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Physical Geology > Unit 1 Outline VOCAB > Flashcards

Unit 1 Outline VOCAB Flashcards

1
Q

Earth Science

A

The scientific study of Earth and the universe around it

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2
Q

Environmental Science

A

the study of ways in which humans interact with the environment and role on Earth

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3
Q

Geology

A

study of the origin, history, and structure of the Earth

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4
Q

Oceanography

A

study of the ocean including movement and ocean floor

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5
Q

Meteorology

A

the study of Earth’s atmosphere, focus on weather and climate

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6
Q

Astronomy

A

the scientific study of the universe

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7
Q

scientific method

A

systematic way of studying our surroundings

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8
Q

Peer Review

A

Process in which experts in a field examine the results and conclusions of a scientist’s study before that study is accepted for publication

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9
Q

Precision

A

the exactness or degree or repeatability of a measurement

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10
Q

Error

A

Amount of variation in a set of measurements

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11
Q

Scientific Theory

A

System of ideas that EXPLAINS many related observations and is supported by a large body of evidence through scientific investigation

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12
Q

Scientific Law

A

DESCRIPTION of an observed phenomenon of the natural world and how it behaves

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13
Q

Crust

A

the thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle

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14
Q

Mantle

A

layer of rock between Earth’s crust and core

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15
Q

Core

A

central part of the Earth

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16
Q

Lithosphere

A

the solid, outer layer of Earth that consists of crust and upper part of mantle

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17
Q

Asthenosphere

A

the solid, plastic layer of the mantle; made of mantle rock that flows very slowly

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18
Q

mesosphere

A

“middle sphere”; strong lower part of mantle

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19
Q

outer core

A

dense liquid

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20
Q

inner core

A

rigid solid

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21
Q

Magnetosphere

A

Magnetic field that extends into space

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22
Q

Newton’s Law of Gravitation/ Gravity

A

The force of attraction that exists between all matter in the universe

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23
Q

Mass

A

how much matter is in an object

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24
Q

Weight

A

the pull of gravity on an object; varies with location and gravity

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25
Q

Matter

A

Anything that has mass and takes up space

26
Q

Energy

A

the ability to do work

27
Q

Open system

A

system in which both energy and matter are exchanged with the surroundings

28
Q

closed system

A

system in which energy, but not matter is exchanged with the surroundings

29
Q

atmosphere

A

mixture of gases that surround the planet, moon, or other celestial body

30
Q

hydrosphere

A

portion of the earth that is water

31
Q

geosphere

A

solid, mostly rocky part of the Earth; extends from core to crust

32
Q

Biosphere

A

the part of Earth where life exists; including all of the living organisms

33
Q

1rst Law of Thermodynamics

A

Energy is transferred between systems but never created or destroyed (think of a budget)

34
Q

2nd Law of Thermodynamics

A

As energy transfers from system to system it becomes less organized with time (constantly becomes less useful/efficient)

35
Q

Nitrogen Cycle

A

Moves through all the spheres; important for cells to build proteins and other cells; “fixed”-> needs to change for reactions

36
Q

Carbon Cycle

A

building block of life; moves through all spheres; short-term movement and long-term storage

37
Q

Phosphorus Cycle

A

building blocks of lipids and proteins; moves through all spheres EXCEPT atmosphere; concerning when it comes to environmental issues (Algae)

38
Q

Water Cycle

A

necessary for life; cycles through atmosphere to the surface and back

39
Q

Ecology

A

study of the complex relationships between living things and their nonliving, or abiotic, environment (connects life and earth science; studies organisms in their ecosystems)

40
Q

ecosytem

A

community of organisms and their abiotic enviroment

41
Q

carrying capacity

A

largest population that an environment can support at any given time

42
Q

food chain

A

sequence of consumption of organisms through an ecosystem

43
Q

food web

A

diagram that shows the feeding relationships among organisms in an ecosystem (multiple food chains)

44
Q

parallels

A

any circle that runs E and W around Earth and that is parallel to the equator (this is a line of latitude)

45
Q

Latitude

A

the angular distance N or S from the equator; expressed in degrees (think of a ladder); measured 0-90 degrees

46
Q

Meridian

A

any semicircle that runs N and S around Earth from the geographic NP to the geographic SP (a line of longitude)

47
Q

longitude

A

the angular distance E or W from the PM expressed in degrees (think long); all locations are labeled 0-180 degrees

48
Q

Great Circle

A

any circle that divides the globe into halves or marks the circumference

49
Q

Geomagnetic Poles

A

are on earth’s surface where the magnetic fields run

50
Q

magnetic declination

A

the angle between the direction of the geographic pole and the direction in which the compass needle points

51
Q

Cartography

A

science of making maps

52
Q

Remote Sensing

A

processes of gathering and analyzing information about an object without physically being in touch with the object

53
Q

Cylindrical Projection

A

an image produced by projecting onto the surface of a cylinder

54
Q

Azimuthal projections

A

an image produced by projecting onto a flat surface

55
Q

conic projection

A

an image produced by projecting onto a conic surface

56
Q

isogram

A

line on a map that represents a constant or equal value of a given quantity (all points along an isogram share the same value)

57
Q

topography

A

the size and shape of the land surface features of a region, including its relief

58
Q

contour line

A

line that connects points of equal elevation on a map

59
Q

geologic map

A

designed to show the distribution of geologic features; shows the types of rocks found in a given area; overlayed on top of a base map that identifies the area

60
Q

soil map

A

map that classifies, records, and describes the types of soil in an area

61
Q

Accuracy

A

how close a measurement is to the truce value

Physical Geology (10 decks)

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