NJASK PREP TEST Flashcards
Air mass
Large body of air that has a uniform temperature and humidity
Climate
Average condition of the atmosphere in an area over many years
Cold front
Boundary formed when a cool air mass pushed into/under a warm air mass
Condensation
Changing of water vapor into water droplets
Conduction
Transfer of heat by direct molecular contact
Convection
Transfer of heat by flowing action within a liquid or gas
Core
Earth’s center
Crust
Outermost solid rock layer of earth
Density
Compares mass of an object to its volume (mass/volume)
Earthquake
Shaking of the earth’s crust, caused by sudden movement of rocks sliding along a fault in crust
Energy
Ability to do work
Erosion
Process by which rock material at Earth’s surface is physically worn away and carried away
Evaporation
Change of liquid to vapor (gas)
Faulting
Process by which internal forces cause earth’s crust to break and slide along fractures
Fossil
The remains of ancient organisms, usually found in sedimentary rock
Front
Boundary that forms between two different air masses
High pressure system
Large areas where air is sinking causing high pressure
Hurricane
Large rotating storm; forms over the ocean in tropics, with strong winds and rains
Hydrosphere
The liquid part of the earth
Latitude
Distance in degrees, east and west of the prime meridian
Lithosphere
Solid part of the earth (the crust)
Longitude
Distance measured in degrees north or south of the Equator
Low pressure system
A large area where air is rising causing low surface air pressure
Mantle
Layers beneath earth’s crust that are solid but flows slowly. Contains magma
Mountain
Feature above the Earth’s surface that rises above surrounding landscape; caused by folding, faulting, or volcanic activity
Plate tectonics
The theory that the Earth’s crust is broken up into a number of large pieces or plates, that move and interact, producing many of Earth’s surface features.
Prevailing winds
Winds that commonly blow in the same direction at a given latitude.
Temperature
Measure of the average molecular motion of a substance
Thunderstorm
Intense rainstorm that affects a small area, accompanied by thunder and lightning
Tornado
Violent whirling wind, sometimes funnel shaped
Warm front
Boundary formed when a warm air mass slides up and over cool air mass.
Water cycle
Continuous movement of water beneath Earth’s surface and the atmosphere by means of evaporation, condensation, and precipitation.
Weather
Changing conditions of the atmosphere, with respect to heat, cold, rain, snow
Weathering
Breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces, mostly caused by wind, water and ice.
Wind
Movement of air over earth’s surface
Wind direction
Direction from which the wind is blowing
Winter storms
Included blizzards and ice storms
Atmosphere
The gases surrounding the Earth
Precipitation
rain, snow, sleet, or hail that falls to the ground
Subduction
the sinking of one crustal plate under another as they collide
Radiation
process of sending off energy in the form of light or heat
