Earth and Space Science - Vocabulary Flashcards (Lecture Pages 1-8)

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key terms and concepts from the lecture notes (Pages 1–8), focusing on Earth science, planetary science, minerals, rocks, and the rock cycle.

Terrestrial planets

Rocky planets with solid surfaces; Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars.

Habitability (Earth)

Earth’s ability to support liquid water and life.

Liquid water

Water in liquid form on a planet’s surface; key for habitability.

Milky Way

Name of our galaxy.

Hydrogen

The primary element formed after the Big Bang.

Big Bang theory

Widely accepted theory of the origin of the Universe.

Cosmic Microwave Background Radiation

Radiation left over from the early universe; strong evidence for the Big Bang.

Red shift

Shift to longer wavelengths; indicates a galaxy is moving away from us.

Blue shift

Shift to shorter wavelengths; indicates an object is moving toward us.

Dwarf planet

Planet-like body that has not cleared its orbit of other objects.

Pluto

Dwarf planet; not classified as a major planet because it has not cleared its orbit.

Greenhouse effect

Heat trapped by a planet’s thick atmosphere, raising surface temperature.

Venus (hottest planet)

Venus is extremely hot due to its thick, heat-trapping atmosphere.

Hydrosphere

All the water on Earth (oceans, rivers, lakes, groundwater, etc.).

Biosphere

All living organisms and their interactions with the environment.

Atmosphere

Gaseous envelope surrounding Earth; contains oxygen, nitrogen, etc.

Crust

Outermost solid shell of the Earth.

Geosphere

The solid, rocky part of Earth including the crust and mantle.

Habitable zone (Goldilocks zone)

Region around a star where conditions allow liquid water to exist.

Magnetic field

Planetary feature that helps regulate temperature and protects life by blocking harmful solar radiation.

Carbon

Building block of life; essential element in organic molecules.

Liquid water as solvent

Water acts as a solvent, enabling chemical reactions essential for life.

Mineral

Naturally occurring inorganic solid with a definite chemical composition and crystalline structure.

Ice

Solid form of water; often considered a mineral, unlike liquid water.

Color

Color of the mineral’s streak or surface.

Streak

Color of the powdered form of a mineral.

Luster

Quality of light reflected from a mineral’s surface.

Hardness

Resistance of a mineral to being scratched; measured on Mohs scale.

Mohs scale

Scale used to determine mineral hardness.

Cleavage

Tendency of a mineral to break along flat, regular planes.

Fracture

Rough or irregular breakage of a mineral.

Igneous rocks

Rocks formed from cooling and solidification of molten rock (magma or lava).

Sedimentary rocks

Rocks formed by cementation of sediments or deposition and lithification.

Metamorphic rocks

Rocks transformed by heat and pressure; may melt to form magma.

Foliation

Layering in metamorphic rocks due to directional pressure.

Non-foliated metamorphic rocks

Metamorphic rocks lacking banded or layered appearance.

Rock cycle

Interconnected processes transforming rocks among igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic forms.

Eye wall

Region around a hurricane’s eye with the strongest winds and heaviest rain.

Storm surge

Damaging rise in sea level during tropical storms or hurricanes.

Dissolution

Process of dissolving soluble minerals (e.g., halite) in water to form a solution.

Stalactites

Mineral formations that hang from cave ceilings.

Stalagmites

Mineral formations that rise from cave floors.

Oxidation

Chemical reaction (e.g., rust) that breaks rocks down by oxygen.

Abrasion

Mechanical weathering by friction that wears down rocks.