Lesson 1 – Key Terms Quiz

A group of interacting parts that together form up a complex and independent unit.

A collection of related disciplines that together give a unified understanding of the planet and its context in space. Disciplines within ——- include astronomy, biology, geology, hydrology, meteorology, and oceanography.

A plastic-like layer in Earth about 125 km deep resting just below the lithosphere. The lithosphere slides on the ——- in plate tectonics.

Investigations into events that occurred just one time in the past.

All the water of Earth’s surface.

A theory of Earth history in which God played an active role in creating the universe, Earth, and life in a six-day period only a few thousands of years ago.

The uppermost layer of Earth consisting of granitic continental material and basaltic ocean floor material.

The branch of science dedicated to understanding the nature of space and the stars, planets, moons, and other objects within it.

A theory of Earth history in which the universe and life arose by unguided processes.

The innermost part of Earth, divided into an outer layer and an inner layer and composed primarily of iron and nickel.

The role given by God to people to rule over and care for the creation.

A point of contact between two different systems.

A resource that has a good likelihood of existing in a resource area and might be recovered.

A group of activities used by scientists to investigate the world, build and test hypotheses, and make predictions.

A quantity of resources that is known to exist and can be recovered economically.

The mixture of gasses that surround Earth, primarily composed of nitrogen, oxygen, and argon with traces of others. It is divided into layers (e.g., the troposphere) based on temperature trends.

The solid components of Earth.

Any material that can be used by people. Resources may be renewable or non-renewable.

A theory of Earth history in which God created the universe, Earth, and life over a span of billions of years using natural laws and processes (e.g., biological evolution).

Approaches to investigation that include controlled conditions in which a hypothesis is tested in a repeatable fashion.

All life forms on Earth and the interactions between them.

The part of Earth that rests between the crust and the core.

A branch of science that studies the world’s oceans. Includes both physical and biological areas of study.

Records of events made by those who observed them.

A possible explanation for some event or observation.

An approach to Earth science that focuses on the interactions and feedbacks both within and among the Earth science disciplines.

A theory of Earth history in which God played an active role in creating the universe, Earth, and life (as direct creations, not through evolution) over a span of billions of years.

The upper rigid portion of Earth consisting of the crust and part of the mantle. It rests on the asthenosphere and makes up Earth’s plates (that move in plate tectonics).

A branch of science that deals with the properties and flow of water.

The scientific study of the atmosphere and its processes. This includes both weather and climate.