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21 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Geography |
The study of the lands, the features, the inhabitants, and the phenomena of the Earth. |
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Geographic Information Systems (GIS) |
Computerized systems for the capture, storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of spatial (geographic) data. |
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On average, how close is the earth to the Sun?
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150,000,000 kilometers (93,000,000 miles) |
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Great Circle (Examples) |
Any plane that is passed through the center of a sphere bisects that sphere (divides it into two equal halves). Ex. The Equator Prime Meridian |
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What is Earth’s “tilt”? Is the Earth’s speed of rotation constant at all latitudes?
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The Earth's axis is tilted 23.5 degrees away from the plane of the ecliptic which creates the different seasons throughout the year and the speed remains constant at all latitudes. |
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What are Earth’s highest and lowest points? |
Highest point: Mount Everest Lowest Point: Mariana Trench |
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What is the process of science? |
1. Observe to stimulate question or problem. 2. Make a hypothesis 3. Design experiment to test the hypothesis. 4. Predict the outcome(supported/unsupported) 5. Conduct experiment & observe 6. Draw conclusion or formulate a "rule" based on results.
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What are the four “spheres” of Earth that geographers are concerned with? |
Lithosphere: solid, inorganic portion of Earth(rocks of Earth's crust) Atmosphere: gaseous envelope that surround Earth Hydrosphere: comprises water in all its form -cryosphere: snow & ice Biosphere: living organisms on Earth |
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Theory |
A logical, well-tested explanation that encompasses a wide variety of facts and observations. |
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Hypothesis |
An educated guess. |
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Tropic of Cancer |
23.5 degrees North The northernmost location reached by the vertical rays of the Sun during the year. (June Solstice)
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Tropic of Capricorn |
23.5 degrees South North pole is oriented most directly away from the Sun. Antarctic Circle (Daylight) & Arctic Circle(Darkness)-24 hours. (December Solstice)
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Meridian |
An imaginary line of longitude extending from North Pole to South Pole, crossing all parallels at right angles. |
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International Date Line |
The line marking time difference of an entire day from one side of the line to the other. This line falls on the 180th meridian except where it deviates to avoid separating an island group. |
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Equator |
An imaginary line drawn around the earth equally distant from both poles, dividing the earth into northern and southern hemispheres and constituting the parallel of latitude 0°. |
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Parallel |
A line connecting all points of equal latitude; such a line is parallel to all other parallels. |
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Aphelion |
The point in Earth's elliptical orbit at which Earth is farthest from the sun. |
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Perihelion |
The point in the orbit where Earth is closest to the sun. |
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Atmosphere |
The gaseous envelope surrounding Earth. |
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Equinox |
Vertical rays of the sun are striking the Equator and the circle of illumination is touching both poles. All locations experience 12 hours of daylight and 1 hours of darkness. |
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Solstice |
North of the equator the length of day increases & South of the equator the length of day decreases. So, the arctic and antarctic circles experience 24 hours of daylight and darkness. |
