Environment/Nature III

Question 1

Atom structure

Answer 1

Most of the atom is empty space.

The rest consists of:

• nucleus (composed of: protons and neutrons)
• electrons

Question 2

Molecule

Answer 2

The smallest unit into which a substance can be divided and still retain the composition and chemical properties of that substance.

Consists of two or more atoms bonded together.

Question 3

Molecule creation

Answer 3

When atoms approach one another, their electron clouds interact with each other and with the nucleus.

These atoms can combine to form molecules.

Question 4

Atom

Answer 4

• the smallest unit of matter that has the characteristic properties of a chemical element.

Question 5

Molecules consist of..,,,

Answer 5

They can consist of a single atom or a grouping of atoms

Question 6

What element forms more chemical compounds than any other element?

Answer 6

Carbon.

• In fact, it forms more compound elements than all the other elements combined.

Question 7

How is an atom held together?

Answer 7

• Each atom is composed of smaller parts.
• the electrons and nuclei are electrically charged
• the electric forces hold the atom together.

Question 8

Cells are largely composed of…

Answer 8

Chemical compounds that contain carbon.

Question 9

Gulf Coast

Answer 9

Area of the Gulf of Mexico in the extreme south of the US.

Runs from Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, to Texas.

Most oil refineries are along the gulf coast.

Question 10

Gulf of Mexico

Answer 10

Body of water connected to the Atlantic Ocean that runs from the Florida penninsula to Cuba.

To the west is Mexico.

Question 11

Straits of Florida

Answer 11

Passage connecting the Gulf of Mexico with the Atlantic Ocean.

It is the body of water that separates Florida and Cuba, which are about 90 miles apart.

Question 12

How long ago did the earth form?

Answer 12

4.6 billion years ago

Question 13

Creation of our atmosphere/evolution

Answer 13

The earth formed 4.6 billion years ago.

After hundreds of millions of years of evolution - oxygenic photosynthesis began.

• before this , there was no O2 (oxygen) in the atmosphere, only methane, ammonia, and water vapor.

Question 14

Oxygenic photosynthesis

Answer 14

Turns sunlight, water, and CO2 into plants.

Question 15

Pantheism

Answer 15

The doctrine that the universe, conceived of as a whole, is God, and that there is no God but the combined substance, forces, and laws, that are manifested in the existing universe.

• an all-embracing inclusiveness view of God, as opposed to viewing God as separate, as many religions do.
• stresses an immanent religious view.

Question 16

Immanence

Answer 16

Indwelling.

Remaining within.

Question 17

Troposphere

Answer 17

(traw-puh-sfeer)
Lowest layer of earth’s atmosphere.
Contains weather and clouds.

Question 18

Stratosphere

Answer 18

Second lowest layer of earth’s atmosphere.
Exists between the troposphere and mesosphere.

Contains: ozone and highest clouds.

Question 19

Mesosphere

Answer 19

(Mez-o-sfeer)

Third lowest level of earth’s atmosphere.
Exists between stratosphere and thermosphere.

Question 20

Thermosphere

Answer 20

Highest level of earth’s atmosphere.
Between mesosphere and outer space.

• where our atmosphere merges with outer space.

Question 21

Name the layers of earth’s atmosphere. From lowest (closest to earth) to highest.

Answer 21

1) . troposphere
2) . stratosphere
3) . mesosphere
4) . thermosphere

Question 22

Multiverse

Answer 22

In physics or cosmology: a hypothetical collection of identical or diverse universes, including our own.

Question 23

Cosmology

Answer 23

Branch of philosophy dealing with the origin and structure of the universe, including all of its diverse parts.

Question 24

Continent

Answer 24

A continent is a large, discrete land mass separated by large bodies of water.

Question 25

How many continents are there?

What are they?

Answer 25

7

• Asia
• Africa
• Antarctica
• Europe
• North America (includes Canada)
• South America
• Australia

Question 26

What is the water cycle?

Answer 26

• The water cycle is the constant movement and storage of water throughout the earth.
• the earth’s water supply never changes. It just travels.

Question 27

How much water is on earth?

Answer 27

• 332 million cubic miles of water.

- this amount never changes, as water simply recycles over and over.

Question 28

How many steps are there in the earth’s water cycle?

Answer 28

4

Evaporation - the sun heats up water in rivers, lakes, streams, and oceans, and it becomes vapor or steam. The vapor or steam then rises.

Condensation - water vapor in the air gets cold and turns into clouds.

Precipitation - when so much water has condensed that the air can’t hold it anymore. It comes down as rain, sleet, or snow.

Collection - when the rain falls it either falls into the oceans or streams, or onto land, where it soaks into the groundwater that plants and animals use to drink. It eventually can be collected for evaporation again.

Question 29

What is a biome?

Answer 29

Biomes (aka “ecosystems”) are large regions of the earth that share similar characteristics, such as:

• climate
• plant communities
• soil
• precipitation
• animal species

Question 30

What are the different biomes?

Answer 30

• desert
• aquatic
• grassland
• tundra
• forest

Question 31

Ecotone

Answer 31

The transition point between two ecosystems, or biomes.

Question 32

Taiga

Answer 32

(Tie-guh)

Forests of the subarctic regions.

Question 33

Chaparral

Answer 33

(shap-uh-ral)
Wilderness.
Jungle

Question 34

Nucleus

Answer 34

An atom’s positively charged center.

Question 35

Proton

Answer 35

• a subatomic particle
• One of the two parts that compose an atom’s nucleus.
• positively charged.

Question 36

Neutron

Answer 36

• a subatomic particle.
• One of the two parts that compose a nucleus.
• has no charge.

Question 37

Electron

Answer 37

A subatomic particle.

• negatively charged.
• a cloud of electrons surrounds the nucleus of an atom.