Science 5905 Study Guide
Mesosphere
Beneath the asthenosphere. It encompasses the lower mantle, where material still flows but at a much slower rate than in the asthenosphere. 350-2900 km
Earthquakes
Caused when plates rub against each other in an opposite motion, and rock underground suddenly breaks along a fault. Causes seismic waves that make ground shake.
The Water Cycle
Continuous circulation of water throughout Earth and Earth's atmosphere
Geocentric Theory
Earth is the center of the Universe
Patterns of earth
Earth spins on its axis. Makes one full rotation on its axis every 24 hours. Earth also revolves around the sun. It takes 365 days for Earth to make one full revolution around the sun.
Summer Solstice
Earth's maximum tilt is toward the sun, causing the longest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. Occurs around June 22.
Moon
Earth's only natural satellite. Thought to have formed approx 4.5 billion years ago.
Cycles
Earth's rotation on its axis and revoltuion around the sun causes cycles on Earth: day, night, seasons, weather. Other cycles include the phases of the moon, water cycle, and life cycles
Canyons
Formed by weathering and erosion caused by the movement of rivers. Also formed by tectonic activity.
Volcanoes
Formed when magma from within Earths upper mantle erupts through the surface.
Processes of the Lithosphere (crust)
Geologic formations are formations made from rocks that exist on the lithosphere. Ex: volcanoes, mountains, and canyons.
Tsunamis
Giant waves caused by earthquakes or volcanic eruptions under the sea.
3 categories of rocks
Igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary
Core
Innermost layers of Earth. Mainly composed of nickel and iron. Broken into liquid outer core and solid inner core. 2900-6370 km
Sedimentary
Made from deposition, and cementation. Sand grains or visible pebbles; fossils may be visible. Ex: conglomerate, sandstone, limestone, shale
Metamorphic
Made from heat pressure. Sparkly crystals, ribbon like layers. Ex: marble, slate, gneiss
The 8 planets
Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune
Surface
Move along Earth's surface, not through its interior. The slowest of the 3 seismic waves.
Magnetic field S pole
Near the North Pole
Magnetic field N pole
Near the South Pole
Gases present in Earth's atmosphere
Nitrogen (78%), Oxygen (21%), Argon (.09%), Carbon Dioxide (.01%), Helium, Neon and other gases make up small traces.
Which gases make up 99% of the gases in Earth's atmosphere.
Nitrogen and oxygen.
Lunar Eclipse
Occurs when the moon passes directly behind Earth into its umbra (shadow).
Precipitation
Rain and snow
Subduction
Sideways and downward movement of the edge of a plate into the mantle beneath another plate.
Heliocentric Theory
Sun is the center of the universe
Earth
The 3rd planet from the sun. Densest planet in the solar system. Largest of the solar system's 4 terrestrial planets. Only astronomical object known to harbor life.
Winter solstice
The North Pole is tilted furthest away from the sun, causing the shortest period of daylight in the Northern Hemisphere. Occurs around December 21.
Biosphere
The global sum of all ecosystems and living organisms.
Atmosphere
The layer of gases that surround the planet
Cryosphere
The masses of frozen water. Frozen lakes, rivers, oceans and glaciers.
Lithosphere
The outermost and most rigid mechanical layer of Earth. The lithosphere includes the crust and the top of the mantle.
Crust
The outermost solid layer of Earth. 0-100 km
The Solar System
The planetary system that orbits the sun. Includes the 8 planets and their natural satellites, dwarf planets, and their satellites as well as asteroids, comets, and countless particles of smaller debris.
Plate tectonics
The theory that Earth's outer shell is divided into several plates that glide over the mantle or the rocky inner layer above the core. The plates move and separate, causing Earth to separate and change.
Igneous rock
made from lava, and magma. Glassy, smooth surface, gas bubble holes, random arrangement of minerals. Ex: granite, pumice, obsidian
Archean Eon
2.5 billion. Prokaryote life, the first form of life, emerges. The atmosphere is composed of volcanic and greenhouse gases
Minor or light quake
3 to 4.9
When did life begin on Earth
3.8 billion years ago
How old is earth?
4.5 billion years old
Hadean Eon
4.5 billion. Earth is formed out of debris around the solar protoplanetary disk. There is no life. Temperatures are extremely hot with frequent volcanic activity. The moon is formed around this time.
Moderate to strong quake
5 to 6.9
Phanerozoic Eon
541 million-present. Complex life, including vertebrates, begin to dominate Earth's ocean. Gradually, life expands to land, and familiar forms of plants, animals, and fungi begin appearing. Animals-including humans-evolve at the most recent phases of this eon
Proterozoic Eon
541 million. Eukaryotes, a more complex form of life, emerge, including some forms of multicellular organisms. Bacteria begin producing oxygen, shaping the third and current of Earth's atmospheres. Plants, animals and possible earlier forms of fungi form around this time.
major quake
7 to 7.9
great quake
8 or more
Soil
A mixture of minerals. organic matter, gases, liquids, and many organisms that together support life on Earth. Topsoil closest to trees, subsoil, then bedrock
Rocks
A naturally occurring solid mass or aggregate of minerals or mineraloid matter.
Meteorite
A small asteroid
Inner core
A solid ball. Neither solid nor liquid. Super ionic. 5100-6370 km
Light Year
A unit of astronomical distance equal to the distance light travels in one year.
Hydrosphere
All the water of Earth in liquid form. For example, lakes, rivers, and oceans are all part of the hydrosphere.
Seismic Waves
An elastic wave caused by an earthquake
Speed of Light
Approximately 300,000 km/sec in a vacuum.
Hotter stars emit what color light?
blue
Divergent
pulling apart
Cooler stars emit what color light?
red
Ring of Fire
ring of volcanoes around the outer edge of the Pacific Ocean.
Mantle
the layer between the crust and the core, not liquid, ductile or plastic, can flow under certain conditions and changes in pressure. Mainly composed of aluminum and silicates. 100-2900 km
Sun
the star at the center of the solar system. It is the most important source of energy for life on Earth
Primary P waves
these are the fastest waves (5 kilometers per second or approx 3 miles per second) can travel through solid, liquids, and gases.
Comets
A chunk of ice and rock originating outside of the solar system
Asteroids
A chunk of rock and metal in orbit in between mars and jupiter
Outer core
A layer of liquid iron and nickel beneath the mesosphere. This is the only layer of Earth that is a true liquid. 2900-5100 km
Autumn Equinox
Date in the fall when Earth experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. Occurs around September 23.
Vernal Equinox (Spring)
Date in the spring when earth experiences 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. Occurs around March 21.
Secondary S waves
Travel through Earth's interior at about half the speed of primary waves. Can travel through rock, but they cannot travel through liquids or gases.
Earth's atmosphere layers in order from closest to furthest from the sun.
Troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere.
Transpiration
When plants suck water from roots to the small pores in leaves, releasing the water vapor into the atmosphere.
Evaporation
When water turns from a liquid to a gas (water vapor).
Condensation
When water vapor turns back into liquid, water collects as droplets on a cold surface when humid air is in contact with it, forming clouds
Convergent
coming together
Composition Layers
crust, mantle, core
Mountains
formed as a result of the Earth's tectonic plates smashing together
Solar Eclipse
happens when the moon moves in front of the sun
Mechanical Layers
lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core, inner core
