Astronomy Ch 17
Terms
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- anorthosite
- Rock of aluminum and calcium silicates found in the lunar highlands. (p. 391)
- basalt
- Dark igneous rock characteristic of solidified lava. (p. 384)
- capture hypothesis
- The theory that Earth's moon formed elsewhere in the solar nebula and was later captured by Earth. (p. 394)
- comparative planetology
- The study of planets in relation to one another. (p. 378)
- composite volcano
- A volcano formed by successive lava and ash flows. They have steep sides and, on Earth, are found along subduction zones. (p. 400)
- condensation hypothesis
- The theory that Earth and the moon condensed from the same cloud of material in roughly their present orbital relationship. (p. 394)
- coronae
- On Venus, large, round geological faults in the crust caused by the intrusion of magma below the crust. (p. 402)
- ejecta
- Pulverized rock scattered by meteorite impacts on a planetary surface. (p. 388)
- fission hypothesis
- The theory that the moon and Earth formed when a rapidly rotating protoplanet split into two pieces. (p. 394)
- folded mountain range
- A long range of mountains formed by the compression of a planet's crust. (p. 384)
- global warming
- The gradual increase in the surface temperature of Earth caused by human modifications to Earth's atmosphere. (p. 386)
- greenhouse effect
- The process by which a carbon dioxide atmosphere traps heat and raises the temperature of a planetary surface. (p. 386)
- large-impact hypothesis
- The theory that the moon formed from debris ejected during a collision between Earth and a large planetesimal. (p. 394)
- lobate scarp
- A curved cliff such as those found on Mercury. (p. 396)
- mantle
- The layer of dense rock and metal oxides that lies between the molten core and Earth's surface. Also, similar layers in other planets. (p. 381)
- mare
- One of the lunar lowlands filled by successive flows of dark lava. From the Latin for "sea." (p. 387)
- micrometeorite
- Meteorite of microscopic size. (p. 389)
- midocean rise
- One of the undersea mountain ranges that push up from the seafloor in the center of the oceans. (p. 384)
- multiringed basin
- Large impact feature (crater) containing two or more concentric rims formed by fracturing of the planetary crust. (p. 389)
- outflow channel
- Geological feature produced by the rapid motion of floodwaters. Applied to features on Mars. (p. 409)
- P wave
- A pressure wave. A type of seismic wave produced in Earth by the compression of the material. (p. 382)
- plastic
- A material with the properties of a solid but capable of flowing under pressure. (p. 383)
- plate tectonics
- The constant destruction and renewal of Earth's surface by the motion of sections of crust. (p. 395)
- primeval atmosphere
- Earth's first air. (p. 386)
- rays
- Ejecta from meteorite impacts forming white streamers radiating from some lunar craters. (p. 388)
- rift valley
- A long, straight, deep valley produced by the separation of crustal plates. (p. 385)
- S wave
- A shear wave. A type of seismic wave produced in Earth by the lateral motion of the material. (p. 382)
- secondary atmosphere
- The gases outgassed from a planet's interior; rich in carbon dioxide. (p. 386)
- secondary crater
- Impact crater formed by debris ejected from a larger impact. (p. 388)
- shield volcano
- Wide, low-profile volcanic cone produced by highly liquid lava. (p. 400)
- subduction zone
- A region of a planetary crust where a tectonic plate slides downward. (p. 384)
- terminator
- The dividing line between daylight and darkness on a planet or moon. (p. 387)
- valley network
- A system of dry drainage channels on Mars that resembles the beds of rivers and tributary streams on Earth. (p. 409)
- vesicular basalt
- A porous rock formed by solidified lava with trapped bubbles. (p. 391)