Earth Science Regents Flashcards
(69 cards)
the sun
a giant ball of gas held together by gravity
what happens when nuclear fuel is depleted
the sun’s balance is disrupted, leading to its death
big bang theory
a rapid expansion from all of the energy compressed into a small point (singularity), creating all matter and energy
evidence of big bang
the redshift of light from distant galaxies, showing they are moving away
cosmic microwave background (oldest light in the universe) radiation leftover from the big bang
nucleosynthesis
the creation of new elements in stars through nuclear reactions
what does the element production in nucleosynthesis depend on
the star’s mass and life stage
low mass stars create elements up to _____ by fusing ____ and _____
low mass stars create elements up to iron by fusing hydrogen and helium
high mass stars create elements up to ___ due to ___________
high mass stars create elements up to nickel due to high temperatures and pressures
how are heavier elements formed
through neutron capture (absorption of neutrons) during supernova explosions
what happens when stars die in supernovae
elements scatter into space, forming new stars and planets
what kind of path do objects orbit in
an elliptical path
what does the motion in orbit depend on
the mass of the orbiting object, the mass of the central object, and the distance between them
what are the 8 cyclic phases of the moon
new moon
waxing crescent
first quarter
waxing gibbous
full moon
waning gibbous
third quarter
waning crescent
solar eclipse
when the moon passes between the sun and earth, blocking sunlight and casting a shadow on earth
luncar eclipse
when the earth passes between the sun and moon, casting a shadow on the moon, often making it appear red or orange
what causes tides
the gravitational pull of the moon and sun on earth’s oceans
when do high tides occur
where the gravitational pull is the strongest
when do low tides occur
where the gravitational pull is the weakest
what causes tides to change
they change cyclically based on the positions of the moon, earth, and sun
tectonic plates
sections of the lithosphere that are constantly moving and interacting
lithosphere
the rigid, rocky outermost layer of earth, composed of the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle
3 types of plate boundaries
divergent, convergent, transform
what do divergent plate boundaries lead to
the creation of mid ocean ridges and rift valleys
what do convergent plates lead to
causes one plate to subduct (sink) under the other or to collide and fold
can form volcanoes, ocean trenches, and island arcs
