Unit 4: Energy Transfer in Natural Systems

Terms	Definitions
kinetic molecular theory	the theory that all matter is composed of particles (atoms and molecules) moving constantly in random directions
kinetic energy	the energy of a particle or object due to its motion
temperature	a measure of the average kinetic energy of all the particles in a sample of matter
thermal energy	the total energy of all the particles in a solid, liquid, or gas
heat	the amount of thermal energy that transfers from an area or object of higher thermal energy tio an area or object of lower thermal energy
conduction	the transfer of thermal energy from one substance to another or or within a solid by direct contact of particles
fluids	substances in which particles can flow freely
convection	the transfer of thermal energy within a fluid and with the movement of fluid from one place to another
convection current	the movement of a fluid caused by density differences
electromagnetic radiation	the transfer of energy by waves travelling outward in all directions form a source
radiation	high energy rays and particles emitted by radioactive sources
radiant energy	the energy carried by electromagnetic waves
infrared radiation	heat radiation
solar radiation	the transfer of radiant energy from the Sun
atmosphere	layers of gases that extend above a planet's surface
troposphere	the lowest layer of the atmosphere
stratosphere	The second-lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere; the ozone layer is located in the upper stratosphere.
ozone layer	layer of the stratosphere with a high concentration of ozone; absorbs most of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet radiation
mesosphere	the third layer of the Earth's atmosphere
thermosphere	the fourth layer of the Earth's atmosphere
exosphere	the fifth layer of the Earth's atmosphere
insolation	the amount of solar radiation that reaches a certain area
angle of incidence	the angle between a ray reaching a surface and a line perpendicular to that surface
radiation budget	Earth's balance of incoming and outgoing energy
albedo	the amount of radiation reflected by a surface
weather	the condition of the atmosphere in a specific place and at a specific time
pressure	the amount of force per unit area
atmospheric pressure	the pressure exerted by the mass of air above any point on Earth's surface; also called air pressure
barometer	an instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure
kilopascals (kPa)	the SI unit that measures the vertical force of atmospheric pressure per unit area
humidity	a measurement that describes the amount of water vapour in the air
specific humidity	a measure of the number of grams of water vapour in 1 kg of air
dew point	the temperature at which water vapour condenses
relative humidity	a comparison between the amount of water vapour in the air and the amount the air could hold if it were totally saturated
air mass	a body of air that has about the same temperature and moisture throughout
wind	the movement of air from an area of higher pressure to an area of lower pressure
prevailing winds	winds that are typical for a certain region
sea breezes	local winds caused by the different rates at which land and water respond to heating and cooling
onshore breeze	a daytime sea breeze resulting from warm air rising over land and being replaced by cool air drawn in from over the water
offshore breeze	a nighttime sea breeze resulting from warm air over the water rising and drawing in cool air from over the land
Coriolis effect	a change in the direction of moving air , water, or objects due to Earth's rotation
jet stream	a narrow band of fast flowing air moving west to east in the upper troposphere at boundaries between cold and warm air
front	the boundary between two air masses
thunderstorm	extreme weather occurring when water vapour in rising warm air condenses, releasing thermal energy
tornado	a violent, funnel-shaped column of rotating air that touches the ground
hurricanes	tropical cyclones; the name for these violent storms used by people living near the Atlantic Ocean