Chapter 1 Flashcards
The Origin of the Ocean
Accretion
An increase of the mass of a body by accumulation or clumping of smaller particles
Big Bang
The hypothetical event that started the expansion of the universe from a geometric point, the beginning of time
Biosynthesis
The initial formation of life on Earth
Condensation Theory
The premise that stars and planets accumulate from contracting, accreting clouds of galactic gas, dust, and debris.
Density
The mass per unit volume of a substance, usually expressed in grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm^3)
Density Stratification
The formation of layers in a material, with each deeper layer being denser than the layer above.
Experiment
Tests that simplify observation in nature or in the laboratory by manipulating or controlling the conditions under which observations are made.
Galaxy
A large, rotating aggregation of stars, dust, gas, and other debris held together by gravity. There are perhaps 50 billion galaxies in the universe and 50 billion stars in each galaxy.
Gas Giant Planet
Massive, relatively low-density planets that are composed primarily of hydrogen, helium, and other light materials in either their gas or liquid state. They are often found in the outer solar system and do not have a well-defined solid surface.
Hypothesis
A speculation about the natural world that may be verified or disproved by observation and experiment.
Laws
A large construct explaining events in nature that have been observed to occur with unvarying uniformity under the same conditions.
Marine Science
The process (or result) of applying the scientific method to the ocean, its surroundings, and the life-forms within it; also called oceanography or oceanology.
Milky Way Galaxy
The name of our galaxy; sometimes applied to the field of stars in our home spiral arm, which is correctly called the Orion Arm.
Nebulae
Diffuse could of dust and gas.
Ocean
The great body of saline water that covers 70.78% of the surface of Earth. One of its primary subdivisions bounded by continents, the equator, and other imaginary lines.
Oceanography
The science of the ocean (also marine science).
Outgassing
The volcanic venting of volatile substances.
Planets
A smaller, usually nonluminous body orbiting a star.
Science
A systemic way of asking questions about the natural world and testing the answers to those questions.
Scientific Method
The orderly process by which theories explaining the operation of the natural world are verified or rejected.
Solar Nebula
The diffuse cloud of dust from which the solar system originated.
Solar System
The sun together with the planets and other bodies that revolve around it.
Stars
A massive sphere of incandescent gases powered by the conversion of hydrogen to helium and other heavier elements.
Supernova
The explosive collapse of a massive star.
Terrestrial Planets
Relatively small, rocky, and dense planets found in the inner solar system that have a well-defined solid surface.
Theory
A general explanation of a characteristic of nature consistently supported by observation or experiment.
World Ocean
The great body of saline water that covers 70.78% of Earth’s surface.
