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Stages of Earth's Evolution and Atmosphere

The document contains multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions related to the Earth's formation and the Big Bang Theory. It discusses the role of solar winds in shaping the early atmospheres of terrestrial planets and highlights the importance of volcanic outgassing in developing secondary atmospheres. Key concepts include the age of the universe, the Nebular Hypothesis, and the composition of Earth's atmosphere.

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Sameer mulla
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166 views2 pages

Stages of Earth's Evolution and Atmosphere

The document contains multiple choice, true/false, and fill-in-the-blank questions related to the Earth's formation and the Big Bang Theory. It discusses the role of solar winds in shaping the early atmospheres of terrestrial planets and highlights the importance of volcanic outgassing in developing secondary atmospheres. Key concepts include the age of the universe, the Nebular Hypothesis, and the composition of Earth's atmosphere.

Uploaded by

Sameer mulla
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

The Earth

Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)


1. Which theory posits that the universe is expanding due to galaxies moving away from
each other?
(c) Big Bang Theory
2. According to the Nebular Hypothesis, what was primarily responsible for the formation
of planets?
(b) Gravitational contraction
3. What does a light year measure?
(b) Distance covered by light in one Earth year
4. Which of the following is not considered a stage in the evolution of the Earth according
to modern scientific theory?
(d) Development of the biosphere through meteoritic impacts
5. What is the approximate current estimate for the age of the universe according to the
Big Bang Theory?
(b) Approximately 13.7 billion years

True/False Questions
1. Edwin Hubble's observations in the 1920s provided the initial evidence supporting the
Big Bang Theory.
✅ True
2. The Big Bang Theory implies that galaxies themselves are expanding.
❌ False (Galaxies are moving away from each other, but not expanding themselves.)
3. The term "planetary differentiation" refers to the process where heavier materials sink
towards the center of a planet while lighter materials rise to the surface.
✅ True

Fill-in-the-Blank Questions
1. The early universe was characterized by a nearly uniform distribution of matter and energy,
which later led to the formation of galaxies through localized density differences.
2. The process by which gases were outpoured from the Earth's interior, contributing to the
formation of the atmosphere, is called outgassing.
3. The present atmosphere of Earth is primarily composed of nitrogen and oxygen.
4. The first atoms began to form within three minutes from the Big Bang event.

UPSC Mains Oriented Question


Q: Discuss the role of solar winds in shaping the early atmospheric conditions of terrestrial
planets. (150 words)
Answer:
In the early Solar System, solar winds played a critical role in shaping the atmospheric composition of
terrestrial planets like Earth, Mars, Venus, and Mercury. These winds are high-energy particles ejected
from the Sun, particularly intense during the T-Tauri phase of the Sun’s evolution.
During this phase, solar winds were strong enough to blow away the lighter elements—primarily
hydrogen and helium—from the atmospheres of the inner planets. As a result, terrestrial planets lost
their primitive atmospheres, which were mostly composed of light gases.
Subsequently, these planets developed secondary atmospheres primarily through volcanic outgassing,
which released water vapor, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other gases. Over time, these atmospheres
evolved differently depending on each planet’s gravity, magnetic field, and distance from the Sun.
On Earth, for instance, the development of a magnetic field helped retain atmospheric gases and
protect the planet from further stripping by solar winds, which was crucial for habitability.

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