APES – Earth Science – Flashcards
Unlock all answers in this set
Unlock answersquestion
Biosphere
answer
the regions of the surface and atmosphere of the Earth (or other planet) where living organisms exist
question
lithsophere
answer
the solid outer layer of the earths crust and upper mantle
question
mantle
answer
the layer of the earth between the crust and the core
question
asthenosphere
answer
The solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on top of it
question
hydrosphere
answer
the portion of earth that is water
question
magma
answer
molten rock in the earth's crust
question
Geologic Time Scale
answer
scale used by paleontologists to represent evolutionary time
question
Law of Superposition
answer
The geologic principle that states that in horizontal layers of sedimentary rock, each layer is older than the layer above it and younger than the layer below it.
question
principle of uniformatarianism
answer
idea that suggests that changes in the Earth's surface happened slowly instead of all at once. Gradual shifting and compression changes occurred across different continental land forms.
question
law of original horizontality
answer
states layers of sediment are generally deposited in a horizontal position
question
law of lateral continuity
answer
Lava flows and strata extend laterally in all directions until they thin to nothing or reach the edge of their basin of deposition
question
Sediment
answer
matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid
question
oxygen catastrophe
answer
on the GTS, an event marked by major extinction or organisms when the levels of oxygen in the atmosphere peaked
question
plate tectonics
answer
the theory that pieces of Earth's lithosphere are in constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle
question
convergent boundary
answer
boundary between two colliding plates, often associated with mountain building ocean trenches and volcanic islands
question
divergent boundary
answer
the boundary between two tectonic plates that are moving away from each other
question
transform boundary
answer
the boundary between tectonic plates that are sliding past each other horizontally
question
Himalayas
answer
an example of two continental plates colliding
question
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
answer
an example of a divergent boundary
question
Mariana's trench
answer
an example of an oceanic plate and a continental plate colliding
question
Japan or Hawaii
answer
an example of two oceanic plates colliding
question
Ring of Fire
answer
a major belt of volcanoes that rims the Pacific Ocean
question
Earthquake
answer
shaking and vibration at the surface of the earth resulting from underground movement along a fault plane of from volcanic activity
question
Richter Scale
answer
a logarithmic scale of 1 to 10 used to express the energy released by an earthquake
question
focus
answer
The point beneath Earth's surface where rock breaks under stress and causes an earthquake
question
Epicenter
answer
the point on the Earth's surface directly above the focus of an earthquake
question
Body waves
answer
seismic waves that travel through the Earth's interior
question
Surface waves
answer
seismic waves that travel along the Earth's surface
question
P waves
answer
travels fastest, compressional waves, can travel through solids, liquids and gasses
question
S waves
answer
a slower, transverse wave; the rock vibrates perpendicular to the direction of wave movement; can travel through rock but not gas or liquid
question
volcano
answer
a fissure in the earth's crust (or in the surface of some other planet) through which molten lava and gases erupt
question
pyroclastic flow
answer
A hot, high-velocity mixture of ash, gas and fragmented rock that flows like a liquid down slopes and over terrain.
question
cinder cone
answer
a steep, cone-shaped hill or small mountain made of volcanic ash, cinders, and bombs piled up around a volcano's opening.
question
stratovolcano
answer
A composite volcanic cone built of interlayered lava flows and pyroclastic materials
question
hot spot
answer
an area where magma from deep within the mantle melts through the crust above it
question
caldera
answer
a large crater caused by the violent explosion of a volcano that collapses into a depression
question
dormant volcano
answer
not active but capable of becoming active, A volcano that has not erupted for a long time, but may erupt again one day.
question
extinct volcano
answer
said of a volcano that is unlikely to erupt again, A volcano that has not erupted for thousands of years and probably will not erupt again.
question
active volcano
answer
One that is erupting or shows signs that it may erupt in the near future.
question
Electromagnetic Induction
answer
the process of generating an electric current from the motion of a conductor through a magnetic field
question
turbine
answer
A machine for producing power in which a wheel or rotor is made to revolve by a fast-moving flow of water, steam, gas, or air.
question
generator
answer
engine that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy by electromagnetic induction
question
alternating current
answer
a flow of electric charge that regularly reverses its direction
question
direct current
answer
an electric current that flows in one direction steadily
question
substation
answer
a place where electricity is transformed for distribution by a low-voltage network
question
transformer
answer
an electrical device by which alternating current of one voltage is changed to another voltage
question
power pool
answer
part of a power load program that would pull in additional needed electricity from nearby plants to meet the demands of an area
question
peak load
answer
the greatest demand for electricity, which is met by using hydroelectric power and natural gas
question
geothermal energy
answer
energy derived from the heat in the interior of the earth
question
renewable energy
answer
Any source of energy that can be continually produced and is inexhaustible given current conditions.
question
dry rock conversion
answer
geothermal energy made by pumping in pressurized water into hot rock
question
flash energy
answer
geothermal energy from water that is brought up very hot, and then vaporizes. The steam from the water is used to power turbines
question
Binary
answer
hot water pumped up from geothermal energy is used to heat a secondary liquid, which will vaporize and turn a turbine for electricity
question
seismology
answer
the branch of geology that studies earthquakes
question
seismic waves
answer
vibrations that travel through Earth carrying the energy released during an earthquake
question
Basaltic magma
answer
the most common form of magma, results from the partial melting of rock in the asthenosphere. Generally has the lowest silica content of the three common volcanic rocks, which makes it the least viscous.
question
Andesite magma
answer
magma that can arise in a variety of ways, but most is produced by the partial melting of wet basalt. This often occurs at subducting plate margins where oceanic crust dives beneath another plate.Can also be generated by the melting of continental crust. Normally more viscous and contain more dissolved gases.
question
Rhyolitic lava
answer
magma that is rich in silica and therefore quite viscous. It can arise from the partial melting of continental crust. Because of its viscosity, which results in the magma solidifying before it can reach the surface, it is generally is less common than other forms
question
Lava, ash, and debris flows
answer
the most common and serious volcanic hazards
question
relative time measurements
answer
Dating an unknown sample to a certain time period when compared to samples of known ages
question
geologic plate
answer
a layer of rock that drifts slowly over the supporting, upper mantle layer
question
subduction zone
answer
The region where oceanic plates sink down into the asthenosphere.
question
convection
answer
material circulation caused by heat
question
fault
answer
a crack in the earth's crust resulting from the displacement of one side with respect to the other
question
love waves
answer
Surface waves that shear the ground in a horizontal direction. Can only travel through solids. Third to arrive.
question
Raleigh Waves
answer
surface waves whose matter moves in a circular motion
question
tephra
answer
bits of rock or solidified lava dropped from the air during an explosive volcanic eruption; ranges in size from volcanic ash to volcanic bombs and blocks
question
energy
answer
power that may be translated into motion, overcoming resistance, or affection physical resistance
question
power
answer
the source of energy used to operate a system
question
electricity
answer
any phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons
question
calories
answer
measures amount of energy in food
question
joule
answer
energy in work
question
watts
answer
amount energy in power
question
BTU
answer
amount of energy it takes to heat/cool one pound of water by one degree
question
kWh
answer
amount of energy consumed by electric utilities
question
horsepower
answer
amount of energy in anything with an engine or motor
question
energy is conserved
answer
1st law of thermodynamics
question
disorder
answer
2nd law of thermodynamics... can never be 100% efficient
