Ch. 3 Key Terms

Question 1

geosphere

Answer 1

the mostly solid, rocky part of Earth;extends from the center of the core to the surface of the crust.

Question 2

hydrosphere

Answer 2

the portion of Earth that is water.

Question 3

crust

Answer 3

the thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle.

Question 4

mantle

Answer 4

in Earth science, the layer of rock between the Earth’s crust and core.

Question 5

core

Answer 5

the central part of the Earth below the mantle; also the center of the sun.

Question 6

lithosphere

Answer 6

the solid, outer layer of the Earth that consists of the crust and the grid upper part of the mantle.

Question 7

asthenosphere

Answer 7

the solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere;made of mantle rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonics plates to move on top of it.

Question 8

tectonic plates

Answer 8

is a massive, irregularly shaped slab of solid rock, generally composed of both continental and oceanic lithosphere.

Question 9

chemical weathering

Answer 9

the process by which rocks break down as a result of a chemical reaction.

Question 10

erosion

Answer 10

a process in which the materials of Earth’s surface are loosened, dissolved, or worn away and transported from one place to another by a natural agent, such as wind, water, ice, or gravity.

Question 11

atmosphere

Answer 11

a mixture of gases that surrounds a planet, such as Earth.

Question 12

troposphere

Answer 12

the lowest layer of Earth’s atmosphere

Question 13

stratosphere

Answer 13

It is the second layer of the atmosphere as you go upward.

Question 14

ozone

Answer 14

a gas molecules that is made up of three oxygen atoms.

Question 15

radiation

Answer 15

the energy that is transferred as electromagnetic waves , such as visible light and infrared waves.

Question 16

conduction

Answer 16

the transfer of energy as heat through a material.

Question 17

convection

Answer 17

the movement of matter due to difference in density that are caused by temperature variations; can result in the transfer of energy as heat.

Question 18

greenhouse effect

Answer 18

the warming of the surface and lower atmosphere of the Earth that occurs when carbon dioxide, water vapor, and other gases in the air absorb and reradiate infrared radiation.

Question 19

water cycle

Answer 19

shows the continuous movement of water within the Earth and atmosphere.

Question 20

evaporation

Answer 20

the change of state from a liquid to a gas.

Question 21

condensation

Answer 21

the change of state from gas to a liquid

Question 22

preciptaion

Answer 22

a statement made in advance that expresses the result s that will be obtained from testing a hypothesis is the hypothesis is supported; the expected outcome if a hypothesis is accurate.

Question 23

salinity

Answer 23

a measure of the amount of dissolved salts in given amount of liquid.

Question 24

fresh water

Answer 24

water that contains insignificant amounts of salts, as in rivers and lakes.

Question 25

biosphere

Answer 25

the part of Earth where life exists.