Earth Science Flashcards
The Earth gets denser and hotter toward the ____.
Center
The outermost solid layer of Earth
Crust
Layer of Earth that is under the crust and is not liquid but ductile/plastic. Considered solid.
Mantle
The innermost layers of Earth.
Core
The outermost and most rigid mechanical layer of Earth. Includes the crust and the top of the mantle.
Lithosphere
the denser, weaker layer beneath the lithospheric mantle
Asthenosphere
Beneath the asthenosphere. It encompasses the lower mantle, where material still flows but at a much slower rate than in the asthenosphere.
Mesosphere
A layer of liquid iron and nickel beneath the mesosphere. This is the only layer of Earth that is a true liquid.
Outer Core
The very center of the Earth. Usually considered solid (Its outer shell and its innermost sphere both are hot enough to be molten but are a solid iron-nickel alloy because the incredible pressure at the center of the Earth renders it a solid state.)
Inner Core
All the water on Earth in liquid form.
Hydrosphere
The global sum of all ecosystems and living organisms
Biosphere
The masses of frozen water on Earth.
Cryosphere
What are Earth’s 5 spheres?
Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Cryosphere, and Atmosphere
The layer of gasses that surround Earth.
Atmosphere
What are the two gases that make up 99% of Earth’s atmosphere? Of those two which one is more prevalent?
Nitrogen and Oxygen, Nitrogen being more prevalent
Formations made from rocks that exist on the lithosphere
Geological Formations
Geological formation formed as a result of Earth’s tectonic plates smashing together
Mountains
Geological formation formed when magma from within Earth’s upper mantle erupts through the surface
Volcanoes
Geological formation formed by weathering and erosion caused by the movement of rivers. Also formed by tectonic activity.
Canyons
the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s lithosphere that creates seismic waves
Earthquakes
A ring of volcanoes around the outer edge of the Pacific Ocean. Most of Earth’s volcanoes and earthquakes happen along this ring.
Ring of Fire
An elastic wave caused by an earthquake
seismic wave
The fastest of the three types of seismic waves. Can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.
Primary (P waves)
Type of seismic wave that travel through Earth’s interior at about half the speed of primary waves. They can travel through rock but not liquids or gases.
Secondary (S waves)
Seismic waves that move along Earth’s surface, not through its interior. They are the slowest of the three types of seismic waves.
Surface waves (seismic wave)
Giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea. As the waves travel inland, they build up to higher and higher heights as the depth of the ocean decreases.
Tsunami
The theory that Earth’s outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle. The plates move and separate, causing Earth to separate and change.
Plate tectonics
pulling apart
divergent
coming together
convergent
sideways and downward movement of the edge of a plate into the mantle beneath another plate
subduction
A mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and many organisms that together support life on Earth
Soil
What are the three different layers of soil in order from top to bottom?
Topsoil
Subsoil
Bedrock
A continuous circulation of water throughout Earth and Earth’s atmosphere
The Water Cycle (or hydrologic cycle)
What are the main stages of the water cycle?
Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation
Transpiration
Rain and snow
Precipitation
When water turns from a liquid to a gas
Evaporation
When water vapor turns back into a liquid (collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it)
Condensation
When plants suck water from roots to the small pores in leaves, releasing the water vapor into the atmosphere
Transpiration
When do scientists believe Earth formed?
4.5 billion years ago
When do scientists believe life began on Earth?
3.8 billion years ago
the longest portions of geologic time, about a billion years
Eon
Any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter
Rock
Rocks formed from lava/magma; with a glassy smooth surface, gass bubble holes, and random arrangement of minerals
Igneous
Rocks formed from heat pressure; with sparkly crystals and ribbon-like layers
Metamorphic
Rocks formed from deposition/cementation; have sand grains or visible pebbles and fossils may be visible
Sedimentary
The third planet from the sun, the densest planet in the solar system, and the largest of the solar system’s four terrestrial planets. The only astronomical object known to support life.
The Earth
The star at the center of the solar system, and the closest star to Earth. The most important source of energy for life on Earth.
The Sun
The Earth’s only natural satellite. Thought to have formed soon after Earth.
The Moon
A planetary system that orbits the sun. It consists of the sun and everything that orbits around it. This includes the eight planets and their natural satellites, dwarf planets and their satellites, as well as asteroids, comets, and countless particles of smaller debris.
The Solar System
Which planet and Earth are most similar in size, density, and mass.
Venus
Which planet is like Earth in terms of rotation and tilt on its axis?
Mars
A chunk of ice and rock originating outside of the solar system
Comet
A chunk of rock and metal in orbit in between Mars and Jupiter
Asteroid
A small asteroid
Meteorite
A unit of astronomical distance equal to the distance light travels in one Earth year
Light Year
The speed of light in a vacuum is approx. ____ km/sec
300,000
Seasons are a result of Earth’s tilt on its ____
Axis
Date in the fall when Earth experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. Occurs around Sept 23.
Fall-Autumn Equinox
Earth’s maximum tilt is toward the sun, causing the longest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. This occurs around Jun 22.
Summer-Solstice
Date in the spring when Earth experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. This occurs around Mar 21.
Spring-Vernal Equinox
The North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun, causing the shortest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. This occurs around Dec 21.
Winter-Solstice
Theory introduced by Nicolaus Copernicus that positioned the sun at the center of the universe
The Heliocentric Theory
Theory held before Copernicus, that positioned Earth at the center of the universe
The Geocentric Theory
When the part of the moon that is illuminated is increasing, the moon phase is ______
Waxing
When the part of the moon that is illuminated is decreasing, the moon phase is ______
Waning
A ____ moon is illuminated on the right side; a ____ moon is illuminated on the left side
waxing; waning
A luminous ball of gas, mostly hydrogen and helium, held together by its own gravity. Its color depends on its temperature.
Star
Hotter stars emit ___ light; cooler stars emit ___ light
blue; red
Occurs when the moon passes directly behind Earth into its umbra (shadow)
Lunar Eclipse
Happens when the moon moves in front of the sun
Solar Eclipse
Idea first proposed by Alfred Wegener; suggests the Earth’s continents were once one big landmass that separated or drifted apart over time because of plate tectonics
Continental Drift
Earth spins on its ___. It makes one full rotation on its axis every ___ hours. Earth also revolves around the sun. It takes ___ days for Earth to make one full revolution around the sun.
axis; 24; 365
Earth has a ____ field that extends from its interior to outer space
magnetic
aspect of science education that involves student exploration of a subject/topic through hands-on activities, investigation and posing of questions
Inquiry
