Earth Science Branches
This branch studies stars, planets, and the universe.
What is astronomy?
This Earth system includes all living organisms.
What is the biosphere?
This is the science of making maps.
What is cartography?
Anything that has mass and takes up space is called this.
What is matter?
A mineral must be naturally occurring, inorganic, solid, crystalline, and have this kind of composition.
What is a definite chemical composition?
This branch studies weather and the atmosphere.
What is meteorology?
This Earth system is the blanket of gases surrounding Earth.
What is the atmosphere?
This imaginary line represents 0 degrees latitude.
What is the equator?
This formula is used to calculate density.
What is density equals mass divided by volume?
This property describes how light reflects from a mineral's surface.
What is luster?
This branch studies oceans and ocean processes.
What is oceanography?
This Earth system includes glaciers, ice caps, and permafrost.
What is the cryosphere?
This imaginary line represents 0 degrees longitude.
What is the prime meridian?
A sample has a mass of 120 grams and a volume of 40 cubic centimeters. This is its density.
What is 3 grams per cubic centimeter?
A mineral that scratches quartz must have a Mohs hardness in this range.
What is greater than 7?
This branch studies rocks, Earth materials, and Earth processes.
What is geology?
This Earth system includes rocks, soil, landforms, and Earth's interior.
What is the geosphere?
These lines measure distance north or south of the equator.
What are lines of latitude?
Melting ice is this type of change because no new substance forms.
What is a physical change?
Diamond and graphite differ because their carbon atoms have different arrangements and these connections.
What are bonds?
This field studies the environment and how organisms interact with it.
What is environmental science?
Rainwater wearing away rock is an interaction between these two Earth systems.
What are the hydrosphere and geosphere?
Satellites use this process to collect information about Earth from a distance.
What is remote sensing?
Salt water is this type of mixture because it is uniform throughout.
What is a homogeneous mixture or solution?
This material contains a useful substance that can be mined profitably.
What is an ore?