astro

Composition of Earth's atmosphere

78% N2, 21% O2, 0.9% argon, 0.0035% CO2, 0.1-3% H2O

Hydrosphere

all the waters on the earth's surface, such as lakes and seas, and sometimes including water over the earth's surface, such as clouds.

atomosphere

the envelope of gases surrounding the earth or another planet.

Ionosphere

the lower part of the thermosphere, where electrically charged particles called ions are found

Mesosphere

The layer of Earth's atmosphere immediately above the stratosphere

Stratosphere

The second-lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere.

ozone layer

Protective layer in atmosphere that shields earth from UV radiation.

Troposphere

The lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere

Convection

Process by which, in a fluid being heated, the warmer part of the mass will rise and the cooler portions will sink.

greenhouse effect

Natural situation in which heat is retained in Earth's atmosphere by carbon dioxide, methane, water vapor, and other gases

Evolution of Earth's Atmosphere

-early atmosphere from volcanic activity (CO2, N2, CH4, NH3) -NO FREE O2!!!!! -secondary Earth cooled, torrential rains filled oceans, washed out CO2, teritary: Life happens producing O2, ozone forms, life on surface

S waves

A type of seismic wave that moves the ground up and down or side to side (transverse) can travel through solids

P waves (primary)

Type of body waves that are the fastest seismic waves, are longitudinal compression waves travel through solids and liquids

Differentiation

Heavy material sinks to the center of the planet and lighter material rises to the surface which implies that the planet MUSTVE been partially molten

plate tectonics

The theory that pieces of Earth's lithosphere are in constant motion, driven by convection currents in the mantle.

Lithosphere

the solid, outer layer of the earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the mantle

Asthenosphere

The soft layer of the mantle on which the tectonic plates move

dynamo theory

the generation of a magnetic field by circulating electric charges

Magnetosphere

the area surrounding Earth that is influenced by Earth's magnetic field

The Van Allen belts are

regions of high-energy charged particles trapped within Earth's magnetosphere

What creates a magnetic field?

moving electric charges

How many tides are there in a day?

two high tides and two low tides

tidal bulge

The moons pulls on the water on the side of the Earth closest to it more strongly than on the side opposite it. This pull creates a bulge of water

What do tides do to earths rotation

they slow earths rotation due to friction

Mantle

the layer of the earth between the crust and the core

Which is the inferior planet

mercury

Which planet has the greatest elongation

mercury

Both the moon and mercury don't have what

a natural satellite or atmosphere

The moon has both

light and dark areas

What are the dark areas on the moon called?

Maria(rich in iron) dark smooth, look like water

What are the light areas on the moon called

highlands: higher in elevation, mountainous rich in aluminum

solar system evolution

cloud of dust, rock, gas, with slight rotation, Gravity contracts the cloud, conservation and momentum causes rotation to speed up. Contraction continues: the sun form, Planets form due to condensation and gravity

Rotation rate of the moon

1 orbit= 1 rotation

How long is a solar day on mercury

2 siderals days because the eliptical orbit means rotation would speed up and slow down

Lunar Craters

Due to the explosive impact of interplanetary projectiles, known as meteors when in space and meteorites upon hitting the surface of a moon or planet.

Why do lunar craters last a long time

no atmosphere so theres no erosion, and no protection from metorites

What is the moon's surface like?

covered in dust and has craters

Volcansim formed what

maria

rilles

narrow channel on the moon's surface carved out by lava

How is mercurys surface different than the moon

not as cratered, closer to the sun, no maria, very few riles, has scarps

Scarps

Huge cliffs thought to have formed as the planet cooled and contracted

Moons core vs mercurys core

small iron core interaction with earths magnetic field, vs large iron core with a weak magnetic field

Formation of moons

formed at the same time as a planet, (conformation), capture:wanders to close to the planet, fission: material is flung off while the planet was still molten, impact:mars sized object hit earth

Where is venus when it appears the brightest

when it passes between the earth and the sun

How many days is 1 rotation on venus

243 days

Why does venus have retrograde motion

impact

Do we have the same side of venus always facing us?

Yes

The atmosphere of venus is very

thick, so only radio waves get through the clouds

Surface of venus

8% mountains, 27% lowlands, 65% rolling plains, volcanoes, lava flow, craters

which planet has no tectonic plates

venus

runaway greenhouse effect on venus

a process in which the heating of a planet leads to an increase in its atmosphere's ability to retain heat and thus to further heating, causing extreme changes in the temperature of the surface and the composition of the atmosphere

Venus's atmosphere has much more carbon dioxide than Earth's because

it lacks oceans and is very thick

Which planet doesn't have a magnetic field

Venus because it's rotation is too slow

Which planet has 2 moons

Mars

The polar caps on Mars are composed of

both frozen carbon dioxide and water ice.

Seasonal Caps Mars

composed of carbon dioxide which grows and shrinks as the season changes

residual caps on mars

permanently frozen water

Features of the surface of mars

volcanoes, canyons, dunes, mountains

southern hemisphere of mars

higher elevation, heavily cratered lots of mountains

Northern Hemisphere of mars

lower elevation, smoother volcanic plains

Hellas Basin

What is the deepest point on Mars?

Valles Marineris is a

large canyon on Mars.

Olympus Mons

largest volcano in solar system on Mars

The atmosphere of Mars is composed mostly of

carbon dioxide

lowest layer of mars atmosphere

thermosphere

Reverse Runaway Greenhouse Effect

Mars is cold so co2 is absorbed into the rocks and oceans

why is there no dynamo on mars

it has no liquid

Does Mars have a magnetic field?

mars does not have a magnetic field

Mars' moons are

Phobos and Deimos and captured asteroids