Download World Geography: Chapter 2

The physical World
Chapter 2
Continents are landmasses that
protrude above the bodies of water
on earth.
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Africa
Asia
Antarctica
Australia
Europe
North America
South America
3 Basic parts of the earth’s
interior
• Core: solid,
metallic center
• Mantle: soft
layer of molten
rock
• Crust: thin
layer of rock
on the earth’s
surface.
4 Basic Spheres found on or above
the earth
Atmosphere
• Contains the oxygen we breathe,
protects the earth from radiation,
and provides the medium for
weather and climate.
Lithosphere
• The solid rock portion of the
earth’s surface.
Hydrosphere
• Made up of the water elements of
the earth.
• Ex: oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and
water in the atmosphere.
Biosphere
•The part of the earth
where plants and
animals live.
Continental Drift
• This theory maintains that
the earth was one continent
that broke apart into different
plates upon which the
separate continents rested.
Note how the continents fit
like puzzle pieces.
Oceans
•Atlantic
•Pacific
•Indian
•Arctic
•The Water Cycle: The
continuous circulation
of water between the
atmosphere, the
oceans, and the earth.
Landforms
• Naturally formed features on
the surface of the earth.
Continental Shelf
• The earth’s surface from the
edge of a continent to the
drop-off to the deep part of
the ocean.
Relief
• The difference in elevation in
a landform from its lowest
point to its highest point.
Topography
• A combination of surface
shape and the
composition of landforms.
Tectonic Plates
What causes earthquakes?
• Crust movement along the
plate boundary-radiated
through fault lines.
Where do most earthquakes occur?
•Along the Pacific Ring
of Fire.
What are some effects of
earthquakes?
Tsunami
• Earthquakes can cause these
waves in the ocean that can
become a towering wall of water as
it approaches the coastline.
Volcano
• A giant fissure in the earth’s
crust where expanding gases
and magma have built up and
either exploded (cone) or flowed
(shield)
Lava
• When magma reaches the
earth’s surface it is called lava.
Weathering: Mechanical
• Processes that breaks
rock into smaller pieces;
freezing, plant roots, etc.
Weathering: Chemical
• Rock changes as a result of
interaction with elements in
the air or water. For
example: acid rain.
Erosion: Water
• The force of the flowing
water can carve out a new
landform, as seen here.
Erosion: Delta
• The erosive power of a river can
wash sediment far down stream
and deposit it at the mouth
creating a fan-like buildup
called a delta.
Erosion: Wind
• Powerful winds can strip the
topsoil off and carry it for
miles.
Erosion: Loess
• Wind-blown
silt that
accumulates
and creates
very fertile
soil.
Glacial Erosion
• Glaciers are massive-moving
sheets of ice. They bulldoze as
they advance and scrape out as
they recede.
Glacial Erosion
• Glaciation is the changing of
the landscape through
glacier movement.
Glacial Erosion
•Moraine: rocks left
behind by the glacier
may form a ridge or a
hill.
Largest Continent?
• What: Asia
• Where: Eastern Hemisphere
Smallest Continent?
• What: Australia
• Where: South Pacific
Largest Ocean?
• What: Pacific
Longest River?
• What: Nile
• Where: East Africa
Largest Lake?
• What: Caspian Sea
• Where: Eurasia
Deepest Lake?
• What:
Baikal
• Where:
Asia
Highest Mountain?
• What: Mt. Everest
• Where: Nepal-Tibet
Highest Waterfall?
• What: Angel Falls
• Where: Venezuela
Largest Desert?
• What: Sahara
• Where: Northern Africa
Lowest Continental point?
• What: Shores of the Dead
Sea
• Where: Israel-Jordan
THE END