Prelude Flashcards
(19 cards)
advection
when a hot liquid enters cracks in a solid and heats it up
conduction
when rapidly moving atoms in a substance cause nearby atoms to move more rapidly and increase in temperature (note that atoms stay in place)
convection
when atoms become heated and that causes them to move location, freeing up their space for cooler atoms to enter and become heated, repeating the cycle and heating the larger substance (note that atoms physically move location)
convection cell
the pattern/path established during convection heating
Earth System
the complex interrelationship between Earth’s interior, solid surface, oceans, atmosphere, life forms, etc
geologic time scale
the breaking down of the time since Earth came into existence into geologically significant divisions
geologist
a scientist who studies the Earth
geology
the study of Earth
heat
thermal energy transferred from one body to another
hypothesis
a potential explanation for a set of observations
plate
a discrete section of Earth’s semi-solid shell exterior, involved in a system of plates covering the Earth’s surface
radiation
heat transported through electromagnetic waves (as from sun to earth)
scientific laws
a concise statement explaining a relationship or phenomenon
scientific method
a set of steps for investigation into scientific problems intended to yield verifiable results
shatter cones
small, cone-shaped cracks in a rock
temperature
a measure of warmth relative to some scale or standard (Fahrenheit, Celsius, etc)
theory
scientific ideas supported by abundant evidence that have not been disproven
theory of plate tectonics
model that explains tectonic plates’ existence, interrelationship, and consequences
thermal energy
produced by atoms moving quickly, sum of all kinetic energy produced by all atoms in a given substance
