Earth System/Formation

• Accretion is the process by which celestial bodies, such as planets or stars, grow in size by accumulating matter through gravitational attraction.
• The Earth's layers formed through a process called differentiation, where denser materials sank towards the center and lighter materials rose towards the surface.
• The Earth's crust is composed mainly of oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
• The rock cycle is a continuous process that describes how rocks are formed, transformed, and recycled over time. It involves three main processes: igneous rock formation through the cooling and solidification of magma or lava, sedimentary rock formation through the accumulation and compaction of sediments, and metamorphic rock formation through the alteration of existing rocks under high heat and pressure. These processes contribute to the formation of different types of rocks by continuously transforming one type of rock into another.
• Earthquakes occur when there is a sudden release of energy in the Earth's crust, causing seismic waves. Their effects on the Earth's surface include shaking, ground rupture, landslides, and tsunamis.
• Plate tectonics is the theory that Earth's lithosphere is divided into several large plates that move and interact with each other. This movement of plates contributes to geological activity such as earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of mountain ranges.
• The main processes involved in the rock cycle are weathering and erosion, deposition and compaction, and metamorphism and melting.
• Igneous rocks are formed when molten magma or lava cools and solidifies.
• The characteristics of igneous rocks include being formed from solidified magma or lava, having a crystalline structure, and being classified based on their texture and mineral composition.
• Metamorphic rocks are formed through the process of heat and pressure, resulting in a change in the mineral composition and texture of the original rock.
• The characteristics of sedimentary rocks include being formed from the accumulation and cementation of sediments, having distinct layers or bedding, and often containing fossils.
• Sedimentary rocks are formed through the accumulation and compaction of sediment, which can include fragments of other rocks, minerals, and organic material, over long periods of time.
• The main types of rocks in the rock cycle are igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks.
• The process of sedimentary rock formation involves the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of sediment over time.
• The different layers of the Earth are the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.
• The nebular hypothesis is the theory that explains the formation of the solar system from a rotating disk of gas and dust.
• Earth is a planet. Solar system is just one among billions of billions in our galaxy. (Milky Way). Milky Way is one galaxy of billions of galaxies in the universe. Universe is ALL time, space, matter, and energy.