Intro to Earth Science vocab

Astronomy

• focus on solar systems, stars and galaxies

• The amount of space an object takes up

• A line on a topographic map that connects points of equal elevation.

• The rigid outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

Atmosphere

• Layers of air surrounding the earth.

• A map that shows surface features of an area such as mountains, valleys, plains, and plateaus by using contour (isoline) lines to show changes in elevation.

• Study of the ocean

• The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Biosphere

• Consists of all life on Earth and all parts of the Earth in which life exists, including land, water, and the atmosphere.

• amount of heat given off by an object

• a resource that can be renewed; plants, animals, water, solar, wind

• The name for the group of sciences that deals with Earth and its neighbors in space.

Compass Rose

• A tool on a map showing cardinal (N,E,S,W) and intermediate (NE,SE,NW,SW) directions.

• An explanation of observations or events that is based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations

• A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.

• The mostly solid, rocky part of the Earth; extends from the center of the core and through the mantle to the surface of the crust.

Constants

• Conditions that stay the same in the experiment.

• A series of steps followed to solve problems including collecting data, formulating a hypothesis, testing the hypothesis, and stating conclusions.

• A statement based on repeated experimental observations that describes some aspects of the universe.

• The group in an experiment where the independent variable being tested is not applied so that it may serve as a standard for comparison against the experimental group where the independent variable is applied.

Contour Line

• A line on a topographic map that connects points of equal elevation.

• A statement based on repeated experimental observations that describes some aspects of the universe.

• A term referring to all water that is temporarily frozen in polar ice caps, snow, permafrost, and glaciers.

• The experimental factor that is manipulated; the variable whose effect is being studied.

Control Group

• The group in an experiment where the independent variable being tested is not applied so that it may serve as a standard for comparison against the experimental group where the independent variable is applied.

• a resource that can be renewed; plants, animals, water, solar, wind

• A tool on a map showing cardinal (N,E,S,W) and intermediate (NE,SE,NW,SW) directions.

• The area of Earth science that examines the physical and biological changes that have occurred in Earth's past.

Cryosphere

• A term referring to all water that is temporarily frozen in polar ice caps, snow, permafrost, and glaciers.

• Designated at 0° longitude, which passes through the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, England.

• All the water at and near the surface of the earth, 97% of which is in oceans.

• The amount of space an object takes up

Density

• Mass per unit volume

• An increase in population over a period of time.

• amount of heat given off by an object

• the amount of matter an object has

Dependent Variable

• The outcome factor; the variable that may change in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

• study of everything from chemistry of ocean water to ocean floor and marine organisms

• An explanation of observations or events that is based on knowledge gained from many observations and investigations

• study of the forces that have shaped Earth