Ch. 3 Key Terms

Question 1

Geosphere

Answer 1

The solid part of Earth that consists of all rock, as well as the soils and loose rocks on Earth’s surface

Question 2

Hydrosphere

Answer 2

Makes up all of the water on or near Earth’s surface

Question 3

Crust

Answer 3

Earth’s thinnest layer

Question 4

Mantle

Answer 4

which is the layer beneath the crust, makes up 68 percent of the mass of Earth

Question 5

Core

Answer 5

Earth’s innermost layer

Question 6

Lithosphere

Answer 6

Earth’s outer layer

Question 7

Asthenosphere

Answer 7

layer beneath the lithosphere

Question 8

Tectonic Plate

Answer 8

glides across the underlying asthenosphere in much the same way a chunk of ice drifts across a pond

Question 9

Chemical Weathering

Answer 9

wears down rocks, making them smoother as time passes

Question 10

Erosion

Answer 10

transports the materials else where

Question 11

Atmosphere

Answer 11

Earth is surrounded by a mixture of gases

Question 12

Troposphere

Answer 12

The atmospheric layer nearest Earth’s surface

Question 13

Stratosphere

Answer 13

Above the troposphere

Question 14

Ozone

Answer 14

a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms

Question 15

Radiation

Answer 15

the transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves

Question 16

Conduction

Answer 16

the transfer of energy in the form of heat from a warmer object to a colder object when the objects are placed indirect physical contact

Question 17

Convection

Answer 17

the transfer of energy that takes place when variations in temperature move the matter making up air

Question 18

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 18

The process in which greenhouse gases absorb and reradiate infrared radiation near the Earth

Question 19

Water Cycle

Answer 19

The continuous movement of water into the air, onto land, and then back to water sources

Question 20

Evaporation

Answer 20

the process by which liquid water is heated by the sun and then rises into the atmosphere as water vapor

Question 21

Condensation

Answer 21

water vapor forms water droplets on dust particles

Question 22

Precipitation

Answer 22

takes the form of snow, sleet, or hail.

Question 23

Salinity

Answer 23

the concentration of all the dissolved salts it contains

Question 24

Fresh Water

Answer 24

A little more than 3 percent of all the water on Earth

Question 25

Biosphere

Answer 25

the narrow layer aroundEarth’s surface in which life can exist