Earth Structures

renewable resource

Any natural resource (as wood or solar energy) that can be replenished naturally with the passage of time

nonrenewable resource

a resource that cannot be replaced

natural resource

materials found in nature that are used by living things

phosphate

a natural mineral containing chemical compounds often used in fertilizers, found in Florida

oil

A liquid fossil fuel formed from marine organisms

limestone

a rock and nonrenewable resource found in Florida.

silicon

a Florida resource used in electronics.

wind energy

Energy derived from wind by means of windmills or wind turbines.

solar energy

energy from the sun

hydroelectric energy

Energy obtained from flowing water

wind turbine

a machine that converts energy in wind into electrical energy.

dam

a barrier that runs across a river or stream to control the flow of water

environment

The sum of your surroundings

cleavage

the splitting of a mineral along smooth, flat surfaces

color

hue as light is reflected off the object

deposition

Process in which sediment is laid down in new locations.

erosion

Processes by which rock, sand, and soil are broken down and carried away

gravity

A force that pulls objects toward each other

hardness

A measure of how easily a mineral can be scratched

igneous

a type of rock that forms from the cooling of molten rock at or below the surface

luster

The way a mineral reflects light

metamorphic

A type of rock that forms from an existing rock that is changed by heat, pressure, or chemical reactions.

mineral

a naturally occurring, inorganic solid that has a crystal structure

physical property

a characteristic that can be observed

pressure

the amount of force exerted

rock

A naturally occurring solid mixture of one or more minerals or organic matter

sediment

small, solid pieces of material that come from rocks or living things

sedimentary

A type of rock that forms when particles from other rocks or the remains of plants and animals are pressed and cemented together

streak color

color left by a mineral when rubbed on another surface

weathering

The breaking down of rocks and other materials on the Earth's surface.

condensation

Gas to liquid

fog

A cloud at ground level.