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Science Composite Test > Earth Science > Flashcards

Earth Science Flashcards

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1
Q

Conduction

A

The transfer of heat through matter, such that areas of greater heat move to areas of less heat

Earth returns heat to the atmosphere through conduction

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2
Q

Radiation

A

Heat transfer via electromagnetic waves

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3
Q

Units of geological time

A 
Shortest
Epochs
Periods
Eras
Longest
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4
Q

Groundwater

A

The source of Americas drinking water

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5
Q

The Doppler Effect

A

Why pitches change (like sirens moving away)

-the change in frequency for its observer moving relative to the source.

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6
Q

Aurora Borealis

A

A phenomenon caused by particles escaping from the sun. Includes a mixture of gases, electrons, and protons, and are sent out at a force that scientists call solar wind.

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7
Q

Spring Tides

A

Especially strong tides that occur when the earth, sun, and moon are in line (a new moon)
-allow the sun and moon to exert gravitational force on the earth and increase tidal bulge height

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8
Q

Neap Tides

A

Occur during quarter moons, especially weak tides

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9
Q

Star Magnitude

A

The star’s brightness

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10
Q

Reflecting Telescope

A

Common in laboratory settings. Images are produced via the reflection of waves off of s concave mirror

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11
Q

Refracting Telescope

A

Use lenses to bend light to focus the images

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12
Q

AU

A

Astronomical Unit

The average distance between the earth and sun

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13
Q

Accretion

A

Clumping together of small particles into large masses into the same planets of our solar system

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14
Q

Sun spot

A

A region on the suns surface that has a lower temp than its surroundings

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15
Q

Umbra

A

The central region of the shadow created during a solar eclipse

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16
Q

Precession

A

Change in axial direction of the earth

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17
Q

Comets

A

Small icy bodies that orbit the sun and produce a glowing tail of gas

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18
Q

Asteroids

A

Small rocky worlds that orbit the sun

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19
Q

Meteoroids

A

A meteor in space. Are often asteroid fragments but do not have a specific orbit. Can become meteors or meteorites.

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20
Q

Supernova

A

The thin cloud of gas and dust from which the sun and planets are formed

21
Q

Hertzsprung-Russell Diagram

A

Shows the relationship between a stars color, temp and mass

Hot blue stars top left
Cool red stars bottom right

22
Q

Supergiant stars

A

Massive and luminous 10 to 10000 times brighter than the sun

23
Q

Dwarf Stars

A

Dying stars that have collapsed in size. Extremely dense.

24
Q

Condensation Theory

A

Theory of star development that go through a specific sequence of stages of development.

25
Q

Giant star

A

Large cool extremely luminous stars

26
Q

White dwarf star

A

Small slowly cooling, extremely dense star

27
Q

Black Dwarfs

A

One possible last stage a star can take. They are cold and dead

28
Q

Binary star

A

Two stars in the same solar system capture hydrogen from companion, the temp of the white dwarf soars, and a nuclear explosion occurs, creating a Nova

29
Q

Nova

A

A sudden brightening of a lower main sequence star caused by the explosion of a star

30
Q

Supernova

A

The massive explosion of an upper main sequence star caused by the detonation of carbon within the star

31
Q

Galaxy

A

A large group of billions of stars held together by a mutual gravitational attraction

32
Q

Globular Clusters

A

Tightly grouped high concentration of stars

33
Q

Galactic Shapes

A

Spiral Galaxy (MW)
Irregular Galaxy
Barred Galaxy
Elliptical Galaxy

34
Q

Nebulae

A

Glowing cloud of interstellar dust and gasses where stars and galaxies form

35
Q

Steady State Theory

A

Scientific theory that held that the universe was static and did not evolve. Popular in 50s and 60s

36
Q

Geocentric Model

A

Original model of the universe in which earth was centered

37
Q

Greek Celestial Model

Aristolian Model

A

Earth is still center but planets and sun are on different spheres orbiting around earth

38
Q

Ptolemaic Model

A

Moon orbiting the sun in elliptical motion

39
Q

Heliocentric Model

A

Sun is center

40
Q

Parsec

A

Standard unit of measurement outside our solar system

206 k AU or 3.26 light years

41
Q

Parallax

A

An apparent change in the position of an object due to a change in the location of the observer

42
Q

Mid-Ocean Ridges

A

Great length and steep slopes, site of sea floor spreading

43
Q

Aseismic Ridge

A

Formed by hot spots, islands, sea mounts, and guyots

44
Q

Guyot

A

Flat topped undersea mountain

45
Q

Trenches

A

Deepest parts of the ocean. Break the absymal plain and are found at subduction zones

46
Q

James Hutton

A

Principle of Uniformitarianism

47
Q

Dendrochronogy

A

Tree ring dating

48
Q

Coriolis Force

A

The effect that the earths rotation has on the winds direction of travel

Science Composite Test (4 decks)

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