Ch. 12 ( Matt) Flashcards
What is a super nova?
When a star eight times larger than the sun explodes upon its death.
What are Planetesmials?
asteroid sized objects that contain icy, rocky and metallic material.
What are Protoplanets?
When repeated collisions and accretion (sticking together), creating a “protoplanet and moons”
Hadean
Early period of Earths history, beginning about 4.6 billion years ago and ended roughly 3.8 billion years ago.
What is the solar nebula?
The solar system including earth, formed from the solar nebula, a large rotating cloud of interstellar dust and gas.
What is outgassing?
when gasses trapped within the earths interior release.
What are banded iron formations?
accumulated iron oxide deposits that represent the world’s most important reservoir of iron ore.
What was the Great Oxygenation Event?
A phenomenon where oxygen first appeared in significant amounts in the atmosphere around 2.5 billion years ago.
What is the super-continent cycle?
The idea that rifting and dispersal of one supercontintent is followed by a long period during which the fragments are gradually reassembled into a new supercontinent.
What is a super continent?
When large continental landmasses combine and form one larger continental landmass.
What are prokaryotes?
The first known organisms which were a simple single cell bacteria.
What are stromatolites?
slimy material secreted by prokaryotes, along with trapped sediments.
What are Eukaryotes?
The oldest fossils of more advanced organisms. About 2.1 billion years old.
What was the Cambrian explosion?
When all major invertebrates (lacking backbones) groups made their appearance.
What are Gymnosperms?
a group of plants that produced “naked” seeds that are exposed on modified leaves that usually form cones.
