PHS 200 Final Exam Study Deck Flashcards
Increase understanding of culminating knowledge from PHS 200 class
Earth Science
understanding Earth and all other celestial objects in space (all sciences); includes geology, oceanography, meteorology, and astronomy
Location of Earth Science Study
outdoors or laboratory
Geology
study of earth and rock formations
Oceanography
study of the ocean
Meteorology
study of atmosphere and weather patterns
Astronomy
study of the universe
Geologic time
span of time since Earth’s formation; analogy: Washington Monument - height of monument = length of geologic time
Science
definition
natural world = consistent and predictable; scientists use observation and measurement; understood through careful, systematic study
Cloud types
determined by nephrologists(study clouds) and time/place of formation
Hypothesis vs. theory
hypothesis = untested explanation/prediction; theory = well-tested hypothesis that is based on facts
Steps in Scientific process
1.) Question
2.)Background research
3.)Hypothesis
4.)Observations/Experiments
5.)Analyze data
6.)Evaluation/turns into theory
Ancient View vs. Modern View of Astronomy
-Ancient astronomy beliefs = positions and movements of celestial objects (planets)
-Modern astronomy beliefs= orgin of celestial objects and movement
Geocentric vs. Heliocentric
-Geocentric: Earth = center of universe
-Heliocentric: Sun = center of solar system
Chinese Contributions to Ancient Astronomy
record-keeping (Sun, Moon, and planet positions vs. fixed stars); predicted Comets, but not sure how or why; comets = mystical (=bad omens and worldly disasters)
“Golden Age” of Astronomy
centered in Greece; measured size and distance of Sun and Moon
Greek word “planetai”
Greek for “wanderers”
Retrograde
Planets = reverse motion of orbit
Ptolemaic
Earth-centered system of the universe; uses terms epicycles (smaller circles of orbit of planets) and deferents (Earth’s large circle orbit)
Eratosthenes
First person to establish the size of Earth
What type of shadow does Earth give?
not cyllindrical
Curved and spherical shadow
Weather (definition)
state of atmosphere at a give time or place (varies daily)
Climate (definition)
aka “average weather”; generalization of weather conditions (based on gradual observations); variations and extremes are included; ex: rainfall, dryness of atmosphere, air quality, humidity
Elements (definition)
quantities or properties that are measured regularly (of weather/climate: 6 types = air temperature, humidity, type/amount of cloudiness, type/amount of precipitation, air pressure, and speed/direction of wind
Perihelion vs Aphelion (definitions)
Perihelion = point of Earth CLOSEST TO Sun (summer); Aphelion = point of Earth FARTHEST FROM Sun (winter); (both while in points of orbit)
Cause of Seasons
- Gradual change in angle (altitude) of Sun above horizon
-Daylight changes
Earth’s Orbit Angle (Inclination of axis)
23.5 degrees; pointed toward North Star
Solstices and Equinoxes
-Solstices = summer (June 21st) and winter (December 21st)
-Equinoxes = spring (March 21st) and fall (September 21st)
Constellations and Zodiac (definitions)
-Constellations = patterns of stars in the night sky; ex: Orion the Hunter
-Zodiac = planets, Sun and Moon = all appear in band in sky (ex: Capricorn, Scorpio)
Celestial Sphere (definition)
Imaginary hollow sphere (stars = hung and carried around Earth); N and S celestial poles; celestial equator
-Measurements = direction (degrees clockwise from due North) and altitude above horizon (location of astronomical objects); angular size and distance
Mean Solar Day vs. Sidereal Day
-Mean Solar Day = average time between two passages of Sun across local celestial median
-Sidereal day = period of Earth’s rotation with respect to the stars
Orbit of Earth/planets
Ecliptic orbits
Synodic month (definition)
period of revolution of the Moon in respect to the Sun; 29.5 days
Sidereal month (definition)
Revolution of Moon around Earth in respect to the stars
Phases of Moon/# of phases
6 phases; crescent (2 days after New Moon), waxing (1 week after Crescent Moon), first-quarter (1 week after waxing moon), full moon (one week after first-quarter moon), waning (1 week after Full moon), and new moon (1 week after waning moon)
Eclipses
-Solar eclipse (called “umbra”; eclipse of Sun; Moon hides Sun; partial shadow = “penumbra”)
-Lunar eclipse (eclipse of Moon)
Moon’s diameter (in respect to Earth’s diameter)
1/4 of Earth’s diameter (due to low mass and extreme density)
Maria (definition)
smooth surfaces of Moon; thought to be seas (orignially)
Relationship between Earth and Moon
-Isotopic twins (made of same materials)
-Moon = composed of remnants from Earth exploding
-Earth’s lunar orbit = moving outward (increases daylight hours)
Lunar Perigee (definition)
point of orbit of Moon or satellite nearest to Earth
Jovian vs. Terrestrial Planets
-Jovian = larger planets (Jupiter, Neptune, Saturn, Uranus); farther away from Sun (outside asteroid belt)
-Terrestrial = closer to Sun (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars)
1 AU
distance from Earth to Sun
Nicholaus Copernicus (definition)
-orbits of planets = circular
-Heliocentrism creator (Sun = center of Universe)
-“On the Revolution of the Heavenly Spheres)
Tycho Brahe (definition)
-created pointers (telescopes) to measure locations of celestial bodies
Stellar Parallax
star position = shifted (also known as star displacement)
Johannes Kepler (definition)
-3 laws of planetary motion
1.) Planet orbit = ellipse
2.)Planet’s orbital speed = depends on distance from Sun (faster = closer to Sun; slower = farther from Sun)
3.) Planet’s orbital period = proportional
Galileo Galilei (definition)
- “Dialogue of the Great World Systems” (Geocentrism vs. Heliocentrism)
-Jupiter = 4 moons
-Planets = spheres
-Venus = same phases as Moon
-Moon’s surface - not smooth
-Sun has sunspots
-First scientist to use telescope in Astronomy
Sir Isaac Newton (definition)
-3 laws of motion
1.) Object in motion stays in motion; object at rest will stay at rest
2.) Force = mass * acceleration
3.)Every action has an equal or opposite reaction
Earth’s spheres
1.)Hydrosphere (water portion; precipitation, condensations, and evaporation)
2.) Atmosphere (gas portion; shallow layer; protects against Sun’s UV rays; gives air to breathe)
3.) Geosphere (solid part; Earth = chemical and physical properties)
4.) Biosphere (all life on Earth; helps life adapt to different environments)
Earth System (definition)
dynamic system of interacting parts and processes
Freshwater from hydrosphere
1.)Glaciers
2.)Groundwater
3.)All other freshwater
Earth’s layers
1.) core (iron/nickel)
2.) mantle (3 layers; solid lower, high-density rock mantle, and solid upper)
3.) crust (high and thin outer layer of Earth)
Hydrologic cycle (definition)
subsystem (matter = repeatedly recycled)
-precipitation (rain or snow)
-transpiration (water vapor released by plants)
-infiltration
-groundwater
-surface flow
-evaporation
-condensation (cloud formation)
Planet Order Mneumonic
My Very Educated Mother Just Served Us Noodles (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune)
Planetesimal (definition)
solid celestial body; 1st stage of planetary formation
Kuiper Belt (definition)
region outside of Neptune (origination of short-period comets)
Oort Cloud (definition)
location of comets that orbit Sun (very far away from Sun)
Meter vs. Meteroid
-Meteor: aka shooting star
-Meteoroid: small solid particles; have orbits in solar system; orgin = comet remains
Meteorites (definition)
irons, stony, or stony-irons; remains of meteoroids
Nebular Theory (definition)
Sun and planets = formed from same cloud of gas and dust in space
-Solar System = now called Solar Nebula
-Process = Nuclear Fusion
-Steps:
1.) Cloud (dust/gases)
2.) Flattened, rotating disk (gravitational energy ——- thermal energy)
3.) Center of nebula = Sun (metal, rock, and ice = condensed)
4.) Planet formation ( over tens of millions of years)
Supernova (definition)
exploding star
Protosun (definition)
Pre-Sun
Distance (Sun and Neptune)
30 AU
Jet distance/time (Earth to Neptune)
510 years
Big Bang (definition)
-13.7 billion years ago
-space, matter, and time = exploded (universe expanded)
-particles formed = hydrogen and helium gases
Inner Planets
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars
-smaller size, higher density
Outer Planets
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
-large size, low density
Ocean Basins (definition)
deep submarine region (beyond continental margins)
-volcanoes, deep canyons, plateaus, and flat plains
Continents (definition)
large, continuous areas of land (continental shelf and islands)
-connected to mainland
Ocean Basin and Continent differences
-Ocean basins:
1.) below sea level
2.)lower average elevation
3.)composition = basaltic rocks
4.)more dense
5.)less buoyant
-Continents:
1.)above sea level
2.)higher average elevation
3.)composition = granitic rocks
4.)less dense
5.)more buoyant
Regions (ocean floor)
1.) Continental margin (adjacent to continents)
2.) Deep-ocean basins (between continent margin and oceanic ridge system; 30% of Earth’s surface)
3.) Oceanic ridges (broad, linear ridge/rise of ocean floor)
Layers of continental margin
1.) Continental shelf (shoreline to slope)
2.) Continental slope (deep-ocean floor)
3.) Continental rise (base of slope)
Layers of deep-ocean basins
1.) Abyssal plain (flat feature)
2.) Deep-water trenches (bending of oceanic crust during subduction)
3.) Seamounts (isolated volcanic peak)
Major features of the Continents
1.) Mountain belts (old = 100,000,000 years old; young = < 100,000,000 years old)
2.) Stable platforms (shields covered by sedimentary rock)
3.) Shields (relatively undeformed sedimentary rocks)
2 Different Mountain Belts
1.) circum-Pacific belt (surrounding Pacific Ocean; has volcanic island areas)
2.) Eastward (Alps to Iran/Himalayas to Indonesia)
Cratons (definition)
interiors of continents (parts = shield and stable platform); flat expanse of ancient metamorphic rock
What is the evolution of Earth’s atmosphere and oceans?
Gases emitted during volcanic eruptions
Differences between St. Helens Volcano Eruption vs. Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii?
1.) St. Helens Volcano = 1980 / Kilauea Volcano = 1983
2.) St. Helens Volcano = largest volcanic eruption in North America / Kilauea Volcano = non-explosive eruptions
3.) St. Helens Volcano = extreme aftermath/blew out north flank of volcano / Kilauea Volcano = relatively quiet outpourings
4.) St. Helens Volcano = killed 59 people (intense heat/suffocating, impact, and mudflows) / Kilauea Volcano = more than 180 home and national park visitor’s center destroyed (no people killed)
Why are some volcanic eruptions explosive and others quiescent?
- Quiescent = effusive; outpourings (fluid lava); harmless; low viscosity (measure of fluid’s mobility)
-Explosive = more spurts (lava); more intense eruptions; harmful; high viscosity (measure of fluid’s mobility); eruption columns (buoyant plumes of hot, ash-laden gases)
Factors of an Eruption Type
Factors:
1.) Viscosity (measure of fluid’s mobility); depends on temperature and silica content; direct relationship to eruption type
2.) Gas content (basaltic, granitic, andesitic)
Magma vs. Lava
-Magma = body of molten rock; gases = water vapor and carbon dioxide; including any dissolved gases and crystals
-Lava = erupted magma
Location of Magma Generation
-Earth’s Upper Mantle
-Partial melting (solid rock)
Magma Composition
- Basaltic rocks (dark color; high % dark silicate material; caused by seafloor spreading; eruptions = high % dark silicate materials; eruptions = highest temp)
-Granitic rocks (light-colored silicate materials; lower % silica; crust-mantle boundary; eruptions = lowest temp)
-Andesitic rocks = combo (granitic and basaltic rocks)
Three categories of materials let go during volcanic eruptions
1.) Lava: flow (basaltic lava) = fluid; flow in thin, broad sheets; speed = > 30 km/hr (usually between 100 m - 300 m); flow (silica-rich rhyolitic lava) = very slow; 90% (total volume of Earth’s lava) = basaltic lava (eruptions = submarine volcanism (seafloor eruptions)
2.) Large volumes of gas: volatiles (gaseous components of magma dissolved in melt); gaseous portion = < 1% - 8% (total weight); form = water vapor
3.) Pyroclastic materials: broken rock, lava “bombs”, and ash; scoria = vesicular eject; produced during basaltic magma eruptions; ash and dust = explosive eruptions; size = very fine dust - sand-sized volcanic ash
Pillow lava (definition)
Basaltic lava = solidifies underwater
2 types (basaltic lava flows)
1.) aa flow (jagged, blocky surface); cooler
2.) pahoehoe flow (smooth-to-ropey surface); hotter
Composition of Volcanic Gases
- H20
-CO2
-SO2
-H2S
-CO
-N2
