Earth & Life Science Flashcards
defined as all existing matter and space considered as a whole. The observable universe is believed to be at least 93 billion light years in diameter and constantly expanding since the big bang 13.8 billion years ago.
The Universe
It describes the universe as originating in an infinitely tiny, infinitely dense point or singularity between 13 to 14 billion years ago.
Big Bang Model of the Universe (1929)
The universe expanded from the size of an atom to 1035 meters in width.
Inflationary Epoch
The universe continues to expand. It became distinct: gravity, strong nuclear force that held the nuclei together, weak nuclear force and electromagnetic force.
Formation of the Universe
Protons, and neutrons combine to form hydrogen nucleic. Then hydrogen began to combine in pairs to form helium nuclie. This process is called nucleosynthesis.
Formation of Basic Elements
Most of energy in the universe was in the form of radiation. These include different wavelengths of light, X-rays, radio waves and UV rays.
Radiation era
Matter began to dominate and the end of radiation era at this stage, lithium atom began to formed. Electrons joined with hydrogen and helium nuclei to make scales neutral atoms.
Matter domination
The slightly irregular areas of gas cloud, gravitational attract nearby matter and became denser. The dense gas clouds collapsed and eventually gain enough mass to ignite producing light.
Birth of the Stars and Galaxies
is a representation of an idea, an object or even a process that is used to describe and explain phenomena that cannot be experienced directly.
model
two popular models about the Solar System
Claudius Ptolemy’s geocentric model & Nicholas Copernicus’ heliocentric model
The quantity of rotation of a body, which is the product of its moment of inertia and its angular velocity.
Angular momentum
were the first to propose the earliest theory of how the Solar System originated.
Immanuel Kant (1724-1804) and Pierre-Simon Laplace (1749-1827)
presumes that the Solar System began as cloud of dispersed interstellar gas called nebula
The Kant-Laplace nebular hypothesis
Characterized by its blue waters, rocky brown and green land masses with white grounds set against the black background. It is made up of erratic, complex and interactive systems that make it constantly changing planet.
Earth
2 types of layers of the earth
Compositional Layer & Mechanical Layer
Parts of Compositional layer
Crust, Mantle, Core
Parts of Mechanical Layer
Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, Mesosphere, Inner/Outer Core
Outermost layer of earth. It is made up of large rocks divided into two forms; oceanic crust and continental
Crust
is mostly solid rocks and minerals and marked by malleable semi-solid magma. It represents about 85% of the total weight and mass of the planet.
Mantle
is entirely made up of metal alloy such as iron (Fe) and nickel (Ni). Other elements found in the Earth’s core are siderophiles.
Core
it is the largest and second to the last layer of our planet. It is about 2,200 km thick and composed entirely super heated liquid molten lava of liquid iron and nickel.
Outer Core
The final layer of the Earth is the inner core which is an exceedingly hot, dense huge of mostly iron 2500km wide.
Inner Core
is caused by breaking down of rocks or explosions
Seismic Waves
The Earth’s Four Subsystems
Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere
It is believed that at the beginning of the Earth, the continents are all locked up into a huge landmass
Pangaea
seven continents in the world
North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Antarctica, Australia
The Earth’s hydrosphere can be in a form of liquid, vapor and ice such as glaciers, ice caps and ice bergs. This frozen part is called
Cryosphere
Earth’s major oceans
Pacific ocean, Atlantic ocean, Arctic ocean, Southern ocean, Indian ocean
Oceans may be divided into layers known as zones.
horizontal or vertical zones
2 zone of horizontal zone
Coastal and Pelagic Zone
is the region in which sea bottom is exposed during low tide and is covered during high tide. Some animals have adapted to this environment like sea stars, sea urchins and some species of coral.
Coastal zone
is located sea ward of the coastal zone’s low tide mark. This is always covered with water.
Pelagic zone
two divisions of Pelagic Zones
neritic zone and oceanic zone.
begin at sea level and end at the deepest point in the ocean. There are five zones. Each zone receives different amount of sunlight.
Vertical zones
is the zone that gets a lot of sunlight resulting to an abundance of aquatic plants. Common animals found in this zone include seals, sea turtles, sea lions, ray, and sharks.
Epipelagic zone or the sunlight zone
is characterized by dim light due to the limited amount of sunlight it receives. Ono plants are found in this region. Lilly fish, octopus, and squid are found in this region.
Mesopelagic zone or the twilight zone
does not receive any sunlight. Animals that live here lack eyes. Some animals can be found in this are like viperfish, anglerfish, stripe eel, and tripod fish.
Bathypelagic zone or the midnight zone
is described as deep sea. Most animals living in this area are invertebrate like blind shrimps, small squids, and hagfish.
Abyssopelagic zone or the abyss
is the deepest part of the ocean. This zone is mostly found in deep water trenches and canyons. Some animals exist here like sea cucumber and tube worms.
Hadalpelagic zone or the trenches
This thin layer of gas envelops our planer is necessary to sustain life because it contains gases essential for humans and animals to breathe.
Atmosphere
Layers of the Atmosphere
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere
It contains about 80% of the total mass of the atmosphere. Most of the water vapor present in the atmosphere is found in the troposphere. All weather-associated cloud types are found in this layer.
Troposphere
extends up to 50km high. It is the region where we can find the ozone layer which absorbs and scatters the solar ultraviolet radiation.
Stratosphere