Science Ch2

Crust

The thin, solid, outermost zone, of Earth

Mantle

The layer that underlies the crust and it is denser than the crust. It makes up 2/3 of Earth's mass.

Lithosphere

The uppermost part of the mantle

Asthenosphere

Below the lithosphere, rigid layer, has plasticity because of heat and pressure of solids

Mesosphere

A layer of solid mantle rock below the asthenosphere

Oblate Spheroid

Squashed sphere

Plasticity

the ability of a solid to flow

Magnetosphere

Motions within the core produce electric currents

Describe two characteristics that make Earth unique in our solar system.

We have water and people inhabit it.

What does the difference between your weight at the equator and your weight at the poles suggest about the shape of Earth?

It is an oblate spheroid, which means that there is less distance when your on the equator to the core, then when your on the poles.

System

an organized group of related objects or components that interact

Atmosphere

The blanket of gases that surrounds Earth's surface

Hydrosphere

all of Earth's water except the water that is in gaseous form in the atmosphere

Geosphere

Mostly solid part of Earth

Biosphere

Composed of all of the forms of life in the geosphere in the hydrosphere and in the atmosphere.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space

Energy

The ability to work: transferred by heat, light, vibrations, and electromagnetic waves

Energy Budget

Additions in energy are balanced by subtractions

Reservoir

A place where matter/energy is stored

Cycle

A group processes in which matter and energy repeatedly move through a series of reservoirs

Explain the role of energy in the carbon cycle.

Goes through 4 spheres, to produce carbohydrates, methane in the air, glucose.

Ecosystem

A community of organisms and the environment that the organisms inhabit

Carrying Capacity

The largest population that an environment can support at any given time

Food Web

used to represent the relationships between multiple food chains

Ecology

Relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings

Producer

An organism that makes/provides its own food. EX. trees, plants

Consumer

An organism that eats the foods the producers make

Decomposer

An organism that decomposes material ex. bacteria

Energy pyramid

pyramid of energy flow in a community

Food Chain

Chart of what eats what (which organisms consume other organisms)

Why does energy flow in only one direction in a given food chain of an ecosystem?

Because it leads up to the top of the food chain.

What characteristic of Earth's interior is likely responsible for earth's magnetic field?

The liquid iron in earth's outer core

What is the role of decomposers in the cycling of matter in the biosphere?

To become a part of the other 3 spheres

Crust

The thin, solid, outermost zone, of Earth

Mantle

The layer that underlies the crust and it is denser than the crust. It makes up 2/3 of Earth's mass.

Lithosphere

The uppermost part of the mantle

Asthenosphere

Below the lithosphere, rigid layer, has plasticity because of heat and pressure of solids

Mesosphere

A layer of solid mantle rock below the asthenosphere

Oblate Spheroid

Squashed sphere

Plasticity

the ability of a solid to flow

Magnetosphere

Motions within the core produce electric currents

Describe two characteristics that make Earth unique in our solar system.

We have water and people inhabit it.

What does the difference between your weight at the equator and your weight at the poles suggest about the shape of Earth?

It is an oblate spheroid, which means that there is less distance when your on the equator to the core, then when your on the poles.

System

an organized group of related objects or components that interact

Atmosphere

The blanket of gases that surrounds Earth's surface

Hydrosphere

all of Earth's water except the water that is in gaseous form in the atmosphere

Geosphere

Mostly solid part of Earth

Biosphere

Composed of all of the forms of life in the geosphere in the hydrosphere and in the atmosphere.

Matter

Anything that has mass and takes up space

Energy

The ability to work: transferred by heat, light, vibrations, and electromagnetic waves

Energy Budget

Additions in energy are balanced by subtractions

Reservoir

A place where matter/energy is stored

Cycle

A group processes in which matter and energy repeatedly move through a series of reservoirs

Explain the role of energy in the carbon cycle.

Goes through 4 spheres, to produce carbohydrates, methane in the air, glucose.

Ecosystem

A community of organisms and the environment that the organisms inhabit

Carrying Capacity

The largest population that an environment can support at any given time

Food Web

used to represent the relationships between multiple food chains

Ecology

Relations of organisms to one another and to their physical surroundings

Producer

An organism that makes/provides its own food. EX. trees, plants

Consumer

An organism that eats the foods the producers make

Decomposer

An organism that decomposes material ex. bacteria

Energy pyramid

pyramid of energy flow in a community

Food Chain

Chart of what eats what (which organisms consume other organisms)

Why does energy flow in only one direction in a given food chain of an ecosystem?

Because it leads up to the top of the food chain.

What characteristic of Earth's interior is likely responsible for earth's magnetic field?

The liquid iron in earth's outer core

What is the role of decomposers in the cycling of matter in the biosphere?

To become a part of the other 3 spheres