5th Grade Vocabulary Objective 4 Earth Science

The breaking down and wearing Weathering The breaking down and wearing away of rock

Deposition The process where sediment eroded by wind, water, and ice is dropped in a new place.

The movement of weathered substances by water, Erosion The movement of weathered substances by water, wind, or ice.

The motion or movement of a liquid state Flow The motion or movement of a liquid state of a substance.

Spinning around a central axis Rotation Spinning around a central axis

Revolution One complete trip (orbit) of a planet around a star or a moon around a planet

Molten Rock Melted rock like magma or lava

Renewable Resources A natural resource that can be replaced within a reasonable amount of time. (within a human lifespan)

Nonrenewable Resources A natural resource that is in limited supply and cannot be replaced once it is extracted.

Lunar Cycle The predictable 29 day cycle of the moon as it orbits Earth and progresses through several different phases

Axis The tilted imaginary line on which the Earth rotates

Day A 24 hour time period; the time during those 24 hours in which one side of the Earth is facing toward the Sun.

Night Portion of the 24-hour period when the Sun is not visible because the Earth is facing away from it.

Axis The tilted imaginary line on which the Earth rotates

Fossil Fuels Fuels formed over a long length of time from the bodies of organisms that were living (coal, oil, natural gas)

Oil A liquid produced from organic matter under pressure for many years

Natural Gas A gaseous fossil fuel produced from organic matter that is used to cook and heat homes

Organic Matter Made from plant or animal material (This can turn into fossil fuels.)

Alternative Energy Resource A source of renewable energy such as solar, wind, biofuels, hydroelectricity, or geothermal energy.

Sedimentary Rock Layers Rock that is formed when sediments were pressed and cemented together.

A natural geographic structure on Landform A natural geographic structure on Earth’s surface.

A large pile of deposited sand moved by wind. Sand Dune A large pile of deposited sand moved by wind.

Canyon A narrow opening in the Earth created by the movement of water and wind

Glacier A large body of ice that flows slowly that carves out valleys and shapes the landscape

Delta Where Earth materials are deposited where a river enters an ocean

The mix of gases surrounding Earth. Atmosphere The mix of gases surrounding Earth.

Tide Periodic rises and falls of large bodies of waters caused by the gravitational pull of the Moon.

Which type of soil retains (holds) more water? Potting soil? Clay? Sand?

The process by which water is recycled upon the Earth Water Cycle The process by which water is recycled upon the Earth

Evaporation The sun warms the water in the ocean, causing it to change from water (liquid) to water vapor (gas).

Condensation Once the warm gas (water vapor) hits the cooler air it changes back into a liquid and forms a cloud.

Precipitation Once they become so heavy, the cloud can no longer hold them. It begins to precipitate.

Planets Mercury Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune A planet is a large body of rock or gas that orbits the sun.

Solar System The solar system is the sun and the objects that orbit around it including planets, asteroids, and comets.

Fossils The hardened remains of an organism that lived in the past.

Weather The conditions of the atmosphere at a particular time and place, such as temperature, moisture and cloudiness.

Climate The average conditions of the atmosphere over a long period of time. This includes factors such as temperature, moisture and cloudiness.