Science (planet earth π) Flashcards
What are minerals?
Naturally occuring, inorganic solids that are the building blocks of rocks.
How are minerals, elements, and rocks related?
Rocks are made of minerals, minerals are made of elements and compounds (or in other words: Rocks β Minerals β Elements)
What are the 6 properties of minerals? Explain each one and write an example of each.
Colour : what does it look like (ex: gold is gold coloured)
Lustre: shininess (can be metallic, glassy, waxy)
Hardness: measured with the MohΕ hardness scale (try to scratch the mineral with harder and harder materials until it can be scratched)
Crystal shape: each mineral has a distinct and specific shape its crystals form (cubic, hexagonal)
Streak: scratch the mineral against a ceramic tile and look at the colour of the powdered residue left behind (ex: gold streaks gold)
Cleavage/Fracture: how a mineral breaks (if it breaks in straight lines, it has cleavage. If it breaks in jagged edges, it has fracture)
What is the softest and hardest mineral?
Softest - Talc
Hardest - Diamond
What are the 4 layers of the earth starting from the surface and moving inward toward the center?
Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core
Which layers of the earth are solid?
Crust and the inner core
Which layers of the earth arenβt solid?
Mantle (semi-solid) and outer core (liquid)
Which layer is the thinnest and which ones the thickest?
Thinnest - Crust
Thickest - Mantle
What is the main difference between inner and outer cores?
Outer core = liquid, inner core = solid, inner core is hotter
What are some sudden earth events that can change the surface of the earth rapidly?
Earthquake, volcanic eruption, tsunami, landslide, tornado, hurricane, etc.
What causes an earthquake?
When plates in the earthΕ crust move past each other, sometimes they get caught and energy builds up. Pressure builds. When the plates finally break, they slide and release the pressure and energy in the form of waves.
How is an earthquake measured?
Richter Scale
What is the machine that is used to detect an earthquake called?
Seismograph
What 2 processes cause the most change to the surface of the earth?
Weathering and erosion
What is weathering?
Breaking rocks down into smaller pieces
How does Sedimentary rock go to metamorphic rock?
Heat and preassure
What is erosion?
Transporting weathered material away from their original location
What are 4 of the most common ways that erosion takes place?
Wind, water, ice and gravity
What are the 3 rock families?
Sedimentary, Igneous, Metamorphic
What is the difference between intrusive and extrusive?
Intrusive = formed from magma, below the surface, Extrusive = formed from lava, above the surface.
What is the difference between lava and magma?
Lava outside a volcano, magma when it is inside
Which one cools faster lava or magma?
Lava
What is strata?
A rock that has visible layers formed by squeezing of sediments. Strata appear like stripes.
Which type of rock are you observing if you see strata?
Sedimentary
What is parent rock?
The original rock
Which type of rock involves a change happening to a parent rock?
Metamorphic
Which type of rock is most often found on the surface of the earth?
Sedimintary
Which types of rock are usually found deep underground?
Metamorphic & Igneous
What processes can change any type of rock into sediments?
Weathering and erosion