rock of any lithology mixed with water and allowed to set overnight
Q2) The presence of gold in western South America is unrelated to the subduction zone nearby.
A)True
B)False
Q3) Currently,igneous and metamorphic rocks are the only sources of commercially available minerals.
A)True
B)False
Q4) Nonmetals extracted from metals during smelting are termed ____________.
A)slag
B)cull
C)sludge
D)spar
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
Chapter 16: Unsafe Ground: Landslides and Other Mass Movements
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36400
Sample Questions
Q1) Slumps typically arrive intact at the bottom of a slope.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Conditions such as ____________ may exacerbate a developing slump.
A)persistent rain
B)rising floodwaters
C)continuing earthquake aftershocks
D)All of the above are correct.
Q3) Ground shaking can transform wet sediments into liquid-like slurries in a process known as ____________.
A)liquifaction
B)slumping
C)undercutting
D)sloping
Q4) ____________occur(s)where thawed sediments move downslope over permafrost.
A)Avalanches
B)Slumps
C)Creep
D)Solifluction
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 18
Chapter 17: Streams and Floods: The Geology of Running Water
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
45 Verified Questions
45 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36401
Sample Questions
Q1) All flowing water on the continents' surfaces is confined to stream channels.
A)True
B)False
Q2) With time,a river may erode terrain to produce a low-lying plain termed a(n)____________.
A)astral plain
B)antedeluvial plain
C)peneplain
D)plateau
Q3) Which has greater capacity?
A)a small mountain stream
B)the Mississippi River
Q4) In a region characterized by a parallel series of ridges and valleys,a ____________ drainage network is expected.
A)dendritic
B)radial
C)rectangular
D)trellis
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 19
Chapter 18: Restless Realm: Oceans and Coasts
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
48 Verified Questions
48 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36402
Sample Questions
Q1) The tidal range (difference in elevation between high and low tide)is approximately 3 m along all coastlines.
A)True
B)False
Q2) The form and topography (depth profile)of the ocean floor is termed
A)orogeny
B)bathymetry
C)allocthony
D)aquitopography
Q3) What percentage of seawater,on average,consists of dissolved salt ions?
A)1.5%
B)3.5%
C)5.5%
D)6.5%
Q4) Most of the igneous rocks within oceanic abyssal plains are ____________.
A)exposed at the surface of the sea floor
B)covered by sand and gravel introduced by rivers at deltas
C)covered by clay and the skeletal remains of microplankton
D)covered by limestones made up of the fragments of large invertebrate shells
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 20
Chapter 19: A Hidden Reserve: Groundwater
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
45 Verified Questions
45 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36403
Sample Questions
Q1) Rock or sediment between the water table and the land surface represents a(n)____________.
A)aquitard
B)confined aquifer
C)unconfined aquifer
D)unsaturated zone
Q2) If a material is porous,it ____________.
A)will be permeable as well
B)will be impermeable
C)may be permeable or impermeable
Q3) Material through which water readily flows is termed ____________.
A)fluent
B)porous
C)permeable
Q4) A dry well will always result whenever the base of the well is above the water table.
A)True
B)False
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above.
21
Chapter 20: An Envelope of Gas: Earths Atmosphere and Climate
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
40 Verified Questions
40 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36404
Sample Questions
Q1) Lines connecting points of equal temperature on a map are termed
A)contour lines
B)isobars
C)isograds
D)isotherms
Q2) As compared to warm fronts,cold fronts move ____________.
A)more rapidly
B)more slowly
C)at the same rate,but always in opposite directions
D)at the same rate,and always in the same direction
Q3) Oxygen in Earth's atmosphere built up over time as a result of ____________.
A)volcanic outgassing
B)photosynthesis
C)limestone formation in the ocean
D)solar radiation splitting molecules of ozone in the stratosphere
Q4) As an air mass rises,it generally experiences ____________.
A)an increase in pressure
B)a decrease in pressure
C)no change in pressure
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 22
Chapter 21: Dry Settings: the Geology of Deserts
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36405
Sample Questions
Q1) Although deserts have historically been sparsely populated regions,the arid southwestern states have comprised one of the fastest-growing regions in the United States since World War II.
A)True
B)False
Q2) Which of the following are adaptations of plants that help them survive in deserts?
A)a thick waxy outer coating and needle-like leaves
B)shallow,expansive root systems that can uptake infiltrated water over a broad area
C)succulence (tissues that retain moisture for a long period of time)
D)All of the above are correct.
Q3) To qualify as a desert,a region must ____________.
A)be hot,with a mean annual temperature greater than 25°C (77°F)
B)be arid,with less than 15% of the ground surface vegetated
C)have a mean annual temperature greater than 25°C and less than 5 cm annual rainfall
D)have no rainfall three out of four seasons
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 23
Chapter 22: Amazing Ice: Glaciers and Ice Ages
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
30 Verified Questions
30 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36406
Sample Questions
Q1) Areas on the southern margins of the continental glaciers of the northern hemisphere were much ____________ during Plio-Pleistocene glaciations than they are today,as suggested by evidence of large ____________ during this time.
A)warmer;tropical rainforests
B)wetter;tropical rainforests
C)drier;deserts
D)wetter;pluvial lakes
Q2) Valleys carved by glaciers tend to be shaped like the letter ____________,whereas valleys carved by water tend to shaped like the letter
A)V;U
B)V;C
C)U;V
D)V;I
Q3) When sea level rises,causing the ocean to fill a glacially carved valley,a ____________ results.
A)smorgasbord
B)tarn
C)fjord
D)ford
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 24
Chapter 23: Global Change in the Earth System
Available Study Resources on Quizplus for this Chatper
50 Verified Questions
50 Flashcards
Source URL: https://quizplus.com/quiz/36407
Sample Questions
Q1) Stratigraphic studies have found evidence of numerous cycles of sea level rise and fall after the Precambrian.These cycles often have a sandstone at the base,grade up into coal,and are called ____________.
A)geotherms
B)sedithems
C)bathycycles
D)cyclothems
Q2) The hole in the ozone layer has been brought about by anthropogenic emissions of
A)carbon dioxide
B)methane
C)chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
D)A and C are both correct.
Q3) Which geologic event is NOT suspected as a source of major climate change,and directly or indirectly,mass-extinction events?
A)massive eruption of flood basalts
B)eruption of supervolcanoes
C)impact of asteroids
D)very large earthquakes
To view all questions and flashcards with answers, click on the resource link above. Page 25