A scientist is studying the makeup of a crossection of the ground on a plot of land on the Pacific coast. The cross-section is as follows:

The line noted by the X marks earth that was on the surface approximately 20,000 years ago. The law of superposition states that, in cross-sections of the Earth's crust, layers that are closer to the center of the Earth are older than those that are farther away. 

Which layer(s) are older than 20,000 years?

A scientist is studying the makeup of a crossection of the ground on a plot of land on the Pacific coast. The cross-section is as follows:

The line noted by the X marks earth that was on the surface approximately 20,000 years ago. The law of superposition states that, in cross-sections of the Earth's crust, layers that are closer to the center of the Earth are older than those that are farther away. 

A sample is taken from point P and is analyzed. It is determined that the stone found at point P was at the surface of the Earth only 10,000 years ago. What conclusion can the scientist draw based on this information?

A scientist is studying the makeup of a crossection of the ground on a plot of land on the Pacific coast. The cross-section is as follows:

The line noted by the X marks earth that was on the surface approximately 20,000 years ago. The law of superposition states that, in cross-sections of the Earth's crust, layers that are closer to the center of the Earth are older than those that are farther away. 

An archaeologist hypothesizes that early humans inhabited this coastal region around 22,000 years ago. In which layer is the archaeologist most likely to find evidence to support his hypothesis?

One night there was a meteor shower and scientists in four different regions, A, B, C and D, observed and counted the number of meteors seen. The scientists noted the duration of the meteor shower and the visibility of the stars. 

How does the visibility of the night sky impact the number of meteors observed? 

Explorers have discovered a new planet, Planet K. It is known that Planet K has magnetic poles to similar to those of Earth, so the explorers decide that using a compass to navigate is possible. When navigating Planet K's surface, it is discovered that the compass points north for a distance then flips so that it points north in the opposite direction for a distance, before returning to pointing north in the original direction. It is known that the magnetic poles of the planet flip every 100 years. Weather is recorded on the planet for 250 years. 

Why does the explorer's compass flip the north pole depending upon distance traveled? 

Scientist 1: This scientist asserts that drilling for oil should be performed in the ocean. Scientist 1 claims that in the ocean, the oil is at a shorter depth below the Earth’s surface than on dry land. The shorter drilling depth is more ideal for access by drills.

Scientist 2: Scientist 2 believes that drilling for oil should be performed on dry land and not underwater. This is due to the fact that water is at a higher pressure than is observed on the surface of Earth. Scientist 2 asserts that drilling at the lower pressure will be less likely to damage the equipment resulting in an unsuccessful event.

Experiment: The scientists conduct various experiments. The data that the scientists collect indicates the depth at which it is necessary to drill on land and in the ocean in order to reach. The other data that the scientist collect is on the pressure that the equipment will need to experience while drilling for oil at each location.

If a third option was present for drilling on a coastal region that allows for the short drilling depth and for drilling to be done on land, which scientist would support drilling at this location?

Scientist 1: Scientist 1 claims that the best spot to find gold is near volcanic areas. This scientist claims that the high temperatures and high pressure helps to form the gold. Therefore the best area to find large quantities of gold is near volcanoes.

Scientist 2: Scientist 2 asserts that the best area to find gold is in rivers. In the rivers the gold can be free flowing and easier to see. In addition, the gold found in the rivers does not necessarily require equipment for digging. It is is found in the river due to the water carrying, rather than eroding it. 

What is not taken into account by Scientist 1? 

Scientists have long debated the origin of organic molecules on Earth. Organic molecules are those based on the atom carbon, which can form four distinct bonds in contrast to the fewer number allowed in most other non-metals. As a result of this property, carbon can give rise to the enormously complex molecular shapes necessary for life to arise.

Some scientists argue that organic matter was dissolved in water ice on comets, and brought to Earth early in its history. These comets crashed into the early Earth, and deposited carbon-based molecules in copious quantities to the Earth’s surface as their water melted.

In 2014, the first space probe landed on the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Suppose that scientists find the following information from 5 distinct samples after landing on the comet. Each sample was taken at a single geographical location, but 5 meters deeper than the last. Sample 1 was taken at a depth of 1 meter below the surface.

These samples were compared to 5 similar samples from the surface of Mars. Scientists posited that this comparison would be meaningful because we know that life does not exist on Mars the same way that it does on Earth. Thus, they are comparing a known non-biological celestial body, Mars, with another celestial body, the comet, which may be seeding life on suitable plants.

The data presented in the passage most closely support the idea that:

The origin of the universe has been a highly debated topic among physicists. In the middle of the twentieth century, there were two prevalent models regarding the origin of the universe. The first model, called the Big Bang Theory, suggests that the universe was spontaneously created approximately 14 billion years ago. The second model, called the Steady State Theory, suggests that the universe contains no beginning or end, is always expanding, and contains a constant density.

Initially, the Big Bang Theory was widely disregarded by physicists and astronomers. In fact, the name “Big Bang” was coined by Fred Hoyle, a supporter of the Steady State Theory, who used the term in a derogatory manner. The Big Bang Theory suggests that prior to the creation of matter, a physical object that occupies space and possesses mass, the universe was filled homogenously with high-energy density and very high temperature and pressure. The universe was rapidly expanding and cooling resulting in the creation of atoms. The initial atoms that were produced were much lighter than the atoms currently found on earth, the lightest of which are hydrogen, helium, and lithium. After this initial creation of the universe, it continued to expand.  The Big Bang Theory is now the prevalent theory for the origin of the universe.

The Steady State Theory suggests that there is no start or end to the universe in time or space, yet the universe is always expanding. Furthermore, the Steady State Theory states that new stars and galaxies replace old stars and galaxies and the overall appearance of the universe does not change over time.

Two sources of evidence are used to support or refute the discussed hypotheses. The first piece of data is the presence of primordial gas clouds, pockets of the universe that contain gases lighter than those found in the current universe. The second piece of evidence is that other galaxies are “red shifted”. The term red-shift indicates that as objects move farther away, the light they emit changes wavelength and appears to be more red.  

The Big Bang Theory states:

The chart below depicts the average rainfall by location on the Earth.  Zero degrees latitude corresponds to the equator.  Positive latitudes are north of the equator, while negative latitudes are south of the equator.  A latitude with a magnitude of 90 degrees correlates with one of Earth's poles.  

Which best describes the rainfall trend between thirty and sixty degrees latitude?