The physical World

Chapter 2

Continents are landmasses that protrude above the bodies of water

on earth.• Africa• Asia• Antarctica• Australia• Europe• North America• South America

3 Basic parts of the earth’s interior

• Core: solid, metallic center

• Mantle: soft layer of molten rock

• Crust: thin layer of rock on the earth’s surface.

4 Basic Spheres found on or above the earth

Atmosphere• Contains the oxygen we breathe,

protects the earth from radiation, and provides the medium for weather and climate.

Lithosphere• The solid rock portion of the

earth’s surface.

Hydrosphere• Made up of the water elements of

the earth.• Ex: oceans, seas, rivers, lakes and

water in the atmosphere.

Biosphere

•The part of the earth where plants and animals live.

Continental Drift

• This theory maintains that the earth was one continent that broke apart into different plates upon which the separate continents rested. Note how the continents fit like puzzle pieces.

Oceans

•Atlantic•Pacific• Indian•Arctic

•The Water Cycle: The continuous circulation of water between the atmosphere, the oceans, and the earth.

Landforms• Naturally formed features on

the surface of the earth.

Continental Shelf• The earth’s surface from the

edge of a continent to the drop-off to the deep part of the ocean.

Relief• The difference in elevation in

a landform from its lowest point to its highest point.

Topography

•A combination of surface shape and the composition of landforms.

Tectonic Plates

What causes earthquakes?• Crust movement along the

plate boundary-radiated through fault lines.

Where do most earthquakes occur?

•Along the Pacific Ring of Fire.

What are some effects of earthquakes?

Tsunami• Earthquakes can cause these

waves in the ocean that can become a towering wall of water as it approaches the coastline.

Volcano• A giant fissure in the earth’s

crust where expanding gases and magma have built up and either exploded (cone) or flowed (shield)

Lava• When magma reaches the

earth’s surface it is called lava.

Weathering: Mechanical

•Processes that breaks rock into smaller pieces; freezing, plant roots, etc.

Weathering: Chemical

• Rock changes as a result of interaction with elements in the air or water. For example: acid rain.

Erosion: Water• The force of the flowing

water can carve out a new landform, as seen here.

Erosion: Delta• The erosive power of a river can

wash sediment far down stream and deposit it at the mouth creating a fan-like buildup called a delta.

Erosion: Wind• Powerful winds can strip the

topsoil off and carry it for miles.

Erosion: Loess

• Wind-blown silt that accumulates and creates very fertile soil.

Glacial Erosion

• Glaciers are massive-moving sheets of ice. They bulldoze as they advance and scrape out as they recede.

Glacial Erosion

• Glaciation is the changing of the landscape through glacier movement.

Glacial Erosion

•Moraine: rocks left behind by the glacier may form a ridge or a hill.

Largest Continent?• What: Asia• Where: Eastern Hemisphere

Smallest Continent?• What: Australia• Where: South Pacific

Largest Ocean?

• What: Pacific

Longest River?• What: Nile• Where: East Africa

Largest Lake?• What: Caspian Sea• Where: Eurasia

Deepest Lake?

• What: Baikal

• Where: Asia

Highest Mountain?

• What: Mt. Everest• Where: Nepal-Tibet

Highest Waterfall?

• What: Angel Falls• Where: Venezuela

Largest Desert?

• What: Sahara• Where: Northern Africa

Lowest Continental point?

• What: Shores of the Dead Sea

• Where: Israel-Jordan

THE END