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 rigid 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 tectonic plates to move on top of it

Question 8

tectonic plates

Answer 8

a block of lithosphere that consists of the crust and the rigid, outermost part of the mantle; also called lithospheric plate

Question 9

chemical weathering

Answer 9

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

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 the atmosphere, in which temperature drops at a constant rate as altitude increases; the part of the atmosphere where weather conditions exist

Question 13

stratosphere

Answer 13

the layer of the atmosphere that lies between the troposphere and the mesosphere and in which temperature increases as altitude increases; contains the ozone layer

Question 14

ozone

Answer 14

a gas molecule 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 differences 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 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

the continuous movement of water between the atmosphere, the land, and the oceans

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 a gas to a liquid

Question 22

precipitation

Answer 22

any form of water that falls to the Earth’s surface from the clouds; includes rain, snow, sleet, and hail

Question 23

salinity

Answer 23

a measure of the amount of dissolved salts in a 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