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line spectrum narrow lines of color in an 1 mm, that have magnetically aligned atoms, mean solar time a uniform time averaged s
otherwise dark spectrum; these lines can giving the domain an overall polarity from the apparent solar time
be used as “fingerprints” to identify gases magnetic field the model used to describe measurement the process of comparing a
liquids a phase of matter composed of mol- how magnetic forces on moving charges property of an object to a well-defined and
ecules that have interactions stronger than act at a distance agreed-upon referent
those found in a gas but not strong enough magnetic poles the ends, or sides, of a mag- mechanical energy the form of energy
to keep the molecules near the equilibrium net about which the force of magnetic at- associated with machines, objects in
positions of a solid, resulting in the char- traction seems to be concentrated motion, and objects having potential
acteristic definite volume but indefinite magnetic quantum number from the quan- energy that results from gravity
shape of a liquid tum mechanics model of the atom, one mechanical weathering the physical break-
liter a metric system unit of volume usually of four descriptions of the energy state of ing up of rocks without any changes in
used for liquids an electron wave; this quantum number their chemical composition
lithosphere the solid layer of Earth’s struc- describes the energy of an electron orbital melting point the temperature at which a
ture that is above the asthenosphere and as the orbital is oriented in space by an phase change of solid to liquid takes place;
includes the entire crust, the Moho, and the external magnetic field, a kind of energy the same temperature as the freezing point
upper part of the mantle sub-sublevel for a given substance
loess a very fine dust or silt that has been de- magnetic reversal the flipping of polarity Mercalli scale expresses the relative inten-
posited by wind over a large area of Earth’s magnetic field as the north mag- sity of an earthquake in terms of effects
longitude the angular distance of a point netic pole and the south magnetic pole on people and buildings, using Roman nu-
east or west from the prime meridian on a exchange positions merals that range from I to XII
parallel main sequence stars normal, mature stars meridians north-south running arcs that in-
longitudinal wave a mechanical disturbance that use their nuclear fuel at a steady rate; tersect at both poles and are perpendicular
that causes particles to move closer together stars on the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram to the parallels
and farther apart in the same direction that in a narrow band that runs from the top left mesosphere the term means “middle
the wave is traveling to the lower right layer”—the solid, dense layer of Earth’s
longshore current a current that moves manipulated variable in an experiment, a structure below the asthenosphere but
parallel to the shore, pushed along by waves quantity that can be controlled or ma- above the core; also the layer of the atmo-
that move accumulated water from breakers nipulated; also known as the independent sphere below the thermosphere and above
loudness a subjective interpretation of a variable the stratosphere
sound that is related to the energy of the vi- mantle the middle part of Earth’s interior; Mesozoic one of four geologic eras; the time
brating source, to the condition of the trans- a 2,870 km (about 1,780 mi) thick shell of middle life, meaning some of the fossils
mitting medium, and to the distance involved between the core and the crust for this time period are similar to the life
low latitudes latitudes close to the equator; maria smooth, dark areas on the Moon found on Earth today, but many are differ-
those that sometimes receive vertical solar marine climate a climate influenced by air ent from anything living today
radiation at noon masses from over an ocean, with mild win- metal matter having the physical properties
luminosity the total amount of energy radi- ters and cool summers compared to areas of conductivity, malleability, ductility, and
ated into space each second from the sur- farther inland luster
face of a star maritime air mass a moist air mass that metamorphic rocks previously existing rocks
luminous an object or objects that produce forms over the ocean that have been changed into a distinctly
visible light—for example, the Sun, stars, mass a measure of inertia, which means a different rock by heat, pressure, or hot
lightbulbs, and burning materials are all resistance to a change of motion solutions
luminous mass defect the difference between the sum meteor the streak of light and smoke that
lunar eclipse occurs when the Moon is full of the masses of the individual nucleons appears in the sky when a meteoroid is
and the Sun, the Moon, and Earth are lined forming a nucleus and the actual mass of made incandescent by compression of
up so the shadow of Earth falls on the that nucleus Earth’s atmosphere
Moon mass movement erosion caused by the meteorite the solid iron or stony material of
lunar highlands light-colored mountainous direct action of gravity a meteoroid that survives passage through
regions of the Moon mass number the sum of the number of pro- Earth’s atmosphere and reaches the surface
tons and neutrons in a nucleus defines the meteoroids remnants of comets and aster-
mass number of an atom; used to identify oids in space
M isotopes—for example, uranium-238 meteorology the science of understanding
macromolecule a very large molecule, with matter anything that occupies space and has and predicting weather
a molecular weight of thousands or mil- mass meteor shower an event in which many me-
lions of atomic mass units, that is made up matter waves any moving object has wave teorites fall in a short period of time
of a combi na tion of many smaller, similar properties, but at ordinary velocities, these meter the fundamental metric unit of length
molecules properties are observed only for objects metric system a system of referent units
magma a mass of molten rock material ei- with a tiny mass; term for the wavelike based on invariable referents of nature that
ther below or on Earth’s crust from which properties of subatomic particles have been defined as standards
igneous rock is formed by cooling and meanders winding, circuitous turns or microclimate a local, small-scale pattern of
hardening bends of a stream climate—for example, the north side of a
magnetic domain tiny physical regions in mean solar day is 24 hours long and is aver- house has a different microclimate than the
permanent magnets, approximately 0.01 to aged from the mean solar time south side

G-9 Glossary