Terminology all Flashcards
air
the mixture of gases that make up the atmosphere
acid mine drainage
water polluted with acidic chemicals draining into natural water systems
coke
a fuel made from coal, the same way charcoal is made from wood. high in carbon
alloy
a mix of different metals to produce a new type of metal with better qualities than any of the components in it.
chemical process
the use of chemicals to extract minerals from ore
alluvial deposits
material deposited by a river
climate change
long term changes in earth’s temperature and precipitation patterns
compounds
pure substance found, formed by a chemical reaction between 2 or more different elements
crust
the outermost layer of Earth
concentric
having the same center as something else
bioshphere
the sphere of Earth that consists of all living things and their interactions with the rocks, soil, air and water of Earth
atmosphere
the mixture of gases held around earth by gravity
chloryphyll
a green pigment found in chloroplast that gives plants their green color
cell
the smallest unit of all living organisms
DNA
the material found in cells that carries hereditary information
epithelial tissue
a tissue that covers the organs and internal surfaces of the body
element
pure substance made up of only one type of atom, that cannot be split up into a simpler substance
erosion
The process during which weathered material is carried away by wind and water
fossil fuel
coal, oil and gas made from the remains of plants and animals that lived long ago
decanting
pouring out
density
the amount of mass in a given volume of a material
infrastructure
physical items such as roads, drains, water supply, electtricity, power lines and power stations that a modern country or community need
gravitational contractraction
process where a nebula’s gravity overcomes its internal pressure, causing collapse
global warming
an increase in the average temperature of the atmosphere
greenhouse effect
a warming effect caused by the trapping of energy in the atmosphere
greenhouse gases
gases that absorb Earth’s outgoing energy, trapping it in the atmosphere
granite
an igneous rock formed from a large mass of magma that cooled slowly deep inside Earth
igneous rock
rock that forms when magma cools down
hydrosphere
the sphere of Earth that consists of water in all its forms
limestone
a sedimentary rock formed from the bones and shells of small creatures
microscopic
something that is so small it can only be seen using a microscope
microscope
an instrument that uses a lens or a combination of lenses to produce magnified images of small objects
magnifying lens
a piece of glass that is specially curved to produce an enlarged image of an object
macroscopic
large enough to be seen with the naked eye
multicellular
consisting of many cells
metamorphic rocks
rocks that form when the chemical structure of existing rocks is changed by heat
minerals
a naturally occurring inorganic substance that has the same properties throughout. normally considered to be a valuable substance
mantle
the layer of Earth between the outer core and the crust
marble
metamorphic rock formed from limestone
magnetic field
region around a magnetic material, or a moving electric charge, within which the force of magnetism acts
mesosphere
the third layer of the atmosphere from Earth’s surface
ozone layer
The band in the stratosphere in which most of the atmosphere’s ozone is found
ozone
(O^3)
a form of oxygen found mainly in the stratosphere
outer core
the liquid layer of Earth surrounding the inner core
organelle
specialized structures found inside living cells that perform specific functions for the cell
ore
rock with a high concentration of a valuable mineral
nuclear fusion
the release of energy from an atom when its nucleus is split and the atom divides into smaller atoms
inner core
the innermost solid layer of Earth
veins
thin lines of solidified lava that have formed in cracks in other rock
refining
making a natural product pure by removing unwanted substances
photosynthesis
the process by which plants use chlorophyll to convert radiant energy into food
physical process
using physical methods to extract minerals from ore or sediments
Pollutant
something that causes pollution
pumice stone
an igneous rock that has formed as magma emerged and cooled quickly on the surface of the Earth
precipitation
water in any form that falls to Earth’s surface from the clouds
rock cycle
the natural, continuos process in which rocks form are broken down and reform over long periods of time
section drawing
a drwing that shows what something would look like if cut in half.
sedimentary rock
rocks that form from particles of rock deposited in layers
shale
sedimentary rock formed from fine particles of clay
shooting satr
dust or small rocks that burn up when entering the mesosphere
simulate
to create particular conditions that exist in real life using computers and models
slate
a metamorphic rock formed from shale
smelting
to process an ore using heat to extract the minerals inside
specialisation
to take on a particular function and preform it
Sheres of Earth
one of 4 interacting parts of Earth
steel
an alloy of iron and other materials mainly carbon
stellar evolution
the birth, life and death of stars
stratosphere
the second layer of the atmosphere
temperature gradient
hpow much temperature changes with altitude
thermosphere
the last layer of Earths atmosphere
troposphere
the lowest layer of the atmosphere
unicellular
consisting of a single cell
wet mount
a glass slide holding a specimen suspended in a drop of water and covered with a cover slip
weathering
the process during which rock is broken up into smaller particles
altitude
height above sea level
