Earth Science and Rock Cycles

These flashcards cover key concepts related to the Earth's layers, rock types, cycles and environmental issues.

What are the layers of the Earth?

Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core

What is found in the crust?

Rocks, soil, water, and living things

What gases are in the atmosphere?

Nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water vapor

What are the properties of sedimentary rocks?

Porous, soft, breakable, strong in compression

How are sedimentary rocks formed?

Weathering, erosion, transport, deposit, compact/cement

What are the uses of sedimentary rocks?

Building, cement, fossils, resources

How are igneous rocks formed?

Cooling of magma or lava

What are the properties of igneous rocks?

Hard, durable, non-porous

What are the uses of igneous rocks?

Paths and pavements

What are metamorphic rocks?

Changed rocks due to heat and pressure

What are the uses of metamorphic rocks?

Buildings, monuments

What is the rock cycle?

Rocks change type over time through natural processes

What is uplift?

Rocks pushed up to form mountains

What is the carbon cycle?

Carbon moves through air, animals, plants, oceans, soil

How does CO₂ enter the atmosphere?

Respiration, combustion, volcanoes

How does CO₂ leave the atmosphere?

Photosynthesis, dissolving in oceans

What is the greenhouse effect?

Heat trapped by gases like CO₂ and methane

What is global heating?

Earth’s surface getting hotter

What are the causes of global heating?

Extra greenhouse gases from human activities

What are the impacts of global heating?

Ice melt, floods, droughts, species loss, food shortage

How to stop climate change?

Stop deforestation, electric vehicles, cut methane

Where do resources come from?

Crust, atmosphere, oceans

What is recycling?

Turning waste into reusable materials

How is aluminium recycled?

Melted → ingots → heated → rolled into new cans

What is one advantage of recycling?

Saves resources

What is one disadvantage of recycling?

Can be costly and time-consuming.

How does the rock cycle recycle materials?

By breaking down rocks and forming new ones using heat, pressure, and cooling.