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Praxis Science > Earth Science > Flashcards

Earth Science Flashcards

1
Q

The Earth gets denser and hotter toward the ____.

A

Center

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2
Q

The outermost solid layer of Earth

A

Crust

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3
Q

Layer of Earth that is under the crust and is not liquid but ductile/plastic. Considered solid.

A

Mantle

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4
Q

The innermost layers of Earth.

A

Core

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5
Q

The outermost and most rigid mechanical layer of Earth. Includes the crust and the top of the mantle.

A

Lithosphere

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6
Q

the denser, weaker layer beneath the lithospheric mantle

A

Asthenosphere

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7
Q

Beneath the asthenosphere. It encompasses the lower mantle, where material still flows but at a much slower rate than in the asthenosphere.

A

Mesosphere

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8
Q

A layer of liquid iron and nickel beneath the mesosphere. This is the only layer of Earth that is a true liquid.

A

Outer Core

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9
Q

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.)

A

Inner Core

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10
Q

All the water on Earth in liquid form.

A

Hydrosphere

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11
Q

The global sum of all ecosystems and living organisms

A

Biosphere

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12
Q

The masses of frozen water on Earth.

A

Cryosphere

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13
Q

What are Earth’s 5 spheres?

A

Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Cryosphere, and Atmosphere

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14
Q

The layer of gasses that surround Earth.

A

Atmosphere

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15
Q

What are the two gases that make up 99% of Earth’s atmosphere? Of those two which one is more prevalent?

A

Nitrogen and Oxygen, Nitrogen being more prevalent

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16
Q

Formations made from rocks that exist on the lithosphere

A

Geological Formations

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17
Q

Geological formation formed as a result of Earth’s tectonic plates smashing together

A

Mountains

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18
Q

Geological formation formed when magma from within Earth’s upper mantle erupts through the surface

A

Volcanoes

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19
Q

Geological formation formed by weathering and erosion caused by the movement of rivers. Also formed by tectonic activity.

A

Canyons

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20
Q

the shaking of the surface of the Earth resulting from a sudden release of energy in the Earth’s lithosphere that creates seismic waves

A

Earthquakes

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21
Q

A ring of volcanoes around the outer edge of the Pacific Ocean. Most of Earth’s volcanoes and earthquakes happen along this ring.

A

Ring of Fire

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22
Q

An elastic wave caused by an earthquake

A

seismic wave

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23
Q

The fastest of the three types of seismic waves. Can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

A

Primary (P waves)

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24
Q

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.

A

Secondary (S waves)

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25
Q

Seismic waves that move along Earth’s surface, not through its interior. They are the slowest of the three types of seismic waves.

A

Surface waves (seismic wave)

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26
Q

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.

A

Tsunami

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27
Q

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.

A

Plate tectonics

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28
Q

pulling apart

A

divergent

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29
Q

coming together

A

convergent

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30
Q

sideways and downward movement of the edge of a plate into the mantle beneath another plate

A

subduction

31
Q

A mixture of minerals, organic matter, gases, liquids, and many organisms that together support life on Earth

A

Soil

32
Q

What are the three different layers of soil in order from top to bottom?

A

Topsoil
Subsoil
Bedrock

33
Q

A continuous circulation of water throughout Earth and Earth’s atmosphere

A

The Water Cycle (or hydrologic cycle)

34
Q

What are the main stages of the water cycle?

A

Evaporation
Condensation
Precipitation
Transpiration

35
Q

Rain and snow

A

Precipitation

36
Q

When water turns from a liquid to a gas

A

Evaporation

37
Q

When water vapor turns back into a liquid (collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it)

A

Condensation

38
Q

When plants suck water from roots to the small pores in leaves, releasing the water vapor into the atmosphere

A

Transpiration

39
Q

When do scientists believe Earth formed?

A

4.5 billion years ago

40
Q

When do scientists believe life began on Earth?

A

3.8 billion years ago

41
Q

the longest portions of geologic time, about a billion years

A

Eon

42
Q

Any naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter

A

Rock

43
Q

Rocks formed from lava/magma; with a glassy smooth surface, gass bubble holes, and random arrangement of minerals

A

Igneous

44
Q

Rocks formed from heat pressure; with sparkly crystals and ribbon-like layers

A

Metamorphic

45
Q

Rocks formed from deposition/cementation; have sand grains or visible pebbles and fossils may be visible

A

Sedimentary

46
Q

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.

A

The Earth

47
Q

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.

A

The Sun

48
Q

The Earth’s only natural satellite. Thought to have formed soon after Earth.

A

The Moon

49
Q

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.

A

The Solar System

50
Q

Which planet and Earth are most similar in size, density, and mass.

A

Venus

51
Q

Which planet is like Earth in terms of rotation and tilt on its axis?

A

Mars

52
Q

A chunk of ice and rock originating outside of the solar system

A

Comet

53
Q

A chunk of rock and metal in orbit in between Mars and Jupiter

A

Asteroid

54
Q

A small asteroid

A

Meteorite

55
Q

A unit of astronomical distance equal to the distance light travels in one Earth year

A

Light Year

56
Q

The speed of light in a vacuum is approx. ____ km/sec

A

300,000

57
Q

Seasons are a result of Earth’s tilt on its ____

A

Axis

58
Q

Date in the fall when Earth experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. Occurs around Sept 23.

A

Fall-Autumn Equinox

59
Q

Earth’s maximum tilt is toward the sun, causing the longest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. This occurs around Jun 22.

A

Summer-Solstice

60
Q

Date in the spring when Earth experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. This occurs around Mar 21.

A

Spring-Vernal Equinox

61
Q

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.

A

Winter-Solstice

62
Q

Theory introduced by Nicolaus Copernicus that positioned the sun at the center of the universe

A

The Heliocentric Theory

63
Q

Theory held before Copernicus, that positioned Earth at the center of the universe

A

The Geocentric Theory

64
Q

When the part of the moon that is illuminated is increasing, the moon phase is ______

A

Waxing

65
Q

When the part of the moon that is illuminated is decreasing, the moon phase is ______

A

Waning

66
Q

A ____ moon is illuminated on the right side; a ____ moon is illuminated on the left side

A

waxing; waning

67
Q

A luminous ball of gas, mostly hydrogen and helium, held together by its own gravity. Its color depends on its temperature.

A

Star

68
Q

Hotter stars emit ___ light; cooler stars emit ___ light

A

blue; red

69
Q

Occurs when the moon passes directly behind Earth into its umbra (shadow)

A

Lunar Eclipse

70
Q

Happens when the moon moves in front of the sun

A

Solar Eclipse

71
Q

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

A

Continental Drift

72
Q

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.

A

axis; 24; 365

73
Q

Earth has a ____ field that extends from its interior to outer space

A

magnetic

74
Q

aspect of science education that involves student exploration of a subject/topic through hands-on activities, investigation and posing of questions

A

Inquiry

Praxis Science (3 decks)

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