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| sticking together of solid particles to produce a larger particle |
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| growth of a particle by addition of material from surrounding gas, one atom at a time |
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| small rocky world orbiting the Sun; most found between Mars and Jupiter |
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| one of the small, icy bodies that orbit the Sun and produce tails of gas and dust when near the Sun |
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| one of the small bodies that formed from the solar nebula and eventually grew to protoplanets |
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| time required for half of the atoms in a radioactive sample to decay |
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| order in which different materials condense from the solar nebula at increasing distances from the Sun |
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| stage in formation of a massive planet when it grows massive enough to begin capturing gas directly from the nebula around it |
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| density a planet would have if its gravity did not compress it |
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| Which of the following is NOT a property associated with terrestrial planets? |
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| Which of the following accurately describes the differentiation process as it applies to formation of the solar system? |
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| High density materials sink toward the center and low-density materials rise toward the surface of a molten body. |
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| How did the solar nebula get cleared of material? |
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| What evidence do we have that planets form along with other stars? |
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| How is the solar nebula theory supported by the motion of solar system bodies? |
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| Where are most of the asteroids located? |
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Definition
| Between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. |
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| How does the solar nebula theory account for the drastic differences between terrestrial and jovian planets? |
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| What is the origin of the atoms of hydrogen, oxygen, and sodium in the perspiration that exits your body during an astronomy exam? |
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Definition
| The hydrogen nuclei were produced a few minutes after the big bang event 13.7 billion years ago, and the oxygen and sodium nuclei were synthesized inside stars more than 4.6 billion years ago. |
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| How do we know that extrasolar planets are orbiting other stars? |
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Definition
| Both We see a star's light dim as a planet passes in front of the star and We detect alternating Doppler shifts in the spectra of some stars. |
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| Process by which thermal energy is transferred by direct contact from warmer to cooler materials. |
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| Energy transport process in which warmer material expands & rises while cooler material contracts & sinks. |
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| Heat energy is transferred by electromagnetic waves. |
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| Sticking together of solid particles to produce a larger particle |
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| Growth of a particle by addition of material from surrounding gas, one atom or molecule at a time. |
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| Time required for half of the atoms in a radioactive sample to decay. |
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| Process in which gravity separates materials into layers of different densities |
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| layer of gases that are held to a planet's surface by the planet's gravity |
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| process by which a carbon dioxide atmosphere traps heat and raises the temperature of a planetary surface |
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| glowing light display that results when a planet's magnetic field guides charged particles toward the north and south magnetic poles, where they strike the upper atmosphere and excite the atoms to emit photons. |
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| planet's first atmosphere, composed of gases from the solar nebula |
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| gases outgasses from a planet's interior; rich in carbon dioxide |
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| volume of space around a planet within which the motion of the charged particles is dominated by the planetary magnetic field rather than the solar wind |
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| process by which a rotating, convecting body of conducting matter can generate a magnetic field |
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| radiation belts of high energy particles trapped in Earth's magnetosphere |
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| rapidly moving atoms and ions that escape from the Sun's corona and blow outward through the solar system |
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| boundary between undisturbed solar wind and the region deflected around a comet or planet |
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| What is the likely source of Earth's early atmosphere that consisted of carbon dioxide and water vapor? |
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Definition
| Both It was outgased from Earth's interior during volcanic activity and It arrived in the form of icy planetesimals that impacted Earth. |
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| Why would a decrease in the density of the ozone layer cause public health problems? |
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Definition
| The ozone layer blocks ultraviolet light from the Sun, and ultraviolet light causes skin cancer. |
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| Earth's interior can be divided up into four zones, the inner core, the outer core, the mantle, and the crust. Which of these zones has the lowest density? |
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| What creates Earth's strong dipole magnetic field? |
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Definition
| Convection in Earth's outer liquid iron-nickel core combined with Earth's rotation |
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| study of planets by comparing/contrasting characteristics |
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| mechanical vibration that travels through Earth; usually caused by an earthquake |
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| outer layer of lowest density rock at Earth's surface; similar layer in other planets. |
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| layer of dense rock and metal oxides that lies between the molten core and Earth's surface; similar layer in other planets. |
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| material with the properties of a solid but capable of flowing under pressure |
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| layer of a planet that exhibits brittle behavior on geologic time scales; usually contains the crust and upper mantle |
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| layer of a planet that behaves plastically on geologic time scales |
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| constant recycling (destruction and renewal) of Earth's surface by the motion of sections of crust |
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| Process in which gravity separates materials into layers of different densities. |
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| Rock formed from cooling & solidification of molten material; requires a HOT environment |
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| Rock formed when loose materials held in water, ice, or air settle onto a surface, stick and then build up; requires a COLD environment. |
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| Rock whose form has been modified by high pressure, temperature, or both; requires a HOT environment, but not hot enough to melt the source rock. |
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| Wide, low-profile volcanic cone produced by highly liquid lava |
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| Abrupt circular depression formed by 1) extrusion of volcanic material and its deposition in a surrounding rim or 2) explosive ejection of materials upon meteorite impact. |
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| Where on Earth are two plates being pushed apart and new crust created? |
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Definition
| Along the center of the Atlantic Ocean and Along the center of the Red Sea |
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| What type of tectonic zone is responsible for the Andes Mountains that are located all along the western side of South America? |
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| What happened to the majority of the carbon dioxide that was formerly in Earth's atmosphere? |
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Definition
| Most of it dissolved into the oceans and now is in the form of limestone rocks of Earth's crust. |
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| When Earth formed, it melted and differentiated. What was the source of heat that melted Earth? |
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Definition
| Both The in-fall of matter that formed Earth and The decay of radioactive elements. |
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Term
| Why does the same side of the Moon always face Earth? |
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Definition
| Both The Moon rotates in the same direction that it revolves and The Moon's period of rotation is equal to its orbital period. |
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| Why does the Moon have large maria on the Earth facing side, yet no large maria on the opposite side? |
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Definition
| The Moon's crust is thicker, or elevations higher, on the far side. |
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| Which of the following is due to the Moon's small size? |
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