Earth science flashcards

earth science

any of the sciences that deal with the earth or its parts and other planets

atmosphere

the gases portion of the planet, envelope of air, protects the planet from metors

mantle

the layer of the earth between the crust and the core, 2900 kilometers thick.

astronomy

study of the universe

biosphere

part of Earth in which life exists including land, water, and air or atmosphere/ regions of solid earth where life exist

crust

the outer layer of the Earth

geology

The scientific study of the origin, history, and structure of the earth.

lithosphere

the solid part of the earth consisting of the crust and outer mantle

asthenosphere

The solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on top of it

meteorology

the study of atmopshere and weather and climate

oceanography

the scientific study of the ocean

nebular hypothesis

our sun along with the planets and other members of the solar system began forming nearly 5 billion years ago, some 9 billion years after the big bang,from supernova explosions. gravitational energy caused the nebula to contract and, in so doing, it began to rotate and flatten. inside the smaller concentrations of matter began condensing to form planets. at the center of the nebula there was sufficient pressure and heat to initiate hydrogen nuclear fusion, and our sun was born

hardness

the resistance a mineral offers to scratching

Moh's Scale

a series of 10 mineral used as a standard in determining hardness

atomic number

the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

atomic mass

the average of the atomic masses of isotopes for a given element

Element

a substance that cannot be decomposed into simpler substances by ordinary chemcial or physical means

compounds

a substance formed by the chemcial combination of two or more elements in definite proportions and usually having properties different from those of its constituent elements

cleavage

the tendency of a mineral to break along planes of weak bonding

fracture

any break or rupture in rock along which no appreciable movment has taken place

luster

the appearance or quality of light reflected from the surface of a mineral

streak

the color of a mineral in powdered form

specific gravity

the ratio of a substance's weight to the weight of an equal volume of water

rock

a consolidated mixture of minerals

mineral

a naturaly accuring inorganic crystaling material with a unique chemcial composition

magma

molten rock in the earth's crust

lava

rock that in its molten form (as magma) issues from volcanos