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Earth Science!
earth science 9th grade
146
Science
9th Grade
01/17/2008

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Term
Earth science
Definition
scientific study of the earth and the universe around it
Term
observation
Definition
process of using the sense of sight, touch, taste hearing and smell to gather info about the world
Term
independent variable
Definition
factors in an expiriment thats deliberatlely manipulated
Term
dependent variable
Definition
variables that change as a result of a change in independent variable
Term
theory
Definition
explain why and how
Term
scientific method
Definition
a description, representation, or imitation of an object, system process of concept
Term
matter
Definition
anthing that takes up space
Term
element
Definition
can't be broken down into simpler substances
Term
atom
Definition
smallest unit of an element
Term
proton
Definition
subantomic particle with a positve charge
Term

electron

Definition
subatomic partical with a negative charge
Term
neutron
Definition
subatomic particle with no charge in the nucleus of an atom
Term
isotope
Definition
atrom that has the same number of protons as the other atoms of the same element
Term
compound
Definition
2 or more elements bonded in a set porportion
Term
molecule
Definition
group of atoms that are held together by chemcial forces
Term
ion
Definition
particle that carries a charge
Term
ionic bond
Definition
attractive force between oppositvley charged ions
Term
covalent bond
Definition
bond formed when atoms share one or more pairs of electrons
Term
mixture
Definition
combination of 1 or more substances that aren't chemically combined
Term
intursive igneous rock
Definition
rock formed from cooling and solidification of magma beneath earth's surface
Term
extrusive igneous rock
Definition
rock that forms from cooling and solidification of lava
Term
felsic
Definition
rock forms from magma that contains large amount of silica
Term
mafic
Definition
rock that forms from magma that contains less amount of silica
Term
compaction
Definition
sediment is squeezed
Term
parallel
Definition
any circle that runs east and west around earth parallel to the equator
Term
latitude
Definition
angular distance north or south of the equator
Term
longitude
Definition
angular distance east or west of the prime meridian
Term
meridian
Definition
a semicircle that runs north and south
Term
magnetic declination
Definition
angle between the direction of the geographic pole and the direction in which the compass needle points
Term
remote sensing
Definition
gathering and analyzing information about an object without being in touch with it
Term
map projection
Definition
flat map that represents a spherical surface
Term
legend
Definition
list of map symbols and their meanings
Term
scale
Definition
the relationship between the distance shown on a map and the actual distance
Term
isogram
Definition
a line on a map that represents a constant or equal value of a given quatity
Term
topography
Definition
size and shape of the land surface features of a region
Term
elevation
Definition
height of an object above sea level
Term
contour line
Definition
line that connects pooints of equal elevation on a map
Term
relief
Definition
difference between the highest and lowest elevations in a given area
Term
control group
Definition
group that serves as a standard of comparison with another group to which the control group is identical except for one factor
Term
atomic number
Definition
the number of protons in the nucleus of an atom
Term
atomic mass
Definition
unit of the mass of a subatomic particle thats too small to be expressed in grams
Term
electron cloud
Definition
where electrons of an atom move
Term
mineral
Definition
natural, usually inorganic solid that has a characteristic chemical composition, an orderly internal structure, and a characteristic set of physical properties
Term
silicate mineral
Definition
mineral that contains a combination of silicon, and oxegen
Term
nonsiliciate mineral
Definition
a mineral that doesnt contain silicon or oxegen
Term
crystal
Definition
solid whose atoms, ions, or molecules are arranged in a repeating pattern
Term
silicon-oxygen tetrahedron
Definition
basic unit of the structure of silicate minerals
Term
mineralogist
Definition
person who examines, analzes, and classifies minerals
Term
streak
Definition
color of a mineral in powedered form
Term
luster
Definition
way in which a mineral reflects light
Term
clevage
Definition
tendency of a mineral to split along specific planes of weaknes smooth flat surfaces
Term
fracture
Definition
manner in which a mineral breaks along either curved or irregular surfaces
Term
mohs hardness scale
Definition
standard scale against which the hardness of minerals is rated
Term
density
Definition
tatio of the mass of a substance to the volume of the substance
Term
metallic
Definition
the mineral refleccts
Term
fluorescence
Definition
ability to glow under ultraviolet light
Term
phosphorescence
Definition
minerals that continue to glow after ultraviolet light is turned off when subjected to ultraviolet light
Term
chatoyancy
Definition
minerals that display a silky appearance in reflected light
Term
asterism
Definition
a six-sided star shape appears when a mineral reflects light
Term
radioactivity
Definition
unstable nelei decay over time into stable nuclei by releasing particles and energy
Term
rock cycle
Definition
series of changes in which rock forms, changes from one type to another
Term
igneous rock
Definition
rock that forms when magmas cools and solidifies
Term
intrusive igneous rock
Definition
rock formed from the cooling and solidification of magma beneath the earth's surface
Term
cementation
Definition
sediments are glued together
Term
chemical sedimentary rock
Definition
sed. rock that forms from minerals that were once dissolved in water
Term
organic sed. rock
Definition
sed. rock that forms from remains of plants and animals
Term
clastic sed. rock
Definition
sed. rock that forms when fragments of preexisting rocks are compacted or cemented together
Term
metamorphism
Definition
process by heat, pressure, or chemical processes that changes type of rock to another
Term
contact metamorphism
Definition
change in texture, sturcture or chemical compostition of rock due to contacts with magma
Term
regional metamorphism
Definition
type of metamorphism that occurs over a large area
Term
foliation
Definition
met. rock texture in which mineral grains are arranged in planes or bands
Term
nonfoliated
Definition
rocks that don't have bands or alligned minerals
Term
deformation
Definition
bending, tilting and breaking of earth's crust
Term
continental drift
Definition
hypothesis that states that the continents once formed a single landmass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations
Term
elastic rebound
Definition
sudden return of elasticelly deformed rock to its undeformed shape
Term
mid ocean ridge
Definition
long undersea mountain chain that has a steep, narrow, valley at its center
Term
sea-floor spreading
Definition
process by which new ocean lithosphere forms as magma rises to earth's surface and solidifies at a mid-ocean ridge
Term
focus
Definition
location within the earth along fault at which the first motion of an earthquake occurs.
Term
paleomagnetism
Definition
study of the magnetic properties of rocks
Term
plate tectonics
Definition
large pieces of the lithospher move and change shape
Term
epicenter
Definition
point on earths surface directly above an earthquakes starting point, or focus.
Term
lithosphere
Definition
outer layer of earth that consists of the crust and the ridgid upper part of the mantle
Term
asthenosphere
Definition
plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere
Term
body wave
Definition
waves that travel through the body of a medium.
Term
surface wave
Definition
seismic wave that travels along the surface of a medium than through the middle.
Term
isostasy
Definition
condition of gravitational and buoyant equilibrium between earth's litosphere and astenosphere
Term
convection
Definition
movement of heated material due to differences in density that are caused by differences in temperatures
Term
p wave
Definition
primary or compression waves fastest seismic waves
Term
ridge push
Definition
as cooling rock sinks, the asthenospher below it exerts force on the rest of the plate
Term
slab pull
Definition
leading edge of the subducting plate pulls the rest of the subducting plate into the asthenosphere
Term
s wave
Definition

seccondary or shear wave, seismic wave that causes particles of rock to move in a side to side direction.

Term
shadow zone
Definition
area on earths surface where no direct seismic waves from a particular earthquake can be detected
Term
stress
Definition
amount of force per unit area that acts on a rock
Term
strain
Definition
any change in a rock's shape or volume caused by stress
Term
fold
Definition
bend in rock layers from stress
Term
fault zone
Definition
region of numerous, closely spaced faults
Term
fault
Definition
break along which the surronding rock moves
Term
moutain range
Definition
series of moutains that are closely related in oreintation, age, and mode of formation
Term
seismograph
Definition
seismograph instrument that records vibration in the earth
Term
fault-block moutain
Definition
mountain that forms where faults break earth's crust in large blocks and some blocks drop down relative to other blocks
Term
dome mountains
Definition
circular structure made of rock layers that slope gently away from a central point
Term

magnitude

Definition
measure of the strength of an earthquake
Term
volcanic moutain
Definition
moutains that form when magma erupts onto earth's surface
Term
tsunami
Definition
giant ocean wave that forms after a volcanic eruption submarine, earthquake or landslide.
Term
moment magnitude scale
Definition
measurement of earthquake strength based on the size of the area of the fault that moves, average distance that the fault blocks move, and the rigidity of the rocks in the fault zone
Term
seismic gap
Definition
area along a fault where relativity few earthquakes have occured recently, but where strong earthquakes are known to have occured in the past
Term
weathering
Definition
phyrsical breakdown or chemical decomposition of rock material exposed at earths surface
Term
erosion
Definition
process by which the materials of earth's surface surface as loosened dissolved or worn away and transported from one place to another by wind, water, ice or gravity
Term
sheet erosion
Definition
process by which water flows over a layer of soil and removes the topsoil
Term
mass movement
Definition
movement of a large mass of sediemnt or a section of land down a slope
Term
solifluction
Definition
slow, downslope flow of soil saturated with water in areas surronding glaciers at high elevations
Term
creep
Definition
slow, downhill movement of weathered rock material
Term
solifluction
Definition
slow, downslope flow of soil saturated with water in areas surronding glaciers at high elevations
Term
landform
Definition
physical feature of earths surface
Term
rockfall
Definition
fall of a rock from a steep cliff
Term
landslide
Definition
when masses of losse rock combined with soil suddenly fall down a slope
Term
mudflow
Definition
rapid movement of a large amount of mud
Term
slump
Definition
block of soil that slides along the curved slope of the surface
Term
contour plowing
Definition
when soil is plowed in curved bands that follow the contour,or shape, of the land
Term
strip-cropping
Definition
crops are planted in alternating bands
Term
terracing
Definition
construction of steplike ridges that follow the contours of a sloped field
Term
crop rotation
Definition
when farmers plant one typeof crop one year and a different type the next
Term
water cycle
Definition
continuous movement of water between the atmosphere, land and the oceans
Term
tributary
Definition
stream that flows into a lake or into a larger stream
Term
watershed
Definition
area of land thats drained by a river system
Term
stream load
Definition
materials other than water carried by a stream
Term
discharge
Definition
volume of water that flows within a given time
Term
gradient
Definition
change in elevation over a given distance
Term
meander
Definition
one of the bends twist or curves in a low-gradient stream or river
Term
braided stream
Definition
stream or river thats composed of multiple channels that divide and rejoin around sediment bars
Term
channel
Definition
relatively narrow depression that a stream follows as it flows downhill
Term
delta
Definition
triangular-shaped deposit that forms where the mouth of a stream enter a larger body of water
Term
alluvial fan
Definition
fan-shaped mass of rock material deposited by a stream when the slope of the land decreases sharply
Term
floodplain
Definition
area along a river that forms from sediments deposited when the river overflows its banks
Term
groundwater
Definition
water thats beneath earth's surface
Term
aquifer
Definition
body of rock or sediment that stores groundwater and allows the flow of it
Term
porosity
Definition
percentage of the total volume of a rock or sediment that consits of open spaces
Term
permeability
Definition
ability of a rock or sediment to let fluids pass through its pores, or open spaces.
Term
water table
Definition
upper surface of underground water
Term
artesian formation
Definition
sloping layer of permeable rock sandwiched between two layers of impermeable rock and exposed at the surface
Term
aresian spring
Definition
when cracks occur naturally in the caprock water from the aquifer flows through the cracks
Term
zone of saturation
Definition
layer of an aquifer in whihc the pore space is completely filled with water
Term
zone of aeration
Definition
zone that lies between the water table and the earths surface
Term
cavern
Definition
large cave that may consist of many smaller connecting chambers
Term
sinkhole
Definition
circular depression that forms when rock dissolves, when sediment is removed, or when caves or mines collapse
Term
karst topography
Definition
irregular topography caused by the chemical weathering of limestone or other soluble rock by groundwater
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