Earth Science Vocabulary
Vocabulary Word
Heliocentric
Geocentric
Big Bang
Gravitational Force
Relative Position
Ellipse
Orbit
Rotation
Revolution
Inertia
Meteor
Asteroid
Moon phases
Ellipses
Luminous
Climate
Tides
Axis
Gravity
Convection current
Seasons
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
Mesosphere
Mantle
Inner Core
Outer Core
Plate Tectonics
Hot spot
Subduction
Definition
The belief that the Sun is the center of the universe and everything revolves
around the Sun.
The belief that the Earth is the center of the universe and everything revolves
around the Earth.
The theory that states that the universe began as a single point and then
exploded to start forming the universe.
When a larger object attracts a smaller object in space and the larger object
pulls on the smaller.
The position of an object in relation to another, such as during an eclipse.
The elongated, closed curve that describes Earth’s yearlong orbit around the
Sun.
The curved path followed by an object as it revolves around another.
Spinning of Earth on its imaginary axis, which takes about 24 hours to complete
and causes day and night to occur.
Earth’s yearlong elliptical orbit around the Sun.
The ability of an object to remain in motion or at rest unless acted on by an
outside force.
A meteoroid that burns up in the Earth’s atmosphere, usually producing bright
streak of light in the night sky.
A pieces of rock, metal or rock and metal, made up of material similar to that
which make planets, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and
Jupiter.
Change in appearance of the moon as viewed from the earth due to relative
positions of the moon, earth, and sun.
Elongated, closed curve that describes Earth’s yearlong orbit around the sun.
Shining by its own light
The average weather pattern in an area over a long period of time, can be
classified by temperature, humidity, precipitation, and vegetation.
The daily rise and fall in sea level caused for the most part of by the interaction
of gravity in the earth – moon system.
An imaginary vertical line that cuts through the center of the earth and around
which earth spins.
The natural force that causes objects to move or tend to move toward the
center of the earth caused by the gravitation of the earth. Gravity causes objects
to have weight.
A current in which the earth’s mantle transfers heat in earth’s interior and is
driving force for plate tectonics.
Short period of climate change in an area caused by the tilt of Earth’s axis as
Earth revolves around the Sun.
The outermost, rigid layer of Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper
part of mantle.
The soft layer of mantle on which pieces of the lithosphere move.
Literally, the “middle sphere” – the strong, lower part of the mantle between
the asthenosphere and the outer core.
The layer of the Earth between the crust and the core.
The solid, dense center of Earth
The liquid layer of the Earth’s core that lies beneath the mantle and surrounds
the inner core.
The theory that the Earth’s lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates that move
around on top of the asthenosphere.
A place on Earth’s surface that is directly above a column of rising magma called
a mantle plume.
The region where an oceanic plate sinks down into the asthenosphere at a
convergent boundary, usually between to continental and oceanic plates.