Wharton Earth Systems Final Exam Review Vocabulary

Flashcards for Wharton Earth Systems Final Exam Review

Big Bang Theory

Theory explaining the origin of the universe.

Star Properties

Characteristics of stars, such as brightness, temperature, and size.

Star Color

Indicates the star's surface temperature.

How is the universe changing?

The universe is expanding.

Low/Average Mass Star Life Cycle

Nebula, protostar, main sequence, red giant, planetary nebula, white dwarf.

High Mass Star Life Cycle

Nebula, protostar, main sequence, red supergiant, supernova, neutron star or black hole.

Star Spectrum

Tells us about a star's chemical composition, temperature, and density.

Sun's Age

Approximately 4.6 billion years old.

Sun's Surface Features

Sunspots, prominences, flares, etc.

Light Year

The distance light travels in one year.

Lunar Phases

New moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, third quarter, waning crescent

What are the major parts of the electromagnetic spectrum?

Radio

Microwave

Infrared

Visible

Ultraviolet

X-ray

Gamma rays

“Remember My Incredible Visual Ultra X-ray Guide”

Transverse Wave Parts

Crest, trough, wavelength, amplitude.

Red Shift

Object moves away

Blue Shift

Object moves closer

Lunar Features

Maria, highlands, craters.

HR Diagram

Hertzsprung-Russell diagram; a scatter plot of stars showing the relationship between the stars' absolute magnitudes or luminosities versus their stellar classifications or effective temperatures.

Lunar Eclipse

Earth blocks sunlight from reaching the Moon.

Solar Eclipse

Moon blocks sunlight from reaching Earth.

Planetesimals

Small celestial bodies that collided to form planets.

Umbra

The darkest part of a shadow.

Penumbra

The lighter part of a shadow where light is partially blocked.

Coriolis Effect

The apparent deflection of moving objects when they are viewed from a rotating reference frame.

Air Masses

Large bodies of air with uniform temperature and humidity characteristics.

Orographic effect

Changes in atmospheric conditions caused by a change in elevation of terrain.

Climate

The average weather conditions in an area over a long period.

Weather

The state of the atmosphere at a particular place and time.

Fossils

Preserved remains or traces of ancient organisms.

Alfred Wegener

Proposed the Theory of Continental Drift.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Asthenosphere

The plastic-like, mechanically weak and ductile region of the upper mantle.

Law of Superposition

The principle that in undisturbed rock layers, the oldest layers are at the bottom and the youngest are at the top.

Salinity

The measure of dissolved salts in water.

Polarity

A molecule with an uneven distribution of electrical charge.

Adhesion

The attraction between molecules of different substances.

Cohesion

The attraction between molecules of the same substance.

Ecology

The study of the interactions between organisms and their environment.

Autotrophs

Organisms that produce their own food.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that consume other organisms for food.

Carrying Capacity

The maximum number of individuals an environment can support.