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Definition
| The smallest chemical unit of matter. |
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| Two or more atoms linked together to make a substance with unique properties |
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| The quantity of a substance within a certain volume. |
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| The moisture content of air. |
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| The mass of water vapor contained in a certain volume of air. |
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| The ratio of the mass of water vapor in the air at a given temperature to the maximum mass of water vapor the air could hold at that temperature, expressed as a percentage. |
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| The process by which certain gases trap heat that radiates from the earth |
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| The number of molecules of a substance in a mixture for every 1 million molecules in that mixture. |
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| The mass of air surrounding a planet. |
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| The pressure exerted by the atmosphere on all objects within it. |
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| An instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure. |
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| The lower layer of the earth's atmosphere, which exists from ground level to roughly 50 miles above sea level |
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Definition
| The upper layer of the earth's atmosphere, which exists higher that roughly 50 miles above sea level. |
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Definition
| The region of the atmosphere that extends from ground level to roughly 7 miles above sea level. |
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| The region of the atmosphere that spans altitudes of roughly 7 miles to 30 miles. |
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Definition
| The region of the atmosphere that spans altitudes of roughly 30 miles to 50 miles. |
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Definition
| Narrow bands of high-speed winds that circle the earth, blowing from west to east. |
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Definition
| Energy that is transferred as a result of temperature differences |
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Definition
| A measure of the energy of random motion in a substance's molecules. |
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Definition
| The region of the atmosphere between altitudes of roughly 80 kilometers and 460 kilometers |
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Term
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Definition
| The region of the atmosphere above an altitude of roughly 460 kilo |
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Definition
| The region of the atmosphere between the altitudes of roughly 65 kilometers and 330 kilometers, where the gases are ionized. |
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Definition
| The use of electricity to break a molecule down into smaller units. |
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Definition
| A molecule that has slight positive and negative charges due to an imbalance in the way electrons are shared |
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Definition
| A liquid substance capable of dissolving other substances |
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Definition
| A substance that is dissolved in a solvent |
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Definition
| The phenomenon that occurs when individual molecules are so strongly attached to each other that they tend to stay together |
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Definition
| Water that has certain dissolved ions in it-predominately calcium and magnesium ions. |
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| The sum of all water on a planet. |
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| The process by which water is continuously exchanged between earth's various water sources. |
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Definition
| Evaporation of water from plants |
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Definition
| The process by which a gas turns into a liquid. |
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Definition
| Water falling from the atmosphere as rain, snow, sleet, or hail. |
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Definition
| Evaporation and condensation of a mixture to separate out the mixture's individual components. |
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Definition
| The average time a given particle will stay in a given system. |
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Definition
| A measure of the mass of dissolved salt in a given mass of water. |
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Definition
| A dense icy pack of old snow |
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Definition
| The line between water saturated soil and the soil that is not saturated with water. |
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Definition
| The process by which water moves downward in the soil, toward the water table. |
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Definition
| The cooling of a gas that happens when a gas expands with no way of getting more energy. |
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Term
| Cloud condensation nuclei |
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Definition
| Small airborne particles upon which water vapor condenses to form clouds. |
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Definition
| Earth's outermost layer of rock. |
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Term
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Definition
| Small, solid fragments of rock and other materials that are carried and deposited by wind, water, or ice. Examples would be sand, mud, or gravel. |
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Definition
| Rock formed when chemical reactions cements sediments together, hardening them. |
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| Rock that forms from molten rock. |
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| Igneous or sedimentary that has been changed in to a new kind of rock as a result of great pressure and temperature. |
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Definition
| Rock that behaves like something between a liquid and a solid. |
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| Vibration of the earth that results either from volcanic activity or rock masses suddenly |
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Definition
| The boundary between two sections of rock that can move relative to one another. |
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Definition
| The point where an earthquake begins |
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Definition
| The point on the surface of the earth directly above an earthquake's focus |
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Definition
| The point at which the earth is farthest from the sun. |
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Definition
| The point at which the earth is closest to the sun. |
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Definition
| Imaginary lines that run north and south across the earth. |
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Definition
| Imaginary lines that run east and west across the earth. |
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Definition
| The way in which the rotation of the earth bends the path of winds, sea currents, and objects that fly through different latitudes. |
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Definition
| A large body of air with relatively uniform pressure, temperature, and humidity. |
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Definition
| A boundary between two air masses. |
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Definition
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Definition
| A substance that does not conduct electricity very well. |
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Definition
| A point against which motion is measured |
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Definition
| A physical measurement that contains directional information. |
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Definition
| A physical measurement that does not contain directional information |
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Definition
| The time rate of change of an object's velocity. |
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Definition
| The motion of an object when it is falling solely under the influence of gravity. |
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Definition
| The tendency of an object to resist changes in its velocity. |
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Definition
| A force that opposes motion, resulting from the contact of two surfaces. |
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Term
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Definition
| Friction that opposes motion once the motion has already started. |
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Term
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Definition
| Friction that opposes the initiation of motion. |
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Term
| Newton's first law of motion |
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Definition
| An object in motion will tent to stay in motion and an object at rest will tend to remain at rest. |
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Term
| Newton's second law of motion |
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Definition
| Force equals mass times acceleration |
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Term
| Newton's third law of motion |
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Definition
| For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. |
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