Matter & Energy in Earth's Systems
What is the main source of energy for Earth's systems?
The Sun.
What are landforms?
Natural features of the Earth's surface, such as mountains, valleys, and plateaus.
What is the hydrosphere?
The combined mass of water found on, under, and above the Earth's surface.
What is weather?
The state of the atmosphere at a specific time and place, including temperature, humidity, and precipitation.
What is humidity?
The amount of water vapor present in the air.
Define the term "ecosystem."
A community of living organisms and their environment interacting as a system.
Name three types of rocks found in the geosphere.
Igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
What percentage of Earth's surface is covered by water?
About 71%.
What instrument is used to measure temperature?
A thermometer.
Define condensation.
The process by which water vapor changes into liquid water.
What is the difference between potential and kinetic energy?
Potential energy is stored energy, while kinetic energy is the energy of motion.
What process forms sedimentary rocks?
The accumulation and compaction of sediments over time.
What is a watershed?
An area of land that drains all the streams and rainfall to a common outlet.
What is the difference between weather and climate?
Weather refers to short-term atmospheric conditions, while climate describes the long-term average of weather patterns in a specific area.
Explain the term "precipitation."
Any form of water—liquid or solid—that falls from clouds to the Earth's surface.
How does energy flow through an ecosystem?
Energy flows from producers to consumers and then to decomposers.
How are mountains formed?
Through tectonic processes, such as the collision of tectonic plates.
Describe the water cycle.
The continuous movement of water through evaporation, condensation, precipitation, and runoff.
What are the primary factors that influence weather patterns?
The primary factors include temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind patterns, and the presence of bodies of water.
What is the term for the process by which water vapor turns directly into ice?
Sublimation.
What is the greenhouse effect?
The process by which certain gases trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the Earth.
What is erosion?
The process by which soil and rock are removed from the Earth's surface by natural forces.
What is groundwater?
Water that is stored underground in aquifers.
How do clouds form?
Through the cooling of air and condensation of water vapor.
What is the significance of the water cycle for weather patterns?
The water cycle is vital for distributing moisture in the atmosphere, affecting precipitation, humidity, and temperature, which in turn shape local and global weather patterns.