Upgrade to remove ads
Only $35.99/year

Earth Science Vocab Midterm Review

Terms in this set (100)

aphelion
The point in a celestial bodies orbit where it is furthest from the sun
Atmosphere
The layer of gases that surround a planet such as earth
Biosphere
The collection of all organisms that live on Earth along with the environments in which they live
Geocentric model
The theory that the earth is at the center of the solar system and all other planets and stars orbited the earth
Geology
The study of the materials that make up earth and the processes that change earth overtime
Habitable zone
The region around a star in which liquid water can exist on the surface of planets, and which can therefore support advanced life
Heliocentric model
theory that the sun is at the center of the solar system; planets orbit the sun, and the moon orbits the earth
Hydrosphere
The part of earth composed of water
Lithosphere
The rigid outer layer of earth, composed of mostly solid rock
Umbra
The darkest, inner part of a shadow. During a solar eclipse, the moon completely blocks the sun within the umbra
Universe
The collection of all matter and energy that exists, as well as space and time themselves
Vernal equinox
The moment of time in the spring when the amount of daylight and night are equal
Summer solstice
The moment of time when the sun is higher in the sky than at any other time, also the longest day of the year
Winter solstice
The moment of time when the sun is lowest in the sky at noon, which occurs on the day with the least hours of sunlight
Cartography
The science of map-making
Contour line
Lines on a topographic map that connect points of equal elevation
Equator
The line of latitude that is 0°
Latitude
Lines that run parallel to the equator that help determine locations on earth
Longitude
Lines that run perpendicular to the equator that help determine locations on earth
Prime Meridian
The line of longitude that is 0°
Topographic map
A map showing elevations on earth's surface in a measurable fashion, with contour lines
Cycle of scientific enterprise
The process of forming a theory to account for a body of facts, then formulating testable hypothesis from the theory, then testing the hypothesis experimentally and analyzing the results. If the hypothesis is confirmed, then the theory is strengthened, otherwise it is weakened
Experiment
A scientific test of a hypothesis
Experimental science
Science that tests hypotheses by conducting planned, repeatable, well controlled experiments
Historical science
A scientific investigation about events that happened in the past. These events can be modeled in a laboratory or on a computer but cannot be repeated.
Hypothesis
A proposed answer to a scientific question, often stated in the form of a prediction of what a scientist expects to find as the result of further investigation
Natural resource
any material or substance provided by earth that human beings can use
Nonrenewable natural resource
A natural resource that is not replaced when it is removed from nature for human use
Renewable natural resource
A natural resource that can be replaced as it is used
Scientific fact
A scientific statement that is supported by a large amount of evidence that is correct so far as we know
Stewardship
The wise and prudent management of things entrusted to us
Theory
An explanation that seeks account for all related facts; a mental model that explains how something in the universe works
atomic number
the number of protons in an atom; the periodic table is arranged by this number
cleavage
The tendency of a mineral to break along certain planes.
compound
a substance made out of two or more elements that have been chemically bonded to eachother
crystal
a solid in which atoms are arranged in ordered repeating patterns
density
the ratio of mass to volume for a substance; how tightly the atoms are packed together
element
a substance formed from only one type of atom
gem
a rare mineral highly valued for its exceptional beauty
hardness
a measure of how resistant a mineral is to scratching
luster
the way a mineral reflects light off its surface
mineral
A naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid with a definite chemical composition and definite physical properties
Mohs scale of hardness
A scale expressing the hardness of a mineral from 1 to 10
Ore
A mineral that contains a useful substance that can be mined at a profit
Rock
A solid mixture of one or more minerals
Cementation
The process of forming a cement that holds mineral grains together in a clastic sedimentary rock
Extrusive
Refers to igneous rocks formed on Earth's surface rather than inside of earth's crust
Fossil fuels
Fuels formed by the decay of organisms that lived on earth in the distant past; coal, petroleum (crude oil), and natural gas
Igneous rock
A rock formed by crystallization of minerals from magma or lava
Intrusive
Refers to igneous rocks formed beneath Earth's surface
Clastic sedimentary rocks
Sedimentary rocks made of fragments of pre-existing rock
Compaction
The process of squeezing mineral grains closer to each other in sediments, leading to a reduction in the amount of pore space
Contact metamorphism
High temperature metamorphism of rocks due to the intrusion of magma
Erosion
The removal of weathered materials from a place by agents such as water, wind, or ice
Deposition
The process that occurs when sediments stop being transported by water, wind, or glaciers and are dropped along the ground or bottom of a body of water
Lava
Molten rock after it comes out of earth add a volcano
Magma
Molten rock inside earth
Metamorphic rock
A rock formed when heat or pressure transforms a pre-existing rock into a different kind of rock, usually involving a change of minerals present in the rock
Regional metamorphism
Metamorphism that occurs as a result of high pressure deep in the crust beneath mountain ranges as they form
Sediment
A deposit of loose mineral grains, such as gravel, silt, sand, and clay, which might be formed by the breakdown of pre-existing rocks, or by organisms in water that produced hard shells of various kinds
Sedimentary rock
A rock formed by the compaction and cementation of sediments
Weathering
The breakdown of rocks to form sediments
Abyssal plain
A very level area on the ocean floor found between the continental rise and mid ocean ridges
Aesthenosphere
the deeper part of earth's mantle beneath the lithosphere where the rocks flow slowly because of immense pressures
Continental drift
The theory that all continents were once joined together and then they split into smaller continents
Continental margin
The edge of a continent, including the continental shelf, continental slope, and continental rise
Convergent boundary
A boundary where two plates collide with each other as they move towards each other
Divergent boundary
A boundary where plates are moving apart from each other
Fault
A break in rocks where movement has occurred
Fold
A bend in a rock layer
Mid-ocean Ridge
A continuous mountain range that runs through all the oceans
Monocline
A fold that is like a step with horizontal rocks on either side of the fold
Pangea
The proposed supercontinent that broke apart through plate tectonics
Plate tectonics
The theory that earths entire lithosphere is composed of tectonic plates that move around on earth surface
Seafloor spreading
The theory that new ocean crust is made at mid-ocean ridges and then slowly moves away from the Ridge Crest
Stress
Force applied on rock or other material that has the potential to change the shape of the material
Subduction
The process by which an oceanic plate plunges beneath another tectonic plate and goes down into the mantle
Syncline
A fold where rock layers sloped towards the central axis of the fold, with layers looking like a right side up "U"
Tectonic plate
A large rigid section of the lithosphere that moves as a single unit over the aesthenosphere
Transform boundary
A boundary where two plates slide past each other
Ash
Silt and sand sized pyroclastic material that may be carried in the atmosphere miles downwind from a volcano
Caldera
A large volcanic crater
Cinder cone
A small volcano built mainly from loose pyroclastic material
Crater
A steep walled depression at the summit of a volcano
Earthquake
A violent shaking of earth's crust caused by rapid release of energy
Epicenter
The point on earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
Composite cone
A volcano made of alternating layers of lava flows and pyroclastic material
hotspot
a region of hotter than normal rocks that may be the source of magma for volcanoes in the interior of tectonic plates
lahar
A thick, dense mixture of water and pyroclastic material that flows down the slopes of a volcano
Magma chamber
A pool of molten rock in earth's crust, often beneath the volcano
Magnitude
A measure of the amount of energy released by an earthquake
Mercalli intensity scale
An earthquake intensity scale that describes how much damage an earthquake does rather than its energy output
pyroclastic flow
A mass of hot, glowing material that is ejected from a volcano and which flows down the slopes of the volcano at high speeds
Richter scale
An earthquake magnitude scale which measures the size of the seismic waves as recorded on a seismogram
seismic wave
A wave that transmits energy through Earth's interior
seismogram
a paper or digital record of vibrations due to seismic activity such as earthquakes
shield volcano
A large volcano with a broad dome shape, like Kilauea in Hawaii
tsunami
A large ocean wave or series of waves caused by events such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and landslides
volcanic arc
A line of volcanoes parallel to a deep-ocean trench.
Volcano
A mountain or hill formed by eruptions of lava or pyroclastic material
Students also viewed