Planetary Differentiation Vocabulary Crossword

3. elements sink & form the core, lighter materials rise & create a crust
10. the force of attraction that exists between all objects in the univers with mass - pulls objects towards each other; keeps planets orbiting around stars like the Earth and the Sun
12. process where a planetary body (Earth) separates materials into layers based on density
13. a thin layer of gases and cohesion of matter under the influence of gravitation to form larger bodies
14. thin layer of gasses that surround the Earth and protects life from harmful radiation and cosmic rays
15. Waves: vibrations that travel through a celestial body, like a planet or moon, caused by events like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, or other large impact events
16. Line: the distance from a central star (the sun) where temperatures drop low enough for volatile substances to solidify into particles

1. a distinct boundary or sharp transition zone within a planet where physical properties such as density, temperature, or magnetic field strength abruptly change
2. the degree of compactness of a substance
4. phenomenon where light bounces off a surface in space, changing the light’s direction
5. Current: a heat driven cycle that occurs in the air, ocean, and mantle
6. “Jupiter-like” planets- used to describe these planets’ describe large size, gaseous composition and numerous moons [jupiter, saturn, uranus and neptune]
7. Disc: a flat, rotating disc of gas and dust that surrounds a newly formed star; where planets are believed to form through the gradual accretion of material within the disc
8. rigid outermost layer of a planet
9. the apparent shift in the position of a celestial body due to the bending of light rays as they travel through the Earth’s atmosphere
11. planet primarily composed of rock and metal, with a solid surface; typically found closer to a star like the inner planets of our solar system [mercury, venus, earth and mars]