Ch. 3 Key Terms

Question 1

Geosphere

Answer 1

The solid part of Earth that consists of all rock, as well as the soil-sand loose rocks on Earth’s surface.

Question 2

Hydrosphere

Answer 2

Makes up all of the water on or near Earth’s surface.

Question 3

Crust

Answer 3

Composed almost entirely of light elements.

Question 4

Mantle

Answer 4

The layer beneath the crust, makes up 68 percent of the mass of Earth.

Question 5

Core

Answer 5

Earth’s innermost layer.

Question 6

Lithosphere

Answer 6

It is a cool, rigid layer, 15 km to 300 km thick, that includes the crust and uppermost part of the mantle.

Question 7

Asthensphere

Answer 7

The layer beneath the lithosphere.

Question 8

Tectonic Plate

Answer 8

Glide across the underlying asthenosphere in much the same way a chunk of ice drifts across a pond.

Question 9

Chemical Weathering

Answer 9

Wears down rocks, making them smoother as time passes.

Question 10

Erosion

Answer 10

Transports the materials elsewhere.

Question 11

Atmosphere

Answer 11

Earth is surrounded by a mixture of gases.

Question 12

Troposphere

Answer 12

Extends to about 18 km above Earth’s surface.

Question 13

Stratosphere

Answer 13

Separated from the troposphere by the tropopause.

Question 14

Ozone

Answer 14

O3, is a molecule made up of three oxygen atoms.

Question 15

Radiation

Answer 15

The transfer of energy as electromagnetic waves. When you stand before a fire or a bed of coals, the warmth you feel has reached you by radiation.

Question 16

Conduction

Answer 16

The transfer of energy in the form of heat from a warmer object to a colder object when the objects are placed indirect physical contact.

Question 17

Convection

Answer 17

The transfer of energy that takes place when variations in temperature move the matter making up air.

Question 18

Greenhouse Effect

Answer 18

The process in which greenhouse gases absorb and reradiate infrared radiation near the Earth.

Question 19

Water Cycle

Answer 19

The continuous movement of water into the air, onto land, and then back to water sources.

Question 20

Evaporation

Answer 20

The process by which liquid water is heated by the sun and then rises into the atmosphere as water vapor.

Question 21

Condesation

Answer 21

Water vapor forms water droplets on dust particles.

Question 22

Precipitation

Answer 22

These water droplets form clouds, in which the droplets collide, stick together, and create larger, heavier droplets.These larger droplets fall from clouds as rain.

Question 23

Salinity

Answer 23

The concentration of these and other elements in ocean water.

Question 24

Fresh Water

Answer 24

Most of the water on Earth is salt water in the ocean. A little more than 3 percent of all the water on Earth.

Question 25

Biosphere

Answer 25

The narrow layer around Earth’s surface in which life can exist.