Energy and Weather Atmosphere Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering Topic 4 (Energy) and Topic 6 (Weather and Atmosphere) based on the lecture review notes.

Liquid

A state of matter that has a definite volume but no definite shape.

Gas

A state of matter with no definite shape or volume.

Solid

A state of matter that has a definite shape and a definite volume.

Heat flow

The transfer of energy from a warmer object to a cooler object.

Temperature

A measure of the average kinetic energy of the particles in a substance.

Kinetic energy

The energy that an object has due to its motion.

Thermal energy

The total kinetic and potential energy of all the particles in an object.

Potential energy

Stored energy that results from the position or shape of an object.

Conduction

The transfer of thermal energy from one particle of matter to another through direct contact.

Convection

The transfer of thermal energy by the movement of a fluid, such as a liquid or gas.

Radiation

The transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves.

Transformation

The process of changing energy from one form to another.

Transfer

The movement of energy from one place or object to another.

The Law of Conservation

The rule that energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed or transferred.

Chemical energy

A form of potential energy that is stored in chemical bonds between atoms.

Insulator

A material that does not conduct heat well and slows the transfer of energy.

Conductor

A material that conducts heat well and allows energy to transfer easily.

Precipitation

Any form of water that falls from clouds and reaches Earth's surface, such as rain, snow, sleet, or hail.

Evaporation

The process by which molecules at the surface of a liquid absorb enough energy to change to a gas.

Condensation

The change in state from a gas to a liquid.

Transpiration

The process by which plants release water vapor into the atmosphere through their leaves.

Maritime tropical

A warm, moist air mass that forms over tropical oceans.

Maritime polar

A cold, moist air mass that forms over polar oceans.

Continental polar

A cold, dry air mass that forms over land in polar regions.

Continental tropical

A warm, dry air mass that forms over land in tropical regions.

Barometric pressure

The pressure caused by the weight of a column of air pushing down on an area.

Hurricanes

A tropical storm that has winds of $119\,km/h$ or higher.

Ocean currents

Large streams of moving water that flow through the oceans.

Convection currents

The movement of a fluid, caused by differences in temperature, that transfers heat from one part of the fluid to another.

Sea breezes

A local wind that blows from an ocean or lake toward land.

Uneven heating

The result of different surfaces on Earth absorbing and releasing solar energy at different rates, driving weather and wind patterns.