Planet Earth and Space

These flashcards cover key definitions, processes, spheres, and concepts related to Earth and space, important for understanding the subject.

What is the lithosphere?

The rocks and soil of the Earth's crust.

Define hydrosphere.

All water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and groundwater.

What is the atmosphere?

The layer of gases that surrounds the Earth.

What is the biosphere?

The sphere of everything that lives on Earth.

What are biotic elements?

Living elements in the environment.

What are abiotic elements?

Non-living elements in the environment.

Name the four spheres of the Earth.

Lithosphere, Hydrosphere, Atmosphere, Biosphere.

What defines the lithosphere?

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

What processes occur in the lithosphere?

Rock cycle, weathering, erosion, plate tectonics.

What is the significance of the lithosphere?

It provides minerals and resources, soil for plants, and stores fossils.

What are the components of the hydrosphere?

Oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and groundwater.

Explain the water cycle.

Processes including evaporation, condensation, precipitation, runoff, and infiltration.

List the importance of the hydrosphere.

Essential for life, supports ecosystems, provides drinking water, regulates temperature.

What is the atmosphere composed of?

Nitrogen (78%), oxygen (21%), argon, carbon dioxide, water vapour.

What are the layers of the atmosphere?

Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere.

What occurs in the troposphere?

Weather and the living organisms; it's the layer we live in.

Define the biosphere.

All living things on Earth, including humans, animals, plants, and microorganisms.

What processes are found in the biosphere?

Photosynthesis, respiration, food chains, decomposition.

What are examples of interactions between spheres?

Volcanic eruptions affecting the atmosphere; plants need soil from the lithosphere.

What is the Earth's crust?

The thin, outermost solid layer of the Earth.

What defines the mantle?

The thickest layer beneath the crust, mostly solid but extremely hot.

Describe the outer core.

A liquid layer below the mantle composed of molten iron and nickel.

What is the inner core?

The solid center of the Earth, composed of solid iron and nickel.

What is the rock cycle?

The process of rocks changing from one type to another through various processes.

What are igneous rocks?

Rocks formed from melted rock that cools and solidifies.

How do sedimentary rocks form?

From weathering, erosion, deposition, compaction, and cementation of sediments.

What are metamorphic rocks?

Rocks that change due to heat and pressure but do not melt.

What is the Greenhouse Effect?

A natural process that warms the Earth by trapping heat in the atmosphere.

What are greenhouse gases?

Gases that trap heat, including carbon dioxide, methane, water vapour, and nitrous oxide.

What is mining?

The process of removing minerals from the ground.

What are mineral resources?

Useful materials extracted from the Earth, including metals and energy minerals.

What are some negative impacts of mining?

Air and water pollution, soil erosion, loss of biodiversity, and habitat destruction.

What is rehabilitation in mining?

The process of restoring land after mining.

What is Ohm's Law?

A fundamental equation relating voltage, current, and resistance: V = I × R.

What is energy?

The ability to do work or cause change in a system.

What is a balanced force?

Forces that are equal in size and opposite in direction, resulting in no movement.

What is the difference between series and parallel circuits?

Series circuits have one path and share voltage; parallel circuits have multiple paths with full voltage in each branch.

What is the role of a transformer?

To change the voltage of electricity for transmission and distribution.

Define the term 'ore' in mining.

A rock that contains valuable minerals that can be mined.