Our Views of Planet Earth (L3) Flashcards
Why is Earth considered lucky in placement on the solar system?
The distance of earth from the Sun
The two basic forms of planets in our solar system?
Outer part (Jovian Planets) and Inner Planets (Terrestial)
Characteristics of a Jovian planet and which planets are included?
Very thick atmospheres and far from sun that they have retained their original light gases (hydrogen, helium)
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
Characteristics of a Terrestial Planet and which planets are included?
Small “earth-like” rocky planets w/ thin atmospheres that are too close to sun to have retained the light gases
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars
What would happen if Earth was put in the Orbit of Venus?
Increased solar radiation –> greenhouse effect –> raise temp –> photosynthesizing organisms could not survive –> more increse in temperature
Earth put in the Orbit of Mars?
decrease in solar energy –> freeze water into ice –> lower temp –> earth completely covered with ice
Eart consists of which 4 major physical domains or “spheres”
GEOSPHERE - solid earth and earth surface
ATMOSPHERE- envelope of gases that surround the Earth
HYDROSPHERE - all water on earth
BIOSPHERE - all living organisms
What happens if there is one a change in one of these spheres?
Other spheres will change as well to bring the system back into a natural balance
3 types of systems of matter and energy
Isolated system – completely isolated, neither matter nor energy enters or leaves the system
Open system – matter and energy can enter and leave the system
Closed System – energy is exchanged between the systems and its surroundings
Which type of system of matter and energy is Earth?
Closed system (earth doesn’t gain matter from space, nor does Earth lose mass to its surroundings)
The two ways we can classify Earth’s shells?
Chemical Composition and Physical Properties
Earth consists of (chemical composition):
CORE- innermost part (iron and nickel)
MANTLE- surrounding the core (silica)
CRUST- top of mantle (silica AND lighter metals)
Earth consists of (physical properties):
INNER CORE - solid
OUTER CORE - Liquid
MESOPHERE - Solid (but flows like fluid)
ASTHENOSPHERE - Near liquid state
LITHOSPHERE - Brittle, Solid
How would you define what a lithosphere is? (EXAM Q)
outer rocky shell composed of the lower part of teh brittle mantle rock and uppermost part made of all the crust
The heat responsible for making Earth a semi-molten state was probably generated from 3 main things:
- an intense and frequent bombardment by meteroitic bodies
- the decay of radioactive elements
- the sinking of heavy elements (iron and nickel) towards centre of earth whcih generated heat and formed Earths core
