Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

6th Grade Science > Earth Systems > Flashcards

Earth Systems Flashcards

(63 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Crust

A

the outer most layer of the earth; the thinnest/least dense layer; made of rock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Inner Core

A

innermost layer of earth; densest layer; solid iron/nickel

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Continental Crust

A

thicker but less dense than the oceanic crust; located in crust layer of the earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Mantle

A

the layer of the Earth between the crust and the core; the convective layer of Earth; thickest layer; molten rock

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Magnetic Field

A

caused by the rotation of Earth as the outer core circulates around the inner core

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Atmosphere

A

a relatively thin layer of gas surrounding the entire planet

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Outer Core

A

layer of earth between mantle and inner core molten metal; liquid iron and nickel; denser than the crust and mantle but not as dense as the inner core

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Dynamo Effect

A

the creation of a magnetic field as the liquid outer core circulates around the solid inner core

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Oceanic Crust

A

not as thick as continental crust (about 5 miles thick); located in crust layer of the earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Tectonic Plate

A

the broken up pieces of the lithosphere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Sea-Floor Spreading

A

process of new oceanic crust forming as magma rises toward the surface and solidifies

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Mid-Ocean Ridge

A

a place where sea-floor spreading takes place

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Continental Drift

A

hypothesis that the continents once formed a single land mass, broke up, and drifted to their present locations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Pangea

A

the landmass that existed when all continents were joined

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Mid-Atlantic Ridge

A

longest unbroken mountain chain in the world, running through the middle of the Atlantic Ocean

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Subduction

A

occurs when 2 tectonic plates collide, and one plate moves under the other & sinks into the mantle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Subduction Zone

A

regions where subduction occurs

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Theory of Plate Tectonics

A

theory explaining how tectonic plates move and change shape

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Boundaries

A

places where tectonic plates meet

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Convergent Boundary

A

boundary formed by collision of 2 plates (collide, crash, collision)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Divergent Boundary

A

boundary between 2 plates moving away from each other (separate, divide)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Transform Boundary

A

boundary between 2 plates that are scraping past each other (scrape)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Ring of Fire

A

ring of volcanoes around the Pacific Plate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Alfred Wegner

A

German scientists who developed the theory of continental drift

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Lithosphere
consists of all of the crust as well as the upper, rigid part of the mantle
26
stress
a force that acts on a rock to change its shape or volume
27
compression
stress that squeezes rock until it folds or breaks
28
tension
stress that pulls rock until it becomes thinner in the middle or breaks
29
shearing
stress that pushes rock in opposite directions until it breaks
30
deformation
the change in the shape of rock in response to stress
31
folding
bending of rock layers due to stress
32
anticline
fold in rock that bends upward into an arch
33
syncline
fold in rock that bends downward to form a valley
34
fault
a break in the Earth's crust
35
normal fault
caused by tensional stress and results in a downward movement of the hanging wall
36
reverse fault
caused by compressional stress and results in an upward movement of the hanging wall
37
strike-slip fault
caused by shearing stress and results in rocks on both sides of the fault sliding past each other
38
hanging wall
The block of rock that forms the upper half of a fault.
39
foot wall
The block of rock that forms the lower half of a fault
40
fold mountains
mountains that form where two plates collide and force layers of rock into folds; formed due to compression
41
fault-block mountains
mountains that form where two plates divide and force layers of rock to fault; formed due to tension
42
volcano
an opening in Earth that emits gases, ash, and magma
43
magma
molten rock inside the Earth's crust
44
lava
molten rock that flows from a volcano (outside the earth's crust)
45
hotspot
volcanically active places on Earth's surface that are far from tectonic plate boundaries (Hawaii)
46
viscosity
resistance to flow
47
composite volcano
The most common type of volcano that has very explosive eruptions of pyroclastic material followed by calm lava follows.
48
cindercone volcano
Volcano that tends to be smaller and can form quickly. They have a dome on top and form from moderately explosive eruptions of pyroclastic material.
49
shield volcano
Volcanoes that have gently sloping sides and can be enormous. They are formed from non-explosive eruptions with gentle lava flows.
50
active
Volcanoes that are currently erupting or show signs of erupting in the near future.
51
dormant
Volcanoes that are currently not erupting, but the record of past eruptions suggests that they may erupt again.
52
extinct
Volcanoes that have not erupted in recorded history and probably never will erupt again.
53
earthquake
a sudden movement of the Earth's crust caused by the release of stress accumulated along geologic faults or by volcanic activity.
54
tectonic plates boundaries
most earthquakes take place along these
55
focus
the point inside the Earth, along a fault, at which an earthquake begins
56
epicenter
the point on the earth's surface directly above an earthquake's starting point, or focus
57
seismologist
scientists who study earthquakes
58
seismology
the scientific study of earthquakes
59
seismograph
an instrument located at or near the surface of the Earth that records seismic waves
60
seismic wave
the waves produced by an earthquake
61
primary wave
the first wave to be detected during an earthquake; are longitudinal
62
secondary wave
the second wave to be detected during an earthquake; are transverse
63
surface wave
a type of seismic wave that forms when P waves and S waves reach Earth's surface; most destructive

6th Grade Science (1 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions