Ch.3 Key Terms

Question 1

Geosphere

Answer 1

Solid part of the 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 the water on or near Earths surface.

Question 3

crust

Answer 3

thick, the solid brittle, the outermost layer of the Earth, makes up 1 percent of Earths mass.

Question 4

mantle

Answer 4

The layer beneath the crust, makes up 68 percent of the mass of earth.

Question 5

core

Answer 5

Earths inner most layer, radius of about 3,400 km, composed of elements that have the greatest density.

Question 6

lithosphere

Answer 6

Earths outer layer , cool rigid layer, 15km to 300 km thick.

Question 7

asthenosphere

Answer 7

The layer beneath the asthenosphere, pliable, solid layer of the mantle made of rock that flows very slowly and allows tectonic plates to move on top of it.

Question 8

tectonic plate

Answer 8

The lithosphere is divided into pieces called tectonic plates, that glide across the underlaying asthenosphere.

Question 9

chemical weathering

Answer 9

wears down rocks, making them smoother as time passes

Question 10

erosion

Answer 10

transports the materials elsewhere.

Question 11

atmosphere

Answer 11

earth is surrounded by a mixture of gases known as the atmosphere.

Question 12

troposphere

Answer 12

the atmospheric layer nearest to the earth, extends about 18km above the Earths Surface.

Question 13

stratosphere

Answer 13

Extends from an altitude of 18km to 50 km above earth, temperatures rise the higher up you go.

Question 14

ozone

Answer 14

a molecule made up of 3 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 in direct physical contact.

Question 17

convection

Answer 17

is 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 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

large droplets that fall from the clouds as rain in a process

Question 23

salinity

Answer 23

the concentration of all the dissolved salts in ocean water

Question 24

fresh water

Answer 24

3 percent of the earths water, a lot of it is found in icecaps and glaciers

Question 25

biosphere

Answer 25

the narrow layer around the earths surface, where life can exist.