Unit 2 Test 2 Flashcards
What does earth have that other planets do not that allows earth to sustain life?
Earth has oxygen, air, water, an atmosphere, a perfect distance from the sun, and the greenhouse effect.
How is earth different from the other planets?
Earth has life, oxygen that we can breathe, and an atmosphere that has the right amount of thickness.
What is the Greenhouse effect?
The greenhouse effect is the way in which heat is trapped close to Earth’s surface by “greenhouse gasses.” These heat-trapping gasses can be thought of as a blanket wrapped around Earth, keeping the planet toastier than it would be without them.
How does the Greenhouse effect help life exist on earth?
Greenhouse gasses let the sun’s light shine onto Earth’s surface, but they trap the heat that reflects back up into the atmosphere. In this way, they act like the insulating glass walls of a greenhouse. The greenhouse effect keeps Earth’s climate comfortable.
What areas of earth are consistently the warmest/coldest and why?
Areas of earth that are consistently the warmest are the areas that are closer to the equators. This is because the sun is facing more directly to the middle of the Earth (the equator.) Areas of earth that are consistently the coldest are the poles of the earth. This is because the sun isn’t facing the poles of the earth directly.
Why do seasons exist?
The seasons exist because the earth is in a tilted axis
Why do day/night exist?
The rotation around Earth’s axis.
How long it takes earth to rotate on its axis?
It takes about 24 hrs
How long does it take earth to revolve around the sun?
It takes 1 year or 365 days
Why do deserts exists?
Deserts exist because the dried air moves further north and south creating desserts.
Why do rainforest exist? What is the cycle of how it happens?
Rainforests exist because with air, moisture rises, it cools and becomes more dense —-> It holds less moisture —-> water falls as precipitation —-> rainforests
What type of air rise/fall?
Warm/Hot air rises and cold air falls.
Where does air go on earth (to poles/equator)?
The air from the poles goes to the equator and the air from the equator goes to the poles.
What are the direction of winds?
To balance the temperature around the earth, the winds from the poles go to the equator and the air from the equator goes to the poles.
What affects the ocean currents?
All the wind is affecting the ocean currents. Sometimes, when the wind hits a big object, like a continent, the ocean/wind moves in a circular direction. The wind could also just push the water wherever the wind blows.
