Chapter 1 Earth Science Vocabulary

Front 1

Astronomy

Back 1

The study of objects beyond earth's atmosphere

Front 2

Meteorology

Back 2

Branch of earth science that studies the air that surrounds the earth

Front 3

Geology

Back 3

The study of materials that makes up earth and the process that forms and changes these materials

Front 4

Oceanography

Back 4

The study of the earth's oceans and the creatures that inhabit it's waters. It's physical and chemical properties effect human activities.

Front 5

Lithosphere

Back 5

Earth's rigid outer shell including the crust and the uppermost layer of the mantel

Front 6

Asthenosphere

Back 6

Parshally molten plastice like flowing layer located below the sold part of the mantel

Front 7

Hydrosphere

Back 7

All water in earth's oceans, lakes, seas, rivers, and glaciers plus all waters in the atmosphere

Front 8

Atmosphere

Back 8

Blanket of gas surrounding the Earth that contains 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen and 1% of gases such as argon, carbon dioxide and water vapor

Front 9

Biosphere

Back 9

All of the organisms and their environments in which they live

Front 10

Control

Back 10

Standerd for comparison in an experaments

Front 11

Dependant Variable

Back 11

Factor in an experament that can change if the Independent Variable is changed

Front 12

Hypothesis

Back 12

a suggested explanation for an observation often stated in a question that can be answered by the results of an experament

Front 13

Independant Variable

Back 13

Factor that is manipulated by the experamentor or the experament

Front 14

SI system

Back 14

Modern version of the metric system based on a decimal system using the number as a base unit includes meters, seconds, liters and kilometers

Front 15

Scientific Notation

Back 15

a type of short hand used by scientists in which a number expressed as a mutiple and a power of 10

Front 16

Law

Back 16

Basic fact that describes the behavior of a natural phenomeon

Front 17

Theory

Back 17

An explanation based on many observations during repeated experaments that is valid only if it is consistent with observations, makes predictions that can be tested and it is the simpler explanation of observations