Origin of The Solar System
Origin of The Solar System
Origin of The Solar System
(p. 7-20)
Earth Systems
The Earth is part of a larger system, called the solar system, but the Earth itself is made up of a number
of interdependent systems.
The four main Earth systems are the _________________, _________________, _________________,
and _________________.
We will talk about the lithosphere a little later. List the characteristics of the other three below:
Atmosphere:
Hydrosphere:
Biosphere:
Each system interacts with the others. For example, the constant motion of water from the surface to the
atmosphere and back is called the _________________________. The Earth always maintains a balance
between the 4 systems, however.
Terrestrial planets:
1.__________________
2.__________________
3.__________________
4.__________________
5.__________________
6.__________________
7.__________________
8.__________________
forming a flattened disk shape with 99% of the matter at the center (i.e., the developing Sun).
Accretion of matter within the disk caused planets to develop.
The size of the collapsing sun stabilized when thermal energy was balanced by gravitational
collapse. Formation of the Sun and planets was complete by ________________ years ago.
What are the three principal layers that formed inside the differentiated Earth?
1. _______________ Description:
2. _______________ Description:
3. _______________ Description:
The mantle makes up about _________ of the volume of the Earth.
What are the two types of crust?
1. ___________________ Characteristics:
2. ___________________ Characteristics:
The oldest rocks on Earth are _____________ years old and were found in ____________________.
We can also classify the layers in the Earth based on their physical properties (e.g., whether they are
liquid or solid; or how strong they are). The names of these layers, moving successively deeper into the
Earth, are:
1. __________________ Description: brittle solid; includes the ____________
and the ___________________; 67 mi thick.
2. __________________ Description: _________________; up to 410 mi deep.
3. __________________ Description: ________________; down to 1802 mi.
4. __________________ Description: ________________; down to 3212 mi.
5. __________________ Description: ______________________; center of Earth at a depth of
3968 miles.
FINAL QUESTION:
The process whereby all the plates move around is called:
_______________________________