Unit 1 Vocabulary

Streak Plate

• A piece of unglazed porcelain that is used to test the streak of minerals.

• A type of mineral that is used in jewelry making.

• A method for determining the hardness of a mineral.

• A geological formation that contains valuable minerals.

Open System

• A system that is completely isolated from its surroundings.

• A system in which energy and matter can freely move in and out.

• A system that only allows energy to enter but not matter.

• A system that can only exchange matter with its surroundings.

Thermometer

• An instrument for measuring and indicating temperature.

• A device used to measure humidity levels.

• A tool for measuring atmospheric pressure.

• An instrument for detecting radiation levels.

Geocentric Theory

• The outdated astronomical model that places Earth at the center of the universe.

• A modern theory that describes the solar system with the Sun at the center.

• A theory that suggests the Earth is flat and not spherical.

• An ancient belief that the stars are fixed and do not move.

Hydrosphere

• All the waters on the Earth's surface, such as lakes and seas, and sometimes including water over the Earth's surface, such as clouds.

• The layer of gases surrounding the Earth.

• The solid outer part of the Earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle.

• The region of the Earth where living organisms exist.

Climatology

• The study of weather patterns in a specific location.

• The study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time.

• The analysis of geological formations over time.

• The examination of atmospheric pressure and its effects.

Earth's Energy Budget

• The total amount of energy produced by Earth's core.

• The balance between the energy Earth receives from the Sun and the energy the Earth radiates back into outer space.

• The energy stored in Earth's atmosphere due to greenhouse gases.

• The energy used by living organisms on Earth for survival.

Closed System

• A physical system that allows free transfer of mass in and out of the system.

• A physical system that does not allow certain types of transfers (such as transfer of mass) in or out of the system.

• A system that is completely isolated from its surroundings.

• A system that can exchange energy but not mass with its surroundings.

Biosphere

• The global sum of all ecosystems, including all life forms and their relationships.

• A specific region of the Earth where life exists.

• The study of living organisms and their interactions.

• The layer of gases surrounding the planet.

Atmosphere

• The layer of water surrounding the Earth.

• The envelope of gases surrounding the Earth or another planet.

• The solid outer layer of the Earth.

• The region of space beyond the Earth's atmosphere.