Science Study Guide – Chapter 5

Shaping the Earth

A delta is made up of sand.

The continental slope is where the underwater canyons form.

Earth’s crust is made up of rock.

The mantle lies between the crust and the core of the earth.

The ocean waves my affect a beach over thousands of years by: changing the shape of the land around it, and it could wear away the sand, making the beach areas smaller.

A plateau is a tall landform with a top that is flat.

Seismic waves are vibrations caused by earthquakes.

The Earth’s mantle and crust is the best way to describe what the Earth’s plates are made up of.

Study the diagram below:

Cause Effect

Sudden lifting of ocean crust
Tsunami

Some earthquakes are very strong while others are barely noticeable – this happens because: when plates push against each other the energy builds up in the rock, then the rock breaks, releasing energy and shifting the crust. When there is a very large amount of energy stored up and then released it causes the strong earthquake.
The smaller amount of energy stored causes only the “smaller” earthquakes.

Chemical reactions do NOT contribute to physical weathering.

Large rocks left behind by glaciers are knows as glacial debris.

Deposition contributes to the formation of sand dunes.

Study the diagram below:

Glacier gets thicker

Glacier begins to slide

Glacier tears at the ground

How might crashing waves on a beach affect the ocean floor over thousands of years? The waves crashing on the beach will carry sand and small rocks away with it. The sand and small rocks then might be dropped at the bottom of the ocean floor, eventually changing the shape of the ocean floor.

A hurricane is most likely to form over a warm ocean.

An avalanche is a sudden movement of snow and ice down a mountain side.

A landslide is something that occurs rapidly, without much warning.

Scientists believe the temperature of Earth is increasing. How might this affect the weather over time? If Earth’s temperature increases, then there might be more hurricanes. Scientists think that hurricanes are becoming more common because of the higher temperatures. Rising temperatures also cause glaciers to melt, which could cause flooding.