Shale is a relatively impermeable type of rock, while sandstone is permeable to water. In some areas, the ground is made of mostly sandstone with a layer of shale deep underground. Groundwater can seep into the layers of sandstone and be stored above the layers of shale. At a fault line, rock layers are often shifted, sometimes causing layers of shale to reach the surface.

Answer 1

This description highlights the differences in permeability between shale and sandstone and how groundwater is stored in geological formations.

In this scenario, sandstone acts as an aquifer, allowing water to permeate through its porous structure. The overlying layer of shale, being relatively impermeable, creates a confining layer that traps water within the sandstone. As groundwater seeps into the sandstone, it can accumulate in the spaces between the grains, providing a valuable water source for aquifers.

When there is a fault line, the movement of tectonic plates can cause displacement of rock layers. In some cases, this movement can bring the impermeable shale layer up to the surface, disrupting the natural flow and storage of groundwater. This can lead to changes in local hydrology, affecting the availability of groundwater resources and potentially influencing surface water bodies.

Understanding these geological formations is essential for water management and environmental studies, as they play a significant role in the hydrology of an area. Proper assessment of aquifers and confining layers is crucial for sustainability, water supply planning, and preventing contamination of groundwater resources.

Answer 2

Based on this information, what conclusion can be made about groundwater?
A: Groundwater is most abundant near faults and least abundant in the middle of tectonic plates.
B: Tectonic activity can cause the amount of groundwater to differ by changing the position of impermeable rock layers.
C: Geologic processes increase the amount of groundwater over time by causing shale layers to sink deeper underground.
D: Plate movement creates groundwater reservoirs by breaking impermeable rock layers into permeable rock.

Answer 3

The most suitable conclusion based on the provided information is:

B: Tectonic activity can cause the amount of groundwater to differ by changing the position of impermeable rock layers.

This conclusion directly relates to the explanation about how fault lines can shift rock layers, potentially bringing impermeable shale to the surface and affecting the storage and flow of groundwater in the overlying sandstone layers. The other options either misinterpret the effect of tectonic activity on groundwater or do not align with the information provided.

Answer 4

Scientists have determined that Earth's interior has layers with different properties. One property is that the inner core is solid. Which of the following statements can be used as evidence to support this property?
A.
After an earthquake, P waves are detected on the opposite side of Earth but S waves are not.
B.
Seismographs that are far from the epicenter of an earthquake detect P waves much sooner than S waves.
C.
P waves do not refract based on the density of the medium it is traveling in, but S waves do.
D.
During an earthquake, both P waves and S waves travel away from the focus through the interior of Earth.

Answer 5

The statement that can be used as evidence to support the property that the inner core is solid is:

A. After an earthquake, P waves are detected on the opposite side of Earth but S waves are not.

This observation indicates that S waves, which are shear waves and cannot travel through liquids, do not reach certain areas (like the opposite side of the Earth) because the outer core is liquid, preventing S waves from propagating through that region. Since P waves (which are compressional waves) can travel through both solids and liquids, their ability to be detected on the opposite side of the Earth while S waves are not provides evidence that the inner core is solid; S waves do not travel through the liquid outer core, but they can travel through the solid inner core.

Answer 6

According to the big bang theory, the known universe started 13.7 billion years ago in a hot dense state and expanded explosively. As it expanded, it cooled down to the point where atoms could form. By the force of gravity, these atoms coalesced into gas clouds that eventually became stars. These stars eventually formed young galaxies. Which of the following is true about the current position of the galaxies in the universe?
A.
The galaxies are now drifting further apart.
B.
The position of the galaxies cannot be predicted.
C.
The galaxies are now moving closer together.
D.
The position of the galaxies is not changing.

Answer 7

The statement that is true about the current position of the galaxies in the universe is:

A. The galaxies are now drifting further apart.

Current observations, such as those from the Hubble Space Telescope, show that the universe is expanding and that galaxies are moving away from each other. This is supported by the redshift of light from distant galaxies, indicating that they are receding from us, which aligns with the predictions of the Big Bang Theory.

Answer 8

Gavin learns in science class that small objects such as meteoroids and debris can move through space at such high speeds that they can damage or puncture the sides of space vehicles. He decides to design an experiment based on this information.

Gavin uses an empty shoe box, a sheet of paper towel, and tape to build a model of a spacecraft. Then, he shoots a pea at the paper towel part of the model using a straw pea shooter.
For his first trial, Gavin shoots a 3.0-gram pea at the model. Its speed is measured at 12 meters per second as it leaves the straw. The pea does not break the paper towel, but it bounces back off and lands on the ground.

Which of the following best explains why the pea bounced off the paper towel?
A.
When the pea hit the paper towel, the paper towel absorbed the force of the pea but did not apply a reaction force.
B.
When the pea hit the paper towel, the paper towel applied a smaller force in the opposite direction on the pea.
C.
When the pea hit the paper towel, the paper towel applied a greater force in the opposite direction on the pea.
D.
When the pea hit the paper towel, the paper towel applied an equal but opposite force on the pea.

Answer 9

The statement that best explains why the pea bounced off the paper towel is:

C. When the pea hit the paper towel, the paper towel applied a greater force in the opposite direction on the pea.

When the pea strikes the paper towel, two forces come into play: the force of the pea hitting the paper towel and the force that the paper towel exerts back on the pea. The paper towel may not be rigid, but upon impact, it exerts enough of a force to stop the pea's momentum and push it back. This is a demonstration of Newton's Third Law of Motion, which states that for every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction; however, in this case, the effective result was that the rebound occurred because the paper towel was able to apply a greater reactive force than the pea's momentum could overcome, leading to the pea bouncing back.

So, while D reflects Newton's Third Law appropriately in a general sense, the correct interpretation in regards to the pea's motion (and why it bounced rather than simply stopping) points towards the greater force applied by the paper towel relative to the pea's kinetic energy upon impact.