Physics of the Solid Earth

A collection of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in the Physics of the Solid Earth lecture.

Seismic Waves

Waves that travel through the Earth, used to determine its internal structure.

P-waves

Primary waves that can travel through solids and liquids and are the fastest seismic waves.

S-waves

Secondary waves that can only travel through solids and are slower than P-waves.

Hydration

A chemical weathering process involving the absorption of water by minerals.

Hydrolysis

A chemical weathering process involving the reaction of minerals with water, leading to the breakdown of rocks.

Big Bang Theory

The prevailing cosmological model explaining the universe's origin from an initial singularity.

Earth's Crust

The outermost layer of the Earth, composed of solid rock.

Earth's Mantle

The layer between the crust and core, made of semi-solid rock that flows slowly.

Earth's Core

The innermost layer of the Earth, consisting of a solid inner core and a liquid outer core.

Lithosphere

The rigid outer layer of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Plate Tectonics

Theory explaining the movement of Earth's plates and their relation to earthquakes.

Epicenter

The point on the Earth's surface directly above where an earthquake originates.

Hypocenter

The actual location of the earthquake's source in the Earth's crust.

Richter Scale

A logarithmic scale used to measure the magnitude of earthquakes.

Mercalli Scale

A scale measuring the intensity of an earthquake based on its observed effects.

Seismometer

An instrument that detects and records seismic waves during earthquakes.

Weathering

The process of breaking down rocks through physical or chemical means.

Rock Cycle

The continuous process of rock formation and transformation between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.

Dynamo Mechanism

The process by which Earth's magnetic field is generated through the movement of molten iron in the outer core.

Geographic Poles

The points on the Earth's surface where the axis of rotation intersects.

Magnetic Poles

The locations on the Earth's surface where the planet's magnetic field points vertically downwards.

Magnetic Field Reversal

The phenomenon where Earth's magnetic field changes direction, with evidence found in geological records.

Magnetic Anomalies

Irregularities in Earth's magnetic field used in geophysics to identify mineral deposits.