Chapter 1 Flashcards
(43 cards)
Earth System
all of Earth’s varied materials and processes that affect them
Element
substance that cannot be broken down chemically into other substances
Atom
The smallest piece of an element that still has all the properties of that element
compounds
Atoms combine with one another chemically
molecule
the smallest possible piece of a compound
mass
amount of matter in an object
volume
the amount of space an object occupies
density
the mass packed into a given volume of matter
5 reservoirs of the Earth System
Atmosphere, Cryosphere, Hydrosphere, Biosphere, Geosphere
Atmosphere
Earth’s gaseous envelope
Cryosphere
Continental and mountain glaciers, polar sea ice
Hydrosphere
Oceans, rivers, lakes, underground water
Biosphere
All living things
Geosphere
the solid earth
divided into concentric layers
outer layer: crust (thin and mostly rock)
below crust is the mantle
center: core (dense and composed of iron and nickle)
Magma
melted crust and mantle that produced liquid material- known as lava when erupts on surface
bedrock
a solid aggregate of minerals and rocks attached to the crust
sediment
unattached mineral grains such as boulders, sand, and clay
soil
sediment and rock modified by interactions with the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and organisms so that it can support plant life
flux
the movements from one reservoir to another
geologic cycle
in some cases, a material moves among several reservoirs but eventually returns to the first
heat energy
measure of degree to which atoms or molecules move about (vibrate) in matter- including in solids
melting
cryosphere to hydrosphere
evaporation
hydrosphere to atmosphere
condensation
atmosphere to hydrosphere