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23 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
comparative planetology
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The study of planets by comparing the characteristics of different examples.
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seismic waves
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A mechanical vibration that travels through Earth; usually caused by an earth-quake.
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mantle
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The layer of dense rock and metal oxides that lies between the molten core and Earth’s surface; also, similar layers in other planets.
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Plastic
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A material with the properties of a solid but capable of fl owing under pressure.
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Plate Tectonics
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The constant destruction and renewal of Earth’s surface by the motion of sections of crust.
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midocean rise
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One of the undersea mountain ranges that push up from the seafloor in the center of the oceans.
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Basalt
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Dark, igneous rock characteristic of solidified lava.
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primeval atmosphere
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Earth’s first air, composed of gases from the solar nebula.
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secondary atmosphere
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The gases outgassed from a planet’s interior; rich in carbon dioxide.
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ozone layer
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In Earth’s atmosphere, a layer of oxygen ions ( O3) lying 15 to 30 km high that pro-tects the surface by absorbing ultraviolet radiation.
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terminator
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The dividing line between day-light and darkness on a planet or moon.
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Limb
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The edge of the apparent disk of a body, as in “ the limb of the moon.”
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relative age
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The age of a geological feature referred to other features. For example, relative ages reveal that the lunar maria are younger than the highlands.
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absolute age
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An age determined in years, as from radioactive dating ( see also relative age).
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anorthosite
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Rock of aluminum and calcium silicates found in the lunar highlands.
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regolith
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A soil made up of crushed rock fragments.
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ray
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Ejecta from a meteorite impact, forming white streamers radiating from some lunar craters.
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subsolar point
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The point on a planet that is directly below the sun.
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composite volcano
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A volcano built up of layers of lava flows and ash falls. These are steep sided and typically associated with subduction zones.
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shield volcano
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Wide, low profile volcanic cone produced by highly liquid lava.
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Coronae
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On Venus, large, round geologi-cal faults in the crust caused by the intrusion of magma below the crust.
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outflow channel
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Geological feature on Mars that appears to have been caused by sudden fl ooding.
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valley network
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Dry drainage channels re-sembling streambeds found on Mars.
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