Internal Energy Processes

These flashcards cover key vocabulary related to internal energy processes, Earth's structure, heat sources, and tectonic activity.

Accretion

The growth of a celestial body as smaller objects stick to it.

Kinetic Energy

The energy possessed by a body because of its motion.

Differentiation

The process by which heavy material sinks to the core and lighter material rises to the surface in the formation of a planet.

Asthenosphere

A zone in the upper mantle that behaves like a hot plastic due to lower confining pressure.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of Earth, comprising the crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.

Gravitational Potential Energy

Energy stored in an object as the result of its vertical position or height.

Radioactive Decay

The process whereby unstable atomic nuclei lose energy by emitting radiation.

Long-Lived Radioactivity

Radioactive isotopes that remain active for a long time and contribute to Earth's internal heat.

Short-Lived Radioactivity

Radioactive isotopes that decay quickly; they were more prevalent in early Earth.

Tectonics

The study of the interactions and movements of the Earth's plates.

Megathrust Earthquake

A large-scale earthquake that occurs at subduction zones, known for their potential to cause tsunamis.

Flood Basalt

A type of volcanism where vast volumes of magma flow from fissures, often linked to mass extinctions.