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chapter 1 es
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| system | a group of parts that work together as a whole |
| energy | the ability to do work or cause change |
| atmosphere | the relatively thin layer of gases that form earth's outermost layer |
| geosphere | the densest parts of the earth that include the mantle, crust and core |
| hydrosphere | the portion of earth that consists of water in any of it's forms includes oceans, glaciers, rivers, lakes, groundwater and water vapor |
| biosphere | the parts of earth that contain living organisms |
| constructive force | a natural process that builds up earth's surface |
| destructive force | any natural process that tears down or wears away earth's surface |
| seismic wave | vibrations that travel through earth carrying energy released during an earthquake |
| pressure | the force pushing on a surface divided by the area of the surface |
| crust | the layer of rock that forms the earth's outer surface |
| basalt | a dark dense igneous rock with a fine texture found in oceanic crust |
| granite | a usually light colored igneous rock that is found in continental crust |
| mantle | the layer of hot solid material between earth's crust and core |
| lithosphere | a rigid layer made up of the uppermost part of the mantle and crust |
| asthenosphere | the soft layer of the mantle on which the lithosphere floats |
| outer core | a layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of the earth |
| inner core | a dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of the earth |
| radiation | the transfer of energy by electromagnetic waves |
| convection | the transfer of thermal energy by the movement of a fluid |
| conduction | the transfer of thermal energy from one particle of matter to another, a method of charging an object by allowing electrons to flow from one object to another through direct contact |
| density | the ratio of the mass of substances to it's volume mass divided by volume |
| convection current | the movement of a fluid caused by differences in temperature that transfers heat from one part of the fluid to one another |