Unit 4

Question 1

Crust

Answer 1

solid rocks on earth surface (oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, igneous and metamorphic rocks)

Question 2

Mantle

Answer 2

Flowing rocks (mostly silicates)

Question 3

Outer core

Answer 3

liquid iron and nickel

Question 4

Inner core

Answer 4

solid iron and nickel

Question 5

Asthenosphere

Answer 5

the soft, flexible upper layer of the mantle, on which the tectonic plates move

Question 6

Continental drift

Answer 6

the theory that all of Earth’s continents were once joined together into a single large landmass (Pangea), and then moved apart, forming the continents we see today

Question 7

Convection

Answer 7

transfer of heat by movement of a fluid

Question 8

Convection currents

Answer 8

movement within hot fluids, when the heat source is on the bottom, such as in a boiling pot of soup on the stove. Convection currents happen because the hotter material is less dense and rises; when it reaches the surface, it cools and becomes less dense, so it sinks. This rising and sinking creates a circular motion within the fluid.

Question 9

Convergent plate boundaries

Answer 9

where two tectonic plates move towards each other

Question 10

Divergent plate boundaries

Answer 10

where two tectonic plates move away from each other

Question 11

Gondwana

Answer 11

the southern continent formed when Pangea split into two pieces

Question 12

Laurasia

Answer 12

the northern continent formed when Pangea split into two pieces

Question 13

Lithosphere

Answer 13

the rigid, brittle layer made up of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle. It is broken up into pieces called tectonic plates.

Question 14

Mantle convection

Answer 14

convection currents in the mantle that occur because hot rock in the lower part of the mantle is less dense and rises, and cooler rock in the upper part of the mantle cools, becomes more dense, and sinks. Mantle convection is thought to be the mechanism driving the movement of tectonic plates.

Question 15

Mid-ocean ridge

Answer 15

a system of connected underwater mountain ranges that run throughout the world’s oceans. There is a rift valley in the center of the mid-ocean ridge, where magma rises up from the mantle, and pushes out to either side, producing seafloor spreading.

Question 16

Pangea

Answer 16

(“all land”) the single huge supercontinent that existed 245 million years ago, when all of Earth’s continents were joined together

Question 17

Seafloor spreading

Answer 17

the process by which new oceanic crust forms when magma rises up and solidifies at the mid-ocean ridges. The newer crust pushes the older crust out to each side, which is why the age of the sea floor increases with distance away from the mid-ocean ridges.

Question 18

Subduction

Answer 18

the process by which one tectonic plate sinks below another, returning to the mantle, where the rock is re-melted. Subduction takes place at convergent plate boundaries. Oceanic crust, which is denser, will always subduct under the less dense continental crust.

Question 19

Tectonic plates

Answer 19

large pieces of the lithosphere that slowly move on top of the asthenosphere. There are seven primary plates and many smaller ones. The seven primary plates are the African Plate, Antarctic Plate, Eurasian Plate, Indo-Australian Plate, North American Plate, Pacific Plate, and South American Plate.

Question 20

Tectonic plate boundary

Answer 20

a place where two tectonic plates meet

Question 21

Transform plate boundary

Answer 21

where two tectonic plates slip past each other, moving in opposite directions

Question 22

Atmosphere

Answer 22

The layer of air that surrounds the Earth (like a blanket). The atmosphere is made up of a mixture of gaseous elements and compounds and a small amount of tiny solids and liquids. The atmosphere is held close to Earth due to gravity.

Question 23

Thermosphere

Answer 23

The atmospheric layer between the mesosphere and the exosphere where the molecules contain the most heat energy; the Northern and Southern lights, known as the auroras are found here. The ionosphere; the temperature increases as altitude increases.

Question 24

Mesosphere

Answer 24

The middle layer of Earth’s atmosphere where most meteoroids burn up. The temperature decreases as altitude increases.

Question 25

Jet stream

Answer 25

“Rivers” of high-speed air in the atmosphere, found in the top section of troposphere/early stratosphere. It affects air masses and affects aircraft by speeding or slowing their path.

Question 26

Ozone layer

Answer 26

A layer of a special kind of oxygen (ozone = O3) found in the stratosphere that protects life on Earth from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays

Question 27

Stratosphere

Answer 27

The second layer from the Earth’s surface. It contains the ozone layer. The temperature increases as altitude increases due to the ozone layer’s absorption of ultraviolet rays from the sun.

Question 28

Troposphere

Answer 28

The lowest layer of the atmospheric, containing about 75% of all the air in the atmosphere. It contains the air we breathe and is where weather, clouds, and air pollution are found. The temperature decreases as altitude decreases air pressure: The amount of force pushing on a surface or area.-Think about how your ears feel under water…..image that higher up in the atmosphere….what might they feel like.

Question 29

Low pressure

Answer 29

When air warms, its molecules scatter, the air becomes less dense and it rises. This causes low pressure. Air is usually cloudy and winds are particularly strong

Question 30

High pressure

Answer 30

When air cools, its molecules move closer together, the air becomes more dense and it sinks. This causes high pressure. Weather is fair and winds typically light.

Question 31

Radiation

Answer 31

The transfer of energy (including heat) through electromagnetic (light) waves. Examples include: radio, microwave, infrared, ultraviolet, visible light, x-rays, gamma rays

Question 32

Ultraviolet rays

Answer 32

A form of energy given off by light with wavelengths that are shorter than visible light. Ultraviolet rays are harmful to living things

Question 33

Wind

Answer 33

Horizontal movement of air from an area of high pressure to an area of lower pressure