Term
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Definition
| Accuracy is the proximity of an experimental value to its true value. Precision is the proximity of experimental values to each other. |
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Term
| Atmosphere composition and layers |
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Definition
75% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% other gasses. The layers are:
Troposphere (weather sphere)
Stratosphere (ozone layer)
Mesosphere (auroras)
Thermosphere (high energy layer)
Exosphere (edge of space) |
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Term
| Compare and contrast scientific hypothesis and a scientific law. |
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Definition
| Both can be proven wrong. A law is something that has not been contradicted by testing. A hypothesis is an educated guess based on inferences. |
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Term
| Compare inner planets (terrestrial) to the outer planets (Jovian) in terms of size, compostion, temperature etc. |
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Definition
| Terrestrial planets are small, rocky and metallic, and generally warmer than jovian planets. Jovian planets are large, made of gasses and ices and are generally colder. |
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Term
| Compare inner planets (terrestrial) to the outer planets (Jovian) in terms of size, compostion, temperature etc. |
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Definition
| Terrestrial planets are small, rocky and metallic, and generally warmer than jovian planets. Jovian planets are large, made of gasses and ices and are generally colder. |
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Term
| Define fault. Describe the theory of plate tectonics. What does this theory help scientists explain? |
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Definition
| A fault is a fracture in Earth along which movement has occurred. Plate tectonics says that Earth's outer shell consists of various plates that interact in various ways and thereby produce Earthquakes, volcanoes, mountains and crust. |
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Term
| Define geology and differentiate between physical and historical geology |
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Definition
| Geology is the science that examines Earth, its form and composition and the changes it has undergone and is undergoing. Physical geology examines the materials that compose Earth and the processes that shape our planet. Historical geology tries to create a timeline of earth's physical and biological changes. |
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Term
| Define plutons- identify common plutons |
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Definition
| A pluton is an intrusive igneous structure that happens because magma hardens beneath earth's surface. Ex. sills, laccoliths, batholiths and dikes. |
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Term
| Define pyroclastic material |
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Definition
| Pyroclastic material is volcanic matter ejected during an eruption. Composed of ash, lapilli, bombs and blocks. |
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Term
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Definition
| The concept that processes that have shaped the earth in the past are the same as those operating today. |
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Term
| Density definition and layering of liquids. |
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Definition
| Density is the ratio of mass to volume (mass per unit volume). Denser liquids will stay towards the bottom, and less dense liquids will travel to the top. |
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Term
| Describe the Global Grid in reference to latitude and longitude lines. |
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Definition
Latitude-Distance north or south of the equator
Longitude- East or West of the prime meridian
Measured in degrees |
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Term
| Describe the different types of plate boundaries. |
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Definition
Divergent boundary- where lithosphere spreads apart and lithosphere is formed.
Convergent boundary- Where lithosphere comes together and is destroyed
Fault- Faults are where plates grind past each other and nothing is created nor destroyed. |
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Term
| Describe the evidence that supported Wegener's Continental Drift Theory. |
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Definition
Fossil Evidence- includes fossils found on different land masses.
Rock Types- The same rock types were found in mountains across different continents.
Ancient Climates- Found glacial deposits in places where it was too hot for them to form now. |
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Term
| Describe the properties of minerals. (color, streak, luster, hardness, cleavage/fracture, crystal form, specific gravity, special properties) |
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Definition
Color- color
Streak- color of a mineral in powdered form.
Luster-how light reflects from the mineral
Crystal form- visible expression of minerals internal arrangement of atoms.
Hardness- Minerals resistance to breaking or being scratched
Cleavage- Tendency of a mineral to break along flat planes
Fracture- Uneven breaks when a mineral doesn't show cleavage
Specific Gravity- Density of a mineral
Distinctive properties- Can help recognize some minerals |
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Term
| Describe the stages involved in Nebula hypothesis including the abundant elements involved in the early formation of the universe |
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Definition
The solar system:
1. Began as an enormous cloud of gas and dust made of hydrogen and helium
2. Started to rotate and collapse towards its center
3. Produced heat from friction and formed the sun
4. Cooled and produced rocky and metallic materials to form tiny solid particles, which collided and formed asteroid sized bodies
5. Asteroids combined into mercury, venus earth and mars
6. gasses formed jupiter, saturn, uranus and neptune. |
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Term
| Determine why scientists use relative dating, absolute dating and radiometric dating. |
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Definition
Radiometric dating- Used to give exact date
Relative Dating- To put rocks in a sequential order. |
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Term
| Differentiate between intrusive and extrusive igneous rock. |
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Definition
| Intrusive igneous rock forms when magma hardens beneath the Earth's surface. Extrusive igneous rocks occur when lava hardens. |
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Term
| EM spectrum- wavelength and frequency relationship |
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Definition
| As wavelengths become longer, frequency lowers and vice versa. |
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Term
| Earth's rotation/seasonal changes |
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Definition
| Occur due to earth's tilt. |
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Term
| Factors that determine how violently or quietly a volcano will erupt |
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Definition
Silica- More silica, more violent eruption
Viscosity- higher viscosity, more violent eruption
Gas content- higher gas content, more violent eruption |
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Term
| Geologic timescale categories |
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Definition
| Eons, Eras, Periods, Epochs and Ages |
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Term
| How do currents affect climate? |
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Definition
| Currents move, and change and so does the weather of the place they are moving over. Ocean currents bring warmth to certain places as well. |
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Term
| How does the atmosphere balance unequal heating of Earth's surface? |
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Definition
| Convection currents and global conveyer belt |
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Term
| Identify the common symbols used on a topographic map |
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Definition
| One circle inside another and so on for hills, and circle with small lines pointing towards the center for depressions. |
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Term
| Identify the components of each type of Earth's lithosphere. |
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Definition
| Components are oceanic and continental. |
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Term
| Identify the main stratigraphy laws used during relative dating. |
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Definition
The laws are:
Law of Superposition, Law of Original Horizontality, Law of Lateral Continuity, Law of Faunal Succession, Law of Cross-Cutting Relationships, Principle of Inclusions |
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Term
| Identify the major classes of minerals |
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Definition
| Silicates, carbonates, oxides, sulfates and sulfides, hallides and native elements. |
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Term
| Identify the use of topographic maps |
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Definition
| Used to show the elevation of landforms using contour lines. Used by geologists, hikers and campers |
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Term
| Identify what landforms are created at each type of boundary. |
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Definition
a. Divergent boundary at two continental plates can result in a rift valley - example, Great Rift Valley Africa.
b. Divergent boundary of two oceanic plates results in mid-ocean ridges |
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Term
| Identify youngest rock layers |
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Definition
| The youngest rock layers are at the top of a series of rock layers. |
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Term
| Independent/dependent variable relationships- direct, inverse/ positive, negative |
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Definition
| A direct relationship is a positive correlation between the dependent and independent variables. An inverse relationship is a negative correlation between the independent and dependent variables. |
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Term
| List and describe earth's major spheres |
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Definition
| Hydrosphere (earth's water), Atmosphere (gaseous envelope around earth), Geosphere, (contains oceans, core, mantle and crust) Biosphere (Contains all life on earth) |
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Term
| List and describe the 5 characteristics of all minerals |
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Definition
Naturally occuring- must occur through natural geologic processes
Solid substance- Solid within Earth's surface temperature range
Orderly crystal structure- atoms or ions are arranged in an orderly and repetitive manner
Definite chemical composition-Definite chemical composition
Generally considered inorganic-Not usually formed from living things |
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Term
| List the layers of earth in terms of density. Describe its composition. |
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Definition
Lithosphere- Outermost layer that consists of crust and upper mantle cool and rigid and thin.
Asthenosphere- Rocks are close to their melting point, and are easily deformed.
Lower Mantle- Lies near the base of the mantle. The rocks are capable of flow.
Outer Core- A liquid layer 2260 km thick. The flow of metallic ironin this layer is what produces the magnetosphere.
The inner core is hot but solid, due to the immense pressure on it. |
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Term
| Locate, in terms of latitude and longitude, the location of the equator, prime meridian, and international dateline. |
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Definition
Equator- 0º latitude
Prime Meridian- 0º longitude
International Dateline- 180º longitude |
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Term
| Representative fraction on a map. |
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Definition
| A representative fraction on a map indicates the relationship of distance measured on a map and the corresponding distance on the ground. |
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Term
| Star's spectrum supplies what information? |
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Definition
| A stars spectrum generally provides information about its composition. |
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Term
| Terrestrial and Jovian planet comparisons. |
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Definition
| Terrestrial planets are generally warm, rocky and small. Jovian planet are generally large, gaseous and cold. |
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Term
| Types and locations of 3 most common types of volcanoes |
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Definition
Shield volcanoes- Most grow up from the deep ocean floor. Mostly form on divergent boundaries or hot spots
Cinder cone- usually forms at divergent boundaries. Exist in a relatively narrow zone that is in the pacific ocean called the ring of fire
Stratovolcanoes- Also exist on the ring of fire. Common around convergent boundaries. |
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Term
| Visible spectrum order of wavelength |
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Definition
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Term
| What causes currents in oceans? What causes SURFACE currents? |
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Definition
| Ocean currents are generated through water masses in motion. Surface currents develop from friction between the ocean and the wind blowing across its surface. |
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Term
| What do isobars on a weather map represent? |
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Definition
| On a weather map, isobars are lines that connect places of equal air pressure. |
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Term
| What factors affect the density of seawater? |
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Definition
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Term
| What is the Mohs scale used for |
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Definition
| Rates a minerals hardness from 1-10 (Talc to Diamond) |
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Term
| Why would Venus's atmosphere be unlikely to support life? |
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Definition
| Venus's atmospheric pressure is too great, its temperature (475º C) is to high and it rains sulfuric acid. |
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