Download Chapter 2: Earth as a System STUDY NOTES Chapter 2 Section 1

Chapter 2: Earth as a
System
STUDY NOTES
Chapter 2 Section 1:
Earth: A Unique Planet
1. Earth’s circumference is
about 40,000 km, and its shape
is an ________ ___________.
• oblate spheroid
2. According to the law of
gravitation, the force of attraction
between two objects depends on
the masses of the objects and the
__________ between them.
• distance
3. The lower boundary of Earth’s
crust is called the ________.
• Moho
4. The solid, plastic layer of the
mantle is called the _________.
• asthenosphere
5.The force of attraction that exists
among all matter in the universe is
called _________.
• gravity
6. The mesosphere is the strong, lower
part of the _______ between the
asthenosphere and the outer core.
• mantle
7. The _______ is the thin and
solid outer most layer of the Earth
above the mantle
• crust
8.The lithosphere is the solid, outer
layer of Earth that consists of the crust
and the rigid upper part of the
________.
• mantle
9. The ________ is the central
part of Earth below the mantle.
• core
10. The _______ is the layer of
rock between Earth’s crust and
core.
• mantle
Chapter 2 Section 2:
Energy in the Earth System
1. Evaporation, condensation,
and precipitation are part of the
_____ _______.
• water cycle
2. Plants capture and transfer
solar energy in a process called
___________.
• photosynthesis
3. Because Earth’s interior is warmer
than its surface layers, hot materials
move toward the surface in a process
called ________.
• Convection
4. The largest ecosystem on
Earth is the ________.
• biosphere
5. In general, ecosystems react
to change by _____ _______.
• restoring
• balance
6. The transfer of energy
throughout an ecosystem begins
when plants capture solar _____
through photosynthesis.
• energy
7. A community of organisms
and their abiotic environment is
called an ___________.
• ecosystem
8. The _____ is the part of Earth
where life exists.
• biosphere
9. The ____ is a mixture of ____
that surrounds a planet or moon.
• atmosphere
• gases
10. The _____ is the portion of
Earth that is water.
• hydrosphere
11. The _____ is the mostly
solid, rocky part of Earth.
• geosphere
12. An open system is a system
in which both matter and energy
are _____ with the surroundings.
• exchanged
Chapter 2 Section 1
green book:
The Cycles of Matter
1. All organic molecules contain
__________.
• carbon
2. Bacteria in soil change
nitrogen gas into other forms in
a process called ____ ______.
• nitrogen fixation
3. Carbon is stored as a type of
rock called ______ in the______.
• carbonate
• geosphere
4. Carbon moves between the
environment and living things in
the _______ _______.
• carbon cycle
5. ______ is transferred between
systems, but it cannot be created
or destroyed, according to the
_____ law of thermodynamics.
• Energy
• first
6. Groundwater is an important
part of the _______ cycle.
• water
7. In a cycle of matter, matter
moves between the
environment and _____ things.
• living
9. Most animals get the carbon
they need by ______ plants.
• eating
10. Organisms need _______ to
build proteins for DNA.
• nitrogen
11. _________ is when plants
use carbon dioxide to make
sugars.
• Photosynthesis
12. The sun, internal
convection, and gravity are
important sources of ________
in the Earth system.
• energy
13. Transpiration is one part of
the _______ cycle.
• water
The End!!!