Earth Flashcards
Test for oxygen
Relight a glowing splint
Test for carbon dioxide
Bubble through limewater
Test for acid rain
Use universal indicator
What gases does air contain (5)
- Nitrogen
- Oxygen
- Carbon Dioxide
- Argon
- water vapour
What is the structure of the earth
Inner core, outer core, mantle, crust
What are the three types of rock
Igneous, metamorphic, sedimentary
Examples of sedimentary rock
Sandstone, limestone, mudstone
Examples of metamorphic rock
Slate, marble
Igneous rock examples
Granite, pumice, basalt
Lithosphere
Crust and upper mantle
The theory of plate tectonics
The Earth’s crust is made up of tectonic plates that fit together like a jigsaw. They are moving slowly due to convection currents in the mantle.
Continental drift
The continents have not always been as they are today. They have drifted into position and continue to move now. This is caused by movement of tectonic plates.
Pangea
The modern continents once formed a single supercontinent called the Pangea. They have fragmented drifted into their current position to give us modern day continents.
The theory of continental drift evidence
- proposed by Alfred wegener
- scientists did not believe theory as they had no evidence e.g. convection currents
- continents fit like jigsaw
- once a supercontinent, Pangea
- similar fossils found in different continents
What was the 1st step in the formation of the Earth’s atmosphere
Volcanoes expelled a mixture of carbon dioxide and water vapour with some ammonia 4.5 billion years ago.
What was step 2 in the formation of the Earth’ s atmosphere
Water vapour from volcanoes cooled to form seas. These absorb CO2 to form carbonate rock.
What is the 3rd step in the formation of the Earth’s atmosphere
Algae produces oxygen from photosynthesis. Plants colonise on land.
What is the 4th step in the formation of the Earth’s atmosphere
Animal life evolves as they have oxygen for respiration. Oxygen forms an ozone layer, protecting life from harmful UV rays. Ammonia decomposes and nitrogen remains.
What processes contribute CO2 to the atmosphere
- combustion
- respiration
- decomposition
What processes remove CO2 from the atmosphere
Ocean uptake
Photosynthesis
Climate change
Large scale, long term shift in the planets average weather patterns.
Global warming
An increase in the Earth’s average temperature
How can global warming be reduced
-reduce use of fossil fuels
-recycle materials
-more fuel efficient vehicles
-reduce energy consumption - insulate houses
-use mass transportation
What is carbon capture (4)
Reduces CO2 emissions by 90%. Capture CO2 from power plants transport it via pipelines to storage points. Store it safely in geological sites such as depleted oil and gas fields.
Cause of acid rain
Fossil fuels contain sulfur so they produce sulfur dioxide when burned. This enter the sky and dissolves in rain, forming sulfuric acid.
Effects of acid rain (4)
- lowers pH of lakes damaging aquatic life
- lowers pH of soil damaging forests and vegetation
- damages limestone buildings
- increases rate of metal corrosion
Sulfur Scrubber
Reduces SO2 emissions by 95%
How to reduce acid rain
- Sulfur scrubber
- use renewable energy
- use less electricity
- “liming” - use powdered limestone to neutralise soil acidity
