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Questions and Answers
What are the three main components of the geosphere?
What are the three main components of the geosphere?
- Rocks, minerals, and everything from the surface to the core (correct)
- Animals and plants
- Rivers, lakes, and water in the air
- Weather and climate patterns
Where does heat in Earth Science come from?
Where does heat in Earth Science come from?
- Only from the Sun
- Only from radioactive decay
- From the Sun and radioactive decay (correct)
- None of the above
Density is defined as mass divided by volume (D = M/V).
Density is defined as mass divided by volume (D = M/V).
True (A)
Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences the density of objects?
Which of the following is NOT a factor that influences the density of objects?
The process of heat transferring by the movement of fluids like liquid or gas is called ______.
The process of heat transferring by the movement of fluids like liquid or gas is called ______.
Stable mantle convection creates hotspots, such as Hawaii.
Stable mantle convection creates hotspots, such as Hawaii.
What are the two main categories of observations used in science?
What are the two main categories of observations used in science?
Astrology is considered a science because it makes scientific predictions about phenomena.
Astrology is considered a science because it makes scientific predictions about phenomena.
What is the primary characteristic that determines the fate of a star?
What is the primary characteristic that determines the fate of a star?
What happens to low-mass stars after they have exhausted their hydrogen fuel?
What happens to low-mass stars after they have exhausted their hydrogen fuel?
What is the name of the cloud of gas and dust that is shed by a dying star?
What is the name of the cloud of gas and dust that is shed by a dying star?
What type of stellar remnant is left behind after a supernova explosion?
What type of stellar remnant is left behind after a supernova explosion?
The mass of a star determines whether it will become a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.
The mass of a star determines whether it will become a white dwarf, a neutron star, or a black hole.
Which of these is NOT a limitation of scientific knowledge?
Which of these is NOT a limitation of scientific knowledge?
What is the main purpose of the scientific cycle?
What is the main purpose of the scientific cycle?
What is the primary process that powers stars?
What is the primary process that powers stars?
Stars are classified based on their luminosity, temperature, and size.
Stars are classified based on their luminosity, temperature, and size.
What is the difference between absolute brightness and apparent brightness?
What is the difference between absolute brightness and apparent brightness?
What is the main component of a molecular cloud?
What is the main component of a molecular cloud?
Protostars form when gravity pulls matter together in a molecular cloud, causing the core to heat up.
Protostars form when gravity pulls matter together in a molecular cloud, causing the core to heat up.
Which of these is NOT a step in the formation of the Solar System according to the Solar Nebula Hypothesis?
Which of these is NOT a step in the formation of the Solar System according to the Solar Nebula Hypothesis?
What is the primary difference between rocky planets and gas giant planets?
What is the primary difference between rocky planets and gas giant planets?
The differentiation of layers within a planet is caused by the planet's gravity.
The differentiation of layers within a planet is caused by the planet's gravity.
Protoearth was a completely homogenous planet with a uniform composition.
Protoearth was a completely homogenous planet with a uniform composition.
What is the primary mechanism for the formation of Earth's atmosphere?
What is the primary mechanism for the formation of Earth's atmosphere?
The Great Oxidation Event, about 2.45 billion years ago, was a significant event in Earth's history because it led to the rise of oxygen in the atmosphere.
The Great Oxidation Event, about 2.45 billion years ago, was a significant event in Earth's history because it led to the rise of oxygen in the atmosphere.
What are the two primary types of weathering that break down rocks?
What are the two primary types of weathering that break down rocks?
Earth's orbit around the Sun is always circular.
Earth's orbit around the Sun is always circular.
What is the primary factor that determines the difference in the amount of sunlight received by Earth's hemispheres during different seasons?
What is the primary factor that determines the difference in the amount of sunlight received by Earth's hemispheres during different seasons?
The Earth is a perfect sphere.
The Earth is a perfect sphere.
What is the name of the theory that explains the origin of the Moon?
What is the name of the theory that explains the origin of the Moon?
What are the three main types of objects found in the Solar System?
What are the three main types of objects found in the Solar System?
The first American to discover a comet was Maria Mitchell.
The first American to discover a comet was Maria Mitchell.
What is the difference between a meteoroid, a meteor, and a meteorite?
What is the difference between a meteoroid, a meteor, and a meteorite?
Weathering is the process of rock breaking down due to physical or chemical forces.
Weathering is the process of rock breaking down due to physical or chemical forces.
Which of these is NOT a cause of mechanical weathering?
Which of these is NOT a cause of mechanical weathering?
Flashcards
Geology
Geology
The study of the Earth's physical structure, composition, and processes.
Crust
Crust
The solid, rocky outer layer of the Earth.
Mantle
Mantle
The thick layer of hot, dense rock beneath the Earth's crust.
Core
Core
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Convection
Convection
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Radioactive Decay
Radioactive Decay
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Gravity
Gravity
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Nuclear Fusion
Nuclear Fusion
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Apparent Brightness
Apparent Brightness
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Absolute Brightness
Absolute Brightness
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Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) Diagram
Hertzsprung-Russell (H-R) Diagram
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Molecular Cloud
Molecular Cloud
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Solar Nebula Hypothesis
Solar Nebula Hypothesis
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Planetesimals
Planetesimals
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Protostar
Protostar
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Terrestrial Planets
Terrestrial Planets
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Gas Giant Planets
Gas Giant Planets
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Outer Gas Giant (Jovian) Planets
Outer Gas Giant (Jovian) Planets
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Planetary Differentiation
Planetary Differentiation
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Heavy Bombardment
Heavy Bombardment
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Outgassing
Outgassing
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Planetary Nebula
Planetary Nebula
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Stellar Remnants
Stellar Remnants
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White Dwarf
White Dwarf
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Black Hole
Black Hole
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Supernova
Supernova
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Eccentricity
Eccentricity
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Tilt
Tilt
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Precession
Precession
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Asteroid
Asteroid
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Comet
Comet
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Kuiper Belt
Kuiper Belt
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Oort Cloud
Oort Cloud
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Meteoroids
Meteoroids
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Meteor
Meteor
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Meteorite
Meteorite
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Mechanical Weathering
Mechanical Weathering
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Chemical Weathering
Chemical Weathering
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Study Notes
Introduction to Earth Science
- Earth science encompasses everything from the core to the surface, including the geosphere (rocks, minerals), hydrosphere (water), atmosphere (air), and biosphere (living things).
Recurring Concepts in Earth Science: Heat
- Heat originates from the sun and radioactive decay within the Earth.
- Radioactive decay releases heat as atoms break down.
- Density is a crucial concept; equal mass, different volume; equal volume, different mass (D=M/V).
- Density relates to the temperature of an object; the hotter an object, the less dense it is.
Energy Transfer in the Earth: Convection
- Convection is the transfer of heat through the movement of fluids (liquids or gases).
- This process is demonstrated using a lava lamp analogy, where hot fluid rises, cools then sinks, leading to a continuous cycle.
- Convection occurs in the mantle, where the heat from the core causes hot rock to rise, cool, and sink, creating hotspots like Hawaii.
- Convection in the atmosphere is also present.
Star Formation and Evolution: Main Sequence Stars
- Low-mass stars burn hydrogen slowly at relatively low temperatures.
- These stars never fuse helium and cool to become a dwarf star.
- Intermediate-mass stars (like our sun) eventually fuse helium, expand, and become red giants.
- Their outer layers shed, leaving behind a white dwarf.
- Massive stars fuse heavier elements, also expand into red supergiants and eventually explode in supernovas, leaving either a neutron star or a black hole.
Nuclear Fusion
- Stars generate energy through nuclear fusion, in which light nuclei combine to form heavier ones.
Stellar Classification
- Stars are often classified by their luminosity, color, and temperature.
Formation of the Solar System
- The solar system formed from a cloud of gas and dust called a solar nebula.
- Gravity caused the nebula to collapse, forming a rotating disk.
- The sun formed at the center, and the surrounding disk formed planets.
- Inner planets are rocky, while outer planets are gaseous giants.
Stellar Remnants
- The remnants of stars, including white dwarfs, neutron stars, and black holes, represent the end stages of stellar evolution.
Limitations of Space
- Personal biases and experiences of scientists play a role in how they interpret data and shape their questions.
Earth Processes: Weathering
- Weathering is the breakdown of rocks by physical or chemical processes.
- Physical weathering breaks down rocks into smaller pieces, while chemical weathering involves the dissolving or changing of rocks' composition.
Material Motions in Space: Meteoroids, Meteors, Meteorites
- Meteoroids are small rocky or metallic bodies in space.
- Meteors are meteoroids that burn up in Earth's atmosphere.
- Meteorites are meteoroids that survive atmospheric entry and land on the Earth's surface.
Earth's Atmosphere and Hydrosphere
- The Earth's atmosphere and hydrosphere are interconnected.
- Outgassing releases gases from the Earth's interior, which contribute to the atmosphere.
- Water vapor condenses to form oceans.
Eccentricity (Shape of Earths Orbit)
- Earth's orbit changes between more and less circular.
- A less circular orbit, or elliptical orbit, leads to more significant variations in the amount of sunlight throughout the year.
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