Oceanology Exam 1

Science

the study of the natural world

Fact

an observable truth

Theory

an idea that is known to be true, but may not be testable or fully understood

Law

an idea that is known to be true that can be tested

Pseudoscience

a scientific sounding claim without support

Pseudo

meaning false

Paranormal

events that occur beyond the normal scope of scientific understanding

Para

meaning above

What is the first step of the scientific method?

Observe

What is the second step of the scientific method?

Identify a Problem

What is the third step of the scientific method?

Form a Hypothesis

What is the fourth step of the scientific method?

Test the Hypothesis

What is the fifth and final step of the scientific method?

Results/Conclusions

Distance

the amount of space between two points

Area

the amount of space on a surface

Volume

the amount of space within an object

Time

how far apart two events occur

Mass

how much matter is in an object

Speed

amount of distance traveled relative to the time travel

Velocity

is speed with direction specified

Acceleration

measure of speed changed (decreasing or increasing)

Force

push or pull on an object

Weight

amount of gravitational force acting on an object

Work

force applied across a certain distance

Power

work performed with time taken into account

Energy

the ability to preform work

Kinetic Energy

the energy in a moving object

Potential Energy

the energy that is stored in an object and can be released if certain conditions are at rest

Chemical Energy

energy absorbed in chemical reactions

Atomic Energy

vibration energy in every atom

Electromagnetic Energy

a spectrum of wave energy with different frequencies

Wavelength

the distance between two corresponding points of two consecutive waves

Frequency

a measure of how much energy a wave has

Electricity

the movement of electrons

Atom

smallest form of matter that has the property of elements

What is the charge of a proton?

positive

What is the charge of a neutron?

neutral or no charge

What is the charge of an electron?

negative

Atomic Number

the number of protons in the nucleus of the atom, how elements are defined

Atomic Mass

the sum of protons and neutrons

Atomic Charge

the electrons which revolve on shells around the nucleus of the atoms.

Formula of Atomic Number

P (protons)

Formula of Atomic Mass

P + N (protons + neutrons)

Formula of Atomic Charge

P - E (protons - electrons)

How many electrons can be held on the first shell of an atom?

two electrons

How many electrons can be held on the following shells after the first?

eight electrons

Isotopes

same element different masses

Radioactivity

the emission of energy, sometimes accompanies by particles, by an unstable atom trying to become more stable

Why would an atom become unstable?

there are too many protons and neutrons in the nucleus and not enough energy to maintain stability

What does it mean when an atom “fails” due to instability?

the atom is decaying at a measurable time, or half-life, by emitting radiation

How does an unstable atom become stable?

it goes through a process of emitting radiation which can happen quickly or take billions of years

What are the three types of radiation an unstable atom may go through?

alpha radiation, beta radiation, and gamma radiation

What is Alpha Radiation?

the atom kicks out a cluster of two protons and neutrons, or an helium atom

What is the size and speed of Alpha Radiation?

Large, slow

What is Beta Radiation?

when a neutron spontaneously breaks down and become a proton and an electron, since electrons can’t reside in the nucleus the atom will shoot it out

What is the size and speed of Beta Radiation?

small, fast

What is Gamma Radiation?

released energy in different wavelength frequencies

What is the speed and size of Gamma Radiation?

speed of light and no size because its a burst of energy

Half - Life

the amount of time it takes for half of the current number of parent atoms to decay into daughter atoms

Parent Isotope

the “before” or an unstable atom that will undergo radioactivity

Daughter Isotope

the “after” or the more stable product of the atom after undergoing radiation

Decay Train

the series of events that occurs when the daughter nucleus is unstable and continuously creates more daughter isotopes until the atom is stable

How do scientists use half-lives to determine the ages of elements?

Since half-lives don’t change, scientists measure the proportion of original radioactive isotope to the decay product to see how many half-lives have passed

Radiometric Dating

using radioactive isotopes and their half-lives to determine ages

Ion

a charged particle (atoms can gain or lose electrons which form charged particles)

Ionic Bond

opposite and equal charges are drawn to each other and stick

Valance

the outer most shell of the atom, that forms bonds with other atoms

Covalent Bond

two atoms share their electrons

What can covalent bonds lead to?

diatomic elements or double atoms

Metallic Bond

a bond formed exclusive to metals, where all electrons are shared

Draw how helium and oxygen bond? What bond is this?

Covalent Bond

Polarity

a molecule that has positive and negative sides

Why is water a great solvent?

Because of waters polarity it will pick apart substances with positive and negative particles as water is charged with both

How does water have surface tension?

Because of water molecules polarity, hydrogen bonds will form between them. In addition, since there is no force pulling on the molecules on the surface, they are able to bunch closer and tighter together.

Adhesion

water sticking to other materials

Cohesion

water sticking to itself

Heat Capacity

how much heat a material can gain or lose before it changes temperature

Does water have a high heat capacity?

Yes, water can absorb a lot of heat before the temperature changes.

Chemical Layers

defined by composition

Physical Layers

defined by what specific form each layer holds (liquid, solid, or in between)

What are the chemical layers?

crust, mantle, and core

What is the crust made of?

igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks

What is the mantle made of?

denser igneous rocks

What is the core made of?

iron and nickel

What are the physical layers?

lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, liquid outer core, and solid inner core

What is the form of the lithosphere?

it’s brittle or hard but liable to shatter or break easily

What is the form of the asthenosphere?

it’s ductile or able to be deformed without loosing toughness

What is the form of the mesosphere?

it’s ductile or able to be deformed without losing toughness BUT is denser and therefore more resistant to deformation

What is the form of the outer core?

it’s a liquid because it’s under the perfect amount of pressure and heat to move like a liquid

What is the form of the inner core?

it’s a solid because it’s under so much pressure and heat it makes it a solid

Draw the chemical layers and physical layers of the earth in comparision.

How does the Earth have a magnetic field?

The circulating convection currents of molten iron and nickel from the outer core generates electric currents which creates this magnetosphere

Theory of Plate Tectonics

states the outer most physical layer of Earth, or lithosphere, is broken each of which move independently

Boundaries

the contact or movement of tectonic plates

What are the three types of boundaries?

convergent, divergent, and transform boundaries

What are the different types of convergent boundaries?

Oceanic-oceanic, oceanic-continental, and continental-continental convergence

Subduction

one plate moves underneath another

Subduction Zone

the area where one tectonic plate moves under another

Draw an oceanic-oceanic convergence.

Explain an oceanic-oceanic convergence and each features that occur because of this convergence.

One plate will subduct under the other enter the asthenosphere. As the subducted plate continues to constantly move the fluids absorbed from the asthenosphere get released and migrate up. This “cooks” the plate above it causing liquid rock or magma to form and rise all the way to the surface. This is then released on the surface via a volcano, which is why near every subduction zone there is a volcano arc or multiple volcanic islands. In addition, the subduction created a trench on the ocean floor.