Earth’s Relief and Geological Processes: A Detailed Study
Earth’s Relief Classification
- Mountain: Relief over ten degrees with a large gap between the top and its base.
- Hill: Relief with little unevenness.
- Gorge or Throat: Narrow valley featuring steep walls on its sides.
- Plateau: Relief with a flat top.
- Terraces: Graduated relief.
Interpretive Rating of Relief Forms
Some terms are:
- Mountain: Relief that stands out from contiguous areas, formed by the folding of materials or volcanic activity.
- Witness Hill: Relief that, at peak height, is not at the same level
Understanding Metals and Plastics: Properties & Processes
Metals
Metals are usually obtained from the transformation of minerals, which are rocks extracted directly from nature.
Some metals, such as gold, silver, platinum, and copper, can be found in their purest form and are called native metals.
Physical Properties
Electrical conductivity is the property that allows the passage of electrical current.
Thermal conductivity is the property of materials to transmit heat.
Density is the amount of material mass per unit volume.
Expansion is the relative variation
Read MoreMaterials, Manufacturing & Societal Impact
Natural Materials: Materials used as found in nature.
Processed Materials: Materials obtained by subjecting natural materials to various chemical processes.
Synthetic Materials: Materials obtained by chemical methods from other materials.
Technical Use Materials
Wood: Derived from tree trunks, strong, elastic, good heat and electrical insulator. Comes in natural (pine) and processed (plywood) forms.
Paper and Cardboard: Made from wood pulp, easy to cut, fold, sew, and dye. Available in various types
Read MoreKey Concepts in Meteorology and Climatology
Key Meteorological and Climatological Terms
Time and Climate
Time refers to the atmospheric conditions at a specific moment. Climate is the sequence of weather types that occur over a period of 30 years of observation in a given territory. Meteorology is the science that studies weather, while climatology studies climate.
Jet Stream and Action Centers
A jet stream is a strong wind current with a tubular structure, circulating between 9-11km in altitude. No difference exists between the equatorial and
Read MoreEarth’s Geological History: Precambrian to Cenozoic Eras
Precambrian Era: From Earth’s Origin to 570 Million Years Ago
Hadean Eon
- Earth separated into three layers.
- The first atmosphere was formed.
- Meteorites continually bombarded the Earth.
- The Moon was formed.
- The first life forms probably existed at the end of the Hadean.
Archean Eon
- Few rocks remain from this eon.
- Almost all of the Earth was an ocean, with only microcontinents.
Proterozoic Eon
- Supercontinents were formed, and lithospheric movement was similar to that of today.
- Meteorite bombardment stopped.
- Tectonic
Environmental Impacts: Coal vs. Uranium, Climate Change, Acid Rain
Environmental Effects of Coal and Uranium as Power Sources
Coal and uranium are both mined, which creates landscape damage and harmful tailings that can contaminate waterways. Uranium generates more power than coal by weight or volume, so less of it needs to be mined. Combusting coal for electricity emits sulfur and nitrogen oxides that contribute to acidic deposition. Coal burning also emits particulate matter, which threatens human health and creates carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that
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