Rock transformations
What are the three main types of rocks?
Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
What is thermal energy
total energy of all the moving particles inside a substance.
What is plate tectonics?
The theory that Earth’s outer layer is made of moving plates.
How does variation within a population allow for natural selection?
ensuring individuals possess different traits, allowing some to be better suited to their environment than others.
What is evolution?
Evolution is the process by which species change over time through variations in traits that are passed down from one generation to the next.
How are igneous rocks formed?
They form when molten rock (magma or lava) cools and solidifies
What happens to thermal energy when temperature increases?
Thermal energy increases because the particles move faster.
What are tectonic plates?
massive, rigid, irregularly shaped slabs of solid rock
How does natural selection differ from evolution?
Evolution is the overall process of change in the heritable characteristics of biological populations over generations, while natural selection is a primary mechanism driving that change.
Who developed the theory of evolution by natural selection?
The theory was developed by Charles Darwin, who explained how organisms adapt to their environment over time.
How do sedimentary rocks form?
They form from layers of sediment that are compacted and cemented over time.
Which has more thermal energy: a cup of hot water or a bathtub of warm water?
The bathtub of warm water, because it has more particles.
What causes tectonic plates to move?
Plate movement is mainly driven by heat from Earth’s interior, which creates convection currents in the mantle that push and pull the plates.
What causes variation in a population?
mutation (new alleles), sexual reproduction (shuffling existing alleles), and gene flow (migration).
What is natural selection?
Natural selection is the process where organisms with traits better suited to their environment are more likely to survive and reproduce, passing those traits on.
What are sediments?
Small pieces of rock, minerals, or organic material.
What two factors affect thermal energy?
Temperature and mass (amount of substance).
What happens at a convergent boundary?
At a convergent boundary, one plate may be forced under another in a process called subduction, often forming mountains, volcanoes, or deep ocean trenches.
What happens in a changing environment?
causes ecosystems to shift, forcing organisms to adapt, relocate, or face extinction.
What is an example of evolution in action?
A classic example is the peppered moth in England, which changed color over time to better blend into polluted environments.
How are metamorphic rocks formed?
They form when existing rocks are changed by heat and pressure.
Is thermal energy the same as temperature? Why or why not?
No. Temperature measures the average energy of particles, while thermal energy is the total energy of all particles.
What evidence supports the theory of plate tectonics?
Evidence includes the fit of continents (like pieces of a puzzle), fossils found on different continents, seafloor spreading, and the distribution of earthquakes and volcanoes. The idea that continents were once joined as Pangaea also supports this theory.
what are some examples of natural selection
antibiotic resistance, Darwin's finishes developing specialized beaks.
What evidence supports evolution?
Evidence includes fossils, DNA similarities, and structures in different organisms that suggest common ancestry (like similar bone structures in humans and animals).