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Step-by-step solution for: History Channels How the Earth was Made Video Questions Name ...
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: History Channels How the Earth was Made Video Questions Name ...
Let’s go through each question one by one. These are based on a History Channel video called “How the Earth Was Made,” and the numbers in parentheses (like :04, :05) likely refer to timestamps in the video — but since we don’t have the video, we’ll use general science knowledge that matches what’s typically taught in such documentaries.
---
1. How old is the Earth according to the church? (:04)
In the past, many religious groups believed the Earth was only about 6,000 years old, based on counting generations in the Bible. This idea comes from Bishop Ussher’s calculation in the 17th century.
→ Answer: About 6,000 years old
---
2. How did the discovery of tilted rocks by James Hutton lead him to say that the Earth was very old? (:05)
James Hutton saw rock layers that were bent or tilted. He realized these changes must have taken millions of years — not just a few thousand. If rocks can be slowly pushed up and tilted over time, then the Earth must be much older than people thought.
→ Answer: Tilted rocks showed slow, long-term processes, meaning Earth must be very old.
---
3. How old did Lord Kelvin say the Earth was? (:07)
Lord Kelvin used physics (cooling rates of molten rock) to estimate Earth’s age. He said it was between 20 million and 400 million years old — way too young compared to today’s number, because he didn’t know about radioactivity heating the inside.
→ Answer: Between 20 million and 400 million years old
---
4. How has radioactive dating developed by Arthur Holmes in 1911 revolutionized our concept of how old the Earth really is? (:08)
Radioactive dating lets scientists measure how long certain elements take to decay into other elements. Since this happens at a steady rate, they can calculate exactly how old rocks are. This proved Earth is billions of years old — not millions.
→ Answer: It gave exact ages for rocks, proving Earth is billions of years old.
---
5. What is the accepted age for the Earth? (:09)
Today, scientists agree Earth is about 4.54 billion years old, based on dating meteorites and moon rocks along with Earth rocks.
→ Answer: About 4.54 billion years old
---
6. What is thought to be the source for most of the Earth’s water? (:15)
Most scientists think water came from comets and asteroids hitting early Earth. Some also say volcanoes released water vapor that turned into rain and filled oceans.
→ Answer: Comets, asteroids, and volcanic outgassing
---
7. What kind of rock started to form continents 3.4 billion years ago? (:18)
Granite is lighter than basalt and floats higher on the mantle. Early granite formations became the first stable landmasses — the beginnings of continents.
→ Answer: Granite
---
8. How does the density of basalt (oceanic crust) compare to the density of granite (continental crust)? (:20)
Basalt is denser than granite. That’s why oceanic crust sinks under continental crust when plates collide.
→ Answer: Basalt is denser than granite
---
9. What are stromatolites and how did they make life on our planet possible around 2 billion years ago? (:21)
Stromatolites are layered structures made by tiny bacteria (cyanobacteria). They produced oxygen through photosynthesis, which slowly filled the atmosphere and allowed complex life to evolve later.
→ Answer: Stromatolites are fossilized bacterial mats that produced oxygen, making life possible.
---
10. Who was Alfred Wegener and what did he propose? (:29)
Alfred Wegener was a German scientist who proposed “continental drift” — the idea that continents move across Earth’s surface. He noticed continents fit together like puzzle pieces and had similar fossils and rocks.
→ Answer: He proposed continental drift — that continents move.
---
11. Why is the video wrong when it says that Alfred Wegener had a theory?
Actually, Wegener did have a *theory* — but back then, scientists rejected it because he couldn’t explain *how* continents moved. Today, we call his idea part of plate tectonics, which explains the mechanism. So saying he “had a theory” isn’t wrong — but maybe the video meant he lacked proof or mechanism at the time.
Wait — let’s clarify: In science, a “theory” means a well-tested explanation. Wegener’s idea wasn’t accepted as a full theory until after his death, when seafloor spreading was discovered. So perhaps the video incorrectly implies he had a complete, accepted theory during his lifetime.
→ Answer: Because Wegener’s idea wasn’t accepted as a scientific theory until later, when evidence for plate tectonics was found.
*(Note: Technically, he DID propose a theory — but it wasn’t validated yet. The question may be pointing out that calling it a “theory” back then was premature.)*
---
12. What is happening to the plates on either side of Iceland in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? (:33)
Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where two tectonic plates are pulling apart. Magma rises up to fill the gap, creating new crust — so Iceland is actually growing wider every year!
→ Answer: The plates are moving apart, creating new crust.
---
13. What did the evidence of fossils on opposing continents mean?
Finding the same fossils on continents now far apart (like South America and Africa) suggests those lands were once joined. Animals couldn’t swim across oceans — so the continents must have moved.
→ Answer: Continents were once connected and have drifted apart.
---
14. What is the average rate of continental drift?
Continents move very slowly — about 2 to 5 centimeters per year. That’s roughly the speed your fingernails grow!
→ Answer: About 2–5 cm per year
---
15. What is the name of the first supercontinent formed 1 billion years ago?
The first known supercontinent was Rodinia, which formed about 1 billion years ago and broke apart around 750 million years ago.
→ Answer: Rodinia
---
16. How did the position of Rodinia 700 million years ago form snowball Earth?
When Rodinia broke apart, its pieces moved toward the equator. But before that, when it was near the poles, ice covered much of the planet. Also, weathering of exposed rocks removed CO₂ from the air, cooling the planet further — leading to “Snowball Earth.”
Actually, more accurately: Around 700 million years ago, Rodinia was breaking up, and its fragments were near the equator. But earlier, when Rodinia was assembled near the South Pole, global glaciation occurred. The breakup led to increased volcanic activity and CO₂ release, eventually warming the planet again.
But the key point: When Rodinia was positioned near the poles, ice sheets expanded globally → Snowball Earth.
→ Answer: Rodinia’s position near the poles caused global freezing — Snowball Earth.
---
Final Answer:
1. About 6,000 years old
2. Tilted rocks showed slow, long-term processes, meaning Earth must be very old.
3. Between 20 million and 400 million years old
4. It gave exact ages for rocks, proving Earth is billions of years old.
5. About 4.54 billion years old
6. Comets, asteroids, and volcanic outgassing
7. Granite
8. Basalt is denser than granite
9. Stromatolites are fossilized bacterial mats that produced oxygen, making life possible.
10. He proposed continental drift — that continents move.
11. Because Wegener’s idea wasn’t accepted as a scientific theory until later, when evidence for plate tectonics was found.
12. The plates are moving apart, creating new crust.
13. Continents were once connected and have drifted apart.
14. About 2–5 cm per year
15. Rodinia
16. Rodinia’s position near the poles caused global freezing — Snowball Earth.
---
1. How old is the Earth according to the church? (:04)
In the past, many religious groups believed the Earth was only about 6,000 years old, based on counting generations in the Bible. This idea comes from Bishop Ussher’s calculation in the 17th century.
→ Answer: About 6,000 years old
---
2. How did the discovery of tilted rocks by James Hutton lead him to say that the Earth was very old? (:05)
James Hutton saw rock layers that were bent or tilted. He realized these changes must have taken millions of years — not just a few thousand. If rocks can be slowly pushed up and tilted over time, then the Earth must be much older than people thought.
→ Answer: Tilted rocks showed slow, long-term processes, meaning Earth must be very old.
---
3. How old did Lord Kelvin say the Earth was? (:07)
Lord Kelvin used physics (cooling rates of molten rock) to estimate Earth’s age. He said it was between 20 million and 400 million years old — way too young compared to today’s number, because he didn’t know about radioactivity heating the inside.
→ Answer: Between 20 million and 400 million years old
---
4. How has radioactive dating developed by Arthur Holmes in 1911 revolutionized our concept of how old the Earth really is? (:08)
Radioactive dating lets scientists measure how long certain elements take to decay into other elements. Since this happens at a steady rate, they can calculate exactly how old rocks are. This proved Earth is billions of years old — not millions.
→ Answer: It gave exact ages for rocks, proving Earth is billions of years old.
---
5. What is the accepted age for the Earth? (:09)
Today, scientists agree Earth is about 4.54 billion years old, based on dating meteorites and moon rocks along with Earth rocks.
→ Answer: About 4.54 billion years old
---
6. What is thought to be the source for most of the Earth’s water? (:15)
Most scientists think water came from comets and asteroids hitting early Earth. Some also say volcanoes released water vapor that turned into rain and filled oceans.
→ Answer: Comets, asteroids, and volcanic outgassing
---
7. What kind of rock started to form continents 3.4 billion years ago? (:18)
Granite is lighter than basalt and floats higher on the mantle. Early granite formations became the first stable landmasses — the beginnings of continents.
→ Answer: Granite
---
8. How does the density of basalt (oceanic crust) compare to the density of granite (continental crust)? (:20)
Basalt is denser than granite. That’s why oceanic crust sinks under continental crust when plates collide.
→ Answer: Basalt is denser than granite
---
9. What are stromatolites and how did they make life on our planet possible around 2 billion years ago? (:21)
Stromatolites are layered structures made by tiny bacteria (cyanobacteria). They produced oxygen through photosynthesis, which slowly filled the atmosphere and allowed complex life to evolve later.
→ Answer: Stromatolites are fossilized bacterial mats that produced oxygen, making life possible.
---
10. Who was Alfred Wegener and what did he propose? (:29)
Alfred Wegener was a German scientist who proposed “continental drift” — the idea that continents move across Earth’s surface. He noticed continents fit together like puzzle pieces and had similar fossils and rocks.
→ Answer: He proposed continental drift — that continents move.
---
11. Why is the video wrong when it says that Alfred Wegener had a theory?
Actually, Wegener did have a *theory* — but back then, scientists rejected it because he couldn’t explain *how* continents moved. Today, we call his idea part of plate tectonics, which explains the mechanism. So saying he “had a theory” isn’t wrong — but maybe the video meant he lacked proof or mechanism at the time.
Wait — let’s clarify: In science, a “theory” means a well-tested explanation. Wegener’s idea wasn’t accepted as a full theory until after his death, when seafloor spreading was discovered. So perhaps the video incorrectly implies he had a complete, accepted theory during his lifetime.
→ Answer: Because Wegener’s idea wasn’t accepted as a scientific theory until later, when evidence for plate tectonics was found.
*(Note: Technically, he DID propose a theory — but it wasn’t validated yet. The question may be pointing out that calling it a “theory” back then was premature.)*
---
12. What is happening to the plates on either side of Iceland in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean? (:33)
Iceland sits on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, where two tectonic plates are pulling apart. Magma rises up to fill the gap, creating new crust — so Iceland is actually growing wider every year!
→ Answer: The plates are moving apart, creating new crust.
---
13. What did the evidence of fossils on opposing continents mean?
Finding the same fossils on continents now far apart (like South America and Africa) suggests those lands were once joined. Animals couldn’t swim across oceans — so the continents must have moved.
→ Answer: Continents were once connected and have drifted apart.
---
14. What is the average rate of continental drift?
Continents move very slowly — about 2 to 5 centimeters per year. That’s roughly the speed your fingernails grow!
→ Answer: About 2–5 cm per year
---
15. What is the name of the first supercontinent formed 1 billion years ago?
The first known supercontinent was Rodinia, which formed about 1 billion years ago and broke apart around 750 million years ago.
→ Answer: Rodinia
---
16. How did the position of Rodinia 700 million years ago form snowball Earth?
When Rodinia broke apart, its pieces moved toward the equator. But before that, when it was near the poles, ice covered much of the planet. Also, weathering of exposed rocks removed CO₂ from the air, cooling the planet further — leading to “Snowball Earth.”
Actually, more accurately: Around 700 million years ago, Rodinia was breaking up, and its fragments were near the equator. But earlier, when Rodinia was assembled near the South Pole, global glaciation occurred. The breakup led to increased volcanic activity and CO₂ release, eventually warming the planet again.
But the key point: When Rodinia was positioned near the poles, ice sheets expanded globally → Snowball Earth.
→ Answer: Rodinia’s position near the poles caused global freezing — Snowball Earth.
---
Final Answer:
1. About 6,000 years old
2. Tilted rocks showed slow, long-term processes, meaning Earth must be very old.
3. Between 20 million and 400 million years old
4. It gave exact ages for rocks, proving Earth is billions of years old.
5. About 4.54 billion years old
6. Comets, asteroids, and volcanic outgassing
7. Granite
8. Basalt is denser than granite
9. Stromatolites are fossilized bacterial mats that produced oxygen, making life possible.
10. He proposed continental drift — that continents move.
11. Because Wegener’s idea wasn’t accepted as a scientific theory until later, when evidence for plate tectonics was found.
12. The plates are moving apart, creating new crust.
13. Continents were once connected and have drifted apart.
14. About 2–5 cm per year
15. Rodinia
16. Rodinia’s position near the poles caused global freezing — Snowball Earth.
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of how the earth was made worksheet.
