ESS Regents Terms (URGENT)

Redshift

The stretching of light waves from distant galaxies as they move away from us, which proves the universe is expanding.

Revolution

The movement of a planet around the Sun in an orbit, which takes Earth 365.25 days and causes our seasons.

Rotation

The spinning of a planet on its axis, which takes Earth 24 hours and causes day and night.

Specific Heat

The amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of a substance. Water has a high specific heat, meaning it heats up and cools down very slowly.

Coriolis Effect

The curving of winds and ocean currents caused by Earth's rotation. Winds curve to the right in the Northern Hemisphere.

Physical Weathering

The mechanical breaking down of rocks into smaller pieces without changing their chemical makeup, like frost wedging.

Chemical Weathering

The breakdown of rocks caused by chemical reactions that change the rock's minerals, like acid rain dissolving limestone.

Erosion

The movement of rock particles and sediments from one place to another by water, wind, ice, or gravity.

Radioactive Dating

A scientific technique used to determine the absolute age of materials like rocks, minerals, and organic remains.

Convection Currents

The movement of heat in fluids (liquids and gases) caused by differences in density.

S-Waves vs. P-Waves

Seismic waves from earthquakes.

Convergent vs. Divergent Boundaries

How tectonic plates move against each other.

Rotation vs. Revolution

The two main movements of Earth.

Eccentricity

How flat or oval a planet's orbit is.

Insolation

Incoming Solar Radiation (sunlight hitting Earth).

Specific Heat

How long it takes a material to heat up or cool down.

Chemical vs. Physical Weathering

How rocks break down.

High vs. Low Pressure Systems

Weather patterns.

Deposition

The dropping off of sediments by water, wind, or ice.