20 Terms
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Geology
The science that comprises the study of the solid Earth and the processes by which it is shaped and changed.
Industry: Earth science
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Geology
Planetary differentiation
Earth science; Geology
The heat driven process whereby planets develop concentric layers of differing composition based on the density of the materials involved, with heavier elements sinking toward the core and lighter ...
Physical weathering
Earth science; Geology
The breaking down of rocks by mechanical processes into pieces that get smaller and smaller until they may eventually become sand, silt, or dust-sized particles.
Photosphere
Earth science; Geology
The visible "surface" of the Sun with temperatures of about 5800 K and an average thickness of 400 km. The part of the solar atmosphere that radiates light into space.
Spin-orbit coupling
Earth science; Geology
For many decades, scientists thought the same side of Mercury always faced the Sun. But in 1965, astronomers discovered that Mercury completes three full turns on its axis for every two orbits around ...
Orbital resonance
Earth science; Geology
For many decades, scientists thought the same side of Mercury always faced the Sun. But in 1965, astronomers discovered that Mercury completes three full turns on its axis for every two orbits around ...
Stony-irons
Earth science; Geology
As their name implies, the stony-irons are comprised of differentiated igneous silicates plus iron and nickel metal. They are fairly rare (~1% of falls and ~5% of finds) and thus are valuable to ...
