Earth’s Composition Visual Vocabulary

Standards: SC.912.E.6.1: Describe and differentiate the layers of Earth and the interactions among them. SC.912.E.6.3: Analyze the scientific theory of plate tectonics and identify related major Key Concepts and features as a result of moving plates. SC.912.E.6.2: Connect surface features to surface Key Concepts that are responsible for their formation. SC.912.E.6.4: Analyze how specific geologic Key Concepts and features are expressed in Florida and elsewhere. SC.912.E.6.5: Describe the geologic development of the present day oceans and identify commonly found features.

Atmosphere The whole mass of air that surrounds the Earth

Hydrosphere All of the Earth's water including: Surface water- water in oceans, lakes, and rivers Ground water -water in soil and beneath the Earth's surface Water vapor- water in the atmosphere  

Biosphere Area around the planet Earth where life exists This zone of life is vast Most life lives on or near the surface of Earth

Geosphere The solid part of the earth consisting of the crust and outer mantle

Water The basic molecule made up of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom These atoms form a strong bond that is difficult to break Water is one of the most common substances on the Earth Water covers over 70% of the surface of the Earth

Carbon Carbon is the sixth element in the periodic table It is a very stable element Because it is stable, it can be found both by itself and in many compounds Carbon is in nearly every biological compound that makes up our bodies, systems, organs, cells, and organelles

Oxygen A chemical element found in the air as a colorless odorless tasteless gas that is necessary for life

Energy  The ability to do work

Nitrogen Cycle The continuous sequence of events by which nitrogen and nitrogenous compounds in the soil are converted Nitrogen passes through successive stations in air, soil, and organisms and which principally involves nitrogen fixation, nitrification, decay, and denitrification

Carbon Cycle The combined processes, including photosynthesis, decomposition, and respiration, by which carbon as a component of various compound cycles between its major reservoirs— the atmosphere, oceans, and living organisms

Water Cycle The way that water moves between being water vapor to liquid water and then back to water vapor An example of water cycle is when the water evaporates from oceans and then returns to the land in the form of rain 

Organisms A creature such as a plant, animal or a single-celled life form Or something that has interdependent parts and that is being compared to a living creature An example of an organism is a dog, person or bacteria

Plants A group of living things that use sunlight to make their own food Most plants have leaves, stems, roots and flowers or cones Plants use a green pigment called chlorophyll to absorb energy from sunlight Grasses, trees, vines, vegetables, cactuses, ferns and mosses are examples of plants

Earth The planet on which we live The Earth is the only inner planet to have one large satellite, the moon The 3rd planet from the sun

Earth The earth is made up of 4 layers. Crust Mantle Outer Core Inner Core

Crust The crust is the layer we live on It is the thinnest of the layers from 3 miles to 25 miles thick It is made up primarily of rock and loose materials such as granite and basalt Underneath the continents, the crust is almost three times as thick as it is under the oceans

Mantle The mantle is the next layer It is about 1800 miles thick This layer is very hot with temperatures of 1400-4000 degrees. It is made of a thick, solid, rocky substance that represents about 85% of the total weight and mass of the Earth

Outer Core The outer core is so hot that it is liquid. It’s temperatures are between 4000-9000 degrees. It extends to a depth of around 3000 mile (4828km) beneath the surface It is believed that this outer core is made up of super-heated liquid molten lava This lava is believed to be mostly iron and nickel

Inner Core In the absolute center of Earth is the inner core The inner core extends another 900 miles (1448km) toward the center of the Earth It is believed that this inner core is a solid ball of mostly iron and nickel The inner core reaches temperatures of 9000 degrees. The metals in the inner core are squeezed together to form a solid core that vibrates in place