Layers of the Earth Flashcard

Front

What is the outer core of the Earth?

Back

The outer core is a layer of the Earth composed of liquid iron and nickel, located beneath the mantle and above the inner core.

Front

What is the lithosphere?

Back

The lithosphere is the rigid rocky layer of the Earth that includes the crust and the upper part of the mantle.

Front

What do geologists study?

Back

Geologists study the Earth, including its rocks, minerals, and the processes that shape it.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-4

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Front

What is the thinnest layer of the Earth?

Back

The crust is the thinnest layer of the Earth, making up only a small fraction of the planet's total volume.

Front

What is the inner core made of?

Back

The inner core is made up of solid nickel and iron.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Front

What is the mantle?

Back

The mantle is the thick layer of the Earth located between the crust and the outer core, composed of semi-solid rock.

Front

How thick is the Earth's crust?

Back

The Earth's crust varies in thickness, averaging about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) under continents and about 5 kilometers (3.1 miles) under oceans.

Front

What is the difference between the inner core and outer core?

Back

The inner core is solid and composed of iron and nickel, while the outer core is liquid and also made of iron and nickel.

Front

What is the asthenosphere?

Back

The asthenosphere is a semi-fluid layer of the upper mantle that allows for the movement of tectonic plates.

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

Front

What are tectonic plates?

Back

Tectonic plates are large sections of the Earth's lithosphere that move and interact with each other, causing earthquakes and volcanic activity.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3