Earth and Life Science Flashcards
It is the center and the hottest part of the earth.
Inner core
It regulates the greenhouse effect that causes global warming. It contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% argon.
Atmosphere
It is the layer that lies after the lithosphere beneath earth’s surface.
Asthenosphere
It is the outer layer of the Earth.
Crust
It is the layer surrounding the inner core.
Outer Core
It is the widest section of the earth, it has a thickness of approximately 2,900 km.
Mantle
The earth is made up of more than __ of water.
70%
Earth is also known as __.
Blue Planet
There are __ layers in the Earth’s Atmosphere.
5
It is the outermost solid layer of Earth; less than 1% of Earth’s mass.
Crust
Located between the core and the crust; a region of hot, slow-flowing, solid rock; 67% of Earth’s mass.
Mantle
The liquid layer of the Earth’s core; lies beneath the mantle and surrounds the inner core.
Outer core
The solid, dense center of our planet
Inner core
Made of two parts-the crust and the rigid, upper part of the mantle.
Lithosphere
A layer of weak or soft mantle that is made of rock that flows slowly.
Asthenosphere
The strong, lower part of the mantle.
Mesosphere
3 compositional layers of the Earth
- Crust
- Mantle
- Core
Physical layers of the Earth
- Lithosphere
- Asthenosphere
- Mesosphere
- Outer core
- Inner core
First element in the universe.
Helium
Second element in the universe.
Hydrogen
It is about 13.8 billion years of age. It is defined as all existing matter and space considered as a whole.
Universe
Universe is ____ years of age.
13.8 billion
2 Perspectives/Views on the existence of the universe
- Scientific View
- Supernatural View (Bible view)
Who are the proponents of the Big Bang theory? On what year?
- Alexander Friedman
- George Lamaitre
- 1920
A theory that says the universe came to existence due to random fluctuation in an empty void, then there was a great explosion or expansion.
Big Bang Theory
Evidence of the Big Bang theory, that shows the electromagnetic radiation leftover from the time of recombination in this cosmology. This radiation was thought to be the oldest remnant of the big bang.
Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation
6 events that happened during the Big Bang Timeline (in order)
- Inflationary Epoch
- Formation of the Universe
- Formation of the Basic Elements
- Radiation Era
- Matter domination
- Birth of the stars and galaxies
The universe expanded from the size of an atomic nucleus to 10³⁵ meters in width. (Part of the Big Bang Timeline)
Inflationary Epoch
How long did the Inflationary Epoch last?
10⁻³⁵ to 10⁻³³ seconds
The universe continued to expand. It became distinct, processing gravity, strong nuclear force, weak nuclear force, and electromagnetic force. (Part of the Big Bang Timeline)
Formation of the Universe
How long did the Formation of the Universe last?
10⁻⁶ seconds
Protons and neutrons combined to form hydrogen nuclei. Then, hydrogen nuclei began to combine in pairs to form helium nucleic – nucleosynthesis. (Part of the Big Bang Timeline)
Formation of the Basic Elements
How long did the Formation of the Basic Elements last?
3 seconds
What formed when the hydrogen nuclei began to combine in pairs? (Formation of the Basic Elements)
helium nucleic (nucleosynthesis)
Most energy in the universe was in the form of radiation. These include different wavelengths of light, X-rays, radio waves, and ultraviolet rays — the cosmic microwave background radiation. (Part of the Big Bang Timeline)
Radiation Era
How long did Radiation Era last?
10,000 years
Matter began to dominate at the end of the radiation era. At this stage, lithium atom began to be formed. Electrons joined with hydrogen and helium nuclei to make small neutral atoms. (Part of the Big Bang Timeline)
Matter Domination
How long did Matter Domination last?
300,000 years
The slightly irregular areas of gas cloud gravitationally attracted nearby matter and became denser which collapsed and eventually gained enough mass and produce light that gave birth to dozens of stars and later on became the galaxies.
Birth of the Stars and Galaxies
How long did Birth of the Stars and Galaxies last?
300 million years
Enumerate the other 9 scientific theories on the formation of the universe.
- Steady State Universe Theory
- Oscillating Universe Theory
- Nebular Hypothesis/Planetesimal Theory
- Fission Theory
- Capture Theory
- Accretion Theory
- Planetary Collision Theory
- Stellar Collision Theory
- Gas Cloud Theory
New matter is quietly but continually appearing out of nothing from the spaces in the galaxies.
Steady State Universe Theory
Another big bang will occur when the universe starts to run down.
Oscillating Universe Theory
As gas swirled around, eddies of gas caused the formation of the sun and the planets.
Nebular Hypothesis/Planetesimal Theory
Bursting of the sun sent out the planets and moons.
Fission Theory
Planets and moons were wandering around and were captured by the sun.
Capture Theory
Small chunks of materials gradually combined and formed Earth, then more chunks formed the sun.
Accretion Theory
Earth collided with a small planet, producing the moon.
Planetary Collision Theory
Two stars collided and formed the planets and moons.
Stellar Collision Theory
Gas clouds were pulled by sun’s gravity then formed into planets and moons.
Gas Cloud Theory
Ancient Greek believed this model before the Big Bang Theory was introduced.
Geocentric Model
This model explained why the stars seem to move around the Earth, but the problem was that some of the planets seem to move backwards instead of the usual forward around Earth.
Geocentric Model
He used the systems of circles to describe the movement of planets around the Earth.
Ptolemy (AD 150)
The small circle where a planet moves is called an _____. (Ptolemic model)
Epicycle
The epicycle turn moves around a big circle called ____. (Ptolemic model)
Deferent
The Hindu text ____ describes the universe as an oscillating universe in which a “cosmic egg” or Brahmanda containing the whole universe expanded out of a single concentrated point called Bindu, and will eventually collapse again.
Rigveda
The Hindu text Rigveda describes the universe as an oscillating universe in which a “____” or ____ containing the whole universe expanded out of a single concentrated point called Bindu, and will eventually collapse again.
cosmic egg, Brahmanda
The Hindu text Rigveda describes the universe as an oscillating universe in which a “cosmic egg” or Brahmanda containing the whole universe expanded out of a single concentrated point called ____, and will eventually collapse again.
Bindu
The giant planets of the outer solar system (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune) are often referred to as ______.
Jovian planets
_____ is stated in the Bible which God created the heaven and earth says in the book of Genesis 1:1.
Supernatural view
It is made up of all the planets that orbit our Sun - consists of moons, comets, asteroids, minor planets, dust, and gas.
Solar System
It contains around 98% of all the material in the Solar System. Its powerful gravity attracts all the other objects in the Solar System towards it.
Sun
Enumerate the 5 Solar System Formation Theories
- Descartes’s Vortex Theory
- Buffon’s Collision Theory
- Kant-Laplace Nebular Theory
- Jean-Jeffrey’s Tidal Theory
- Solar Nebular Theory
He was a French mathematician and physicist, and one of the first proponents of a model on the origin of the solar system.
Rene Descartes (1596-1650)
The Solar System was formed into bodies with nearly circular orbits because of the whirlpool-like motion in the pre-solar materials — the planet as primary whirlpool motion and the moon/satellites as the secondary whirlpool motion.
Descartes’ Vortex Theory
He was a French naturalist in the 18th century who proposed that the planets were formed by the collision of the sun with a giant comet.
George Louis Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1701-1788)
This theory states that the planets were formed by the collision of the sun with a giant comet. The resulting debris formed into planets that rotate in the same direction as they revolved around the sun.
Buffon’s Collision Theory
They suggested that a great cloud of gas and dust called nebula, begins to collapse because of gravitational pull.
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and Pierre Simon Laplace (1749-1827)
This theory states that a great cloud of gas and dust called nebula, begins to collapse because of gravitational pull. As the cloud contracted, it spun more rapidly until it flattens into a pancake-shaped object with a bulge in the center.
Kant-Laplace Nebular Theory
A great cloud of gas and dust.
Nebula
They suggested a dualistic theory in which the sun and planets were produced by different mechanisms. They proposed that the planets were forced from the substance that was torn out of the sun.
Sir James Hopwood Jeans (1877-1946) and Harold Jeffrey (1891-1989)
A dualistic theory in which the sun and planets were produced by different mechanisms. It states that the planets were forced from the substance that was torn out of the sun.
Jean-Jeffrey’s Tidal Theory
The Solar System was formed as a result of the condensation of hydrogen gas and dust referred to as interstellar gas and dust cloud.
Solar Nebular Theory
Different stages in the formation of the planets
- Planetesimals
2. Protoplanets
Accretion of grain-sized particles to form centimeter-sized particles which would grow later to several kilometers in diameter.
Planetesimals
Formation of more massive objects from coalescing planetesimals would later become the planets.
Protoplanets
Enumerate the other celestial bodies found in the Solar System
- Asteroids
- Ceres
- Comets
- Kuiper Belt
- Oort Cloud
They are made up of rocks and are sometimes referred to as minor planets.
Asteroids
They tend to aggregate in the main asteroid belt which is located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.
Asteroids
The first known asteroid.
Ceres
They are composed mainly of ice (frozen water and gas) and nonvolatile dust (silicate minerals and carbon grains).
Comets
They originated from two regions of the outer Solar System.
Comets
It is often called the Solar System’s “final frontier” because it is at the outermost region in the Solar System.
Kuiper Belt
Short period comets like Halley’s comet come from this region and they orbit the sun in less than 200 years.
Kuiper Belt
It is located farther than Kuiper Belt and therefore remained unexplored.
Oort cloud
Long period comets are though to originate from this region and have orbits ranging from 200 years up to millions of years.
Oort cloud
3 Classifications of Planets
- Terrestial Planets
- Jovian Planets
- Dwarf Planets
They are Earth-like planets, which include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
Terrestial planets
Sometimes called the inner planets.
Terrestial planets
Composed mostly of dense, rocky and metallic materials.
Terrestial planets
They are Jupiter-like planets which include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Jovian planets
They are referred to as gas planets and are made up mostly of hydrogen and helium.
Jovian planets
A celestial body that has the following characteristics:
- Is in orbit around the Sun.
- Has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces so that it assumes a nearly round-shape.
- Has not cleared the neighborhood around it.
- Is not a satellite.
Dwarf planet
It is considered as dwarf planet by the International Astronomers Union in August 24, 2006.
Pluto
Pluto is considered as dwarf planet by the International Astronomers Union in ___.
August 24, 2006
2 major requirements for a planet to be considered habitable:
- The star should survive long enough for its planets to develop life.
- The planet should exist in a region where water could remain liquid - the “Goldilocks Zone”.
It is made up of tectonic plates, which are in constant motion.
Crust
Earthquakes and volcanoes are most likely to occur at ____.
Plate boundaries
7 Criteria for Life to Exist
- Surface Temperature
- Presence of Carbon
- Water
- Energy
- Time
- Recycling
- Atmosphere
The right ____ is needed to enable water to remain in its liquid for, which is necessary to maintain life.
Surface Temperature
Its unique properties is the basis of life. It has 4 valence electrons which enables it to easily bond with other carbon atoms and create long complex molecules and polymers such as lipids, carbohydrates, proteins, and nucleic acid.
Presence of Carbon
This is an excellent solvent, capable of dissolving many substances.
Water
Life needs ___, without this, virtually anything wouldn’t happen. Earth is in a perfect region where sunlight drives photosynthesis in plants.
Energy
Earth is about 4.6 billion years old and counting, long enough for life to evolve.
Time
Plate tectonics is vital for a world to host life, and essential in recycling molecules.
Recycling
The age of Earth.
≈ 4.6 billion years old
It helps trap heat from the sun to keep Earth warm.
Carbon Dioxide
It contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% argon. Radiation from the sun is trapped by this.
Atmosphere
Atmosphere properties
- 78% Nitrogen
- 21% Oxygen
- 1% Argon
It is solid and made up of iron and nickel with temperatures of up to 5,500°C.
Inner Core
Inner Core Properties
Iron and Nickel
Temperature of the Inner Core
5,500°C
The engine room of the Earth
Inner Core
It is a liquid layer, also made up of iron and nickel. It is still extremely hot, with temperatures similar to the inner core.
Outer Core
Outer Core Properties
Iron and Nickel
It has a thickness of approximately 2,900 km.
Mantle
Thickness of the Mantle
≈ 2,900 km
The mantle is made up of semi-molten rock called ___.
Magma
It is a thin layer between 0-60 km thick.
Crust
Thickness of the Crust
0-60 km thick
It plays a critical role in the movement of plates on surface of Earth according to the plate tectonic theory.
Asthenosphere
The upper boundary that separates the upper mantle from Earth’s crust is defined by the sudden increase in seismic velocity.
Moho Boundary
2 types of Crust
- Continental Crust
- Oceanic Crust
This crust carries land.
Continental Crust
This crust carries water.
Oceanic Crust
Planets in the Solar System are classified based on what properties?
- Mass
- Size
- Location
Enumerate the 5 dwarf planets.
- Pluto
- Eris
- Ceres
- Makemake
- Haumea
Earth’s physical environment is often described in terms of subsystems or spheres. Enumerate the 5 spheres.
- Magnetosphere
- Atmosphere
- Hydrosphere
- Biosphere
- Lithosphere
Describes the pocket of space surrounding our planet where charged particles are controlled by Earth’s magnetic field.
Magnetosphere
It is a blanket of gases enveloping the Earth and retained by our planet’s gravity.
Atmosphere
It is responsible for temperature and other weather pattern on Earth.
Atmosphere
It blocks most of the sun’s ultraviolet radiation (UV), conducts solar radiation and precipitation through constantly moving air masses, and keeps our planet’s average surface temperature to about 15° Celsius.
Atmosphere
Enumerate the 5 layers of the atmosphere (from the ground, towards the sky).
- Troposphere
- Stratosphere
- Mesosphere
- Thermosphere
- Exosphere
75% to 80% of the total mass of the atmosphere; weather associated cloud types are found in this layer so most of the water vapor is present.
Troposphere
It is the second layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. The temperature increases as altitude increases due to presence of ozone (O₃).
Stratosphere
It absorbs the ultraviolet rays from the sun and releases some of this energy in the stratosphere.
Ozone
It is the third layer of the Earth’s atmosphere. It is the coldest region in the atmosphere in the upper mesosphere. This layer protects the Earth from meteoroids.
Mesosphere
It is the second highest layer of Earth’s atmosphere. The temperature can rise as high as 1500°C.
Thermosphere
Between 80-550 km above the Earth is called the ___. It is used in sending radio waves to great distances.
Ionosphere
It is the outermost layer of Earth’s atmosphere. Most of the orbiting satellites, as well as low density elements, like hydrogen and helium are found in this layer.
Exosphere
This contains all living organisms and it is intimately related to the other three spheres: most living organisms require gases from the atmosphere, water from the hydrosphere, and nutrients and minerals from the geosphere.
Biosphere
The divisions of biosphere; classified according to the predominant vegetation characterized by adaptations of organisms to that particular climate.
Biomes
Enumerate the 5 Biomes.
- Aquatic
- Forest
- Desert
- Tundra
- Taiga
This includes freshwater and marine. (Type of Biome)
Aquatic
This includes tropical, temperate, and boreal forest, as well as taiga. (Type of Biome)
Forest
This is characterized by low rainfall. Most ___ have specialized vegetation as well as specialized animals that can adapt to its condition. (Type of Biome)
Desert
It is the coldest of all the biomes. It has low biotic diversity and simple vegetation structure. (Type of Biome)
Tundra
It is the Russian word for forest and is the largest biome in the world. It is located near top of the world, just below the tundra biome. (Type of Biome)
Taiga
This makes up 71% of Earth’s surface and most of it is saltwater found in the oceans.
Hydrosphere
Enumerate the 5 dwarf planets in the solar system.
- Ceres
- Pluto
- Haumea
- Makemake
- Eris
Enumerate the 6 layers of the sun (outermost to innermost).
- Corona
- Chromosphere
- Photosphere
- Convective zone
- Radiative zone
- Core
It is called the lopsided planet. It has upside down rings.
Uranus
Enumerate the 3 Types of Asteroids in the Asteroid Belt.
- M Type (Metallic)
- C Type (Carbon)
- S Type (Silicate)
The largest moon in Jupiter.
Ganymede
The largest moon in Saturn.
Titan
The name of Earth’s moon.
Luna
Enumerate the 3 Types of Forests.
- Coniferous
- Deciduous
- Rainforest
This is also known as the zone of life.
Biosphere
The leaves in the trees of this type of forest change according to the seasons.
Deciduous Forest
The trees in this type of forest are cone-bearing trees.
Coniferous Forest
Part of the ocean that is partially surrounding a landform.
Sea
A body of saltwater with almost no boundaries and limitless volume.
Ocean
These divide the ocean from land to the sea.
Horizontal zones
These divide the ocean based on depth and on the amount of penetrating sunlight.
Vertical zones
The 2 Types of Ocean Zones
- Horizontal Zones
2. Vertical Zones
This is the region which the sea bottom is exposed during low tide and is covered during high tide. Includes sea stars, sea urchins, and some species of corals.
Coastal Zone
This is located seaward of the coastal zone’s low tide mark.
Pelagic Zone
The 2 Types of Pelagic Zone
- Neritic Zone
2. Oceanic Zone
This extends from the edge of the continental shelf, over the continental shelf, and over the ocean floor and is characterized by darkness.
Neritic Zone
This lies above the continental shelf and begins in the low tide mark outward from the seashore and extends to a depth of 200 m. Many sea animals are found in this zone because sunlight penetrates the water.
Oceanic Zone
Enumerate the 5 zones in Vertical Zones.
- Epipelagic Zone or Sunlight Zone
- Mesopelagic Zone or Twilight Zone
- Bathypelagic Zone or Midnight Zone
- Abyssopelagic Zone or Abyss
- Hadalpelagic Zone or Trenches
It is the solid outer section of Earth.
Lithosphere
The continents are locked up into a huge landmass that was proposed by Alfred Wegener.
Pangaea
This theory proposes that the lithosphere is divided into major plates and smaller plates resting upon the lower soft layer called asthenosphere (upper mantle).
Plate Tectonic Theory
The border between tectonic plates.
Boundary
