Earth Science Flashcards

Earth Layers

• Crust is the outermost layer, constituting 1% of Earth's total mass.
• Mantle is the second layer, making up 75% of Earth's mass.
• Core, the centermost part, is twice as dense as the mantle due to its metallic composition.

Geological Features

• Plates are 30 separate pieces forming the crust and upper mantle’s rigid section.
• Fault lines are areas where tectonic plates slide against one another.

Earthquake Measurement

• The Richter scale is used to measure earthquake intensity.

Types of Rocks

• Igneous rock forms from the solidification of molten rock (e.g., granite, basalt).
• Sedimentary rock derives from the accumulation of sediments (e.g., sandstone, fossils).
• Metamorphic rock results from existing rocks altered by heat and pressure (e.g., marble, slate).

Atmospheric Layers

• Troposphere is the lowest layer where weather occurs.
• Stratosphere features horizontal airflow and is the second atmospheric layer.
• Mesosphere is the third layer where meteors burn up.
• Thermosphere is the uppermost atmospheric layer, with temperatures increasing at higher altitudes.

Solar System

• The Sun is the central star around which the solar system revolves.
• Terrestrial planets include Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.
• Outer planets are gaseous giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.

Celestial Objects

• Asteroids are rocky bodies in space.
• Meteors are comets that enter Earth's atmosphere.
• Meteorites are comets that land on Earth’s surface.

Oceanic Influences

• Tides result from the gravitational pull between the Moon and Earth affecting ocean levels.

Measurement Concepts

• Mass is a measure of weight, reported in grams, kilograms, and milligrams.
• Volume describes three-dimensional space, typically in cubic centimeters.
• Temperature quantifies heat; it can be measured in Celsius, Fahrenheit, or Kelvin.

Physics Fundamentals

• Physics is the study of properties, changes, and interactions of matter.
• Velocity measures the rate of positional change.
• Momentum refers to an object's tendency to maintain its motion (mass x velocity).
• Acceleration is the change in velocity over time.

Forces and Energy

• Force is a push or pull affecting an object's speed or direction.
• Energy is the capacity to perform work.

Wave Phenomena

• Sound waves are produced by vibrating objects, disturbing their medium.
• The Doppler effect occurs when the source or listener of sound moves.

Heat Transfer Methods

• Conduction is direct heat transfer by contact (e.g., touching a hot surface).
• Convection is uneven heat transfer in liquids or gases, affecting density.
• Radiation involves heat transmission via electromagnetic waves.

Elements and Atoms

• An element cannot be separated into simpler substances through ordinary chemical means.
• An atom is the smallest component of an element preserving its properties.
• Protons are neutral subatomic particles in the nucleus.
• Neutrons, also located in the nucleus, have no charge.
• Electrons are negatively charged particles orbiting the nucleus.

Molecular Structure

• A molecule is the smallest particle of a compound that retains its characteristics.