Big Idea 6: Earth Structures - Earth's Layers & the Rock Cyc

Big Idea 6: Earth Structures

Earth's Layers & the Rock Cycle

Big Idea 6: Earth Structures

• Over geologic time, internal and external sources of energy have continuously altered the features of Earth by means of both constructive and destructive forces. All life, including human civilization, is dependent on Earth's internal and external energy and material resources.

Describe the layers of the solid Earth, including the lithosphere, the hot, convecting mantle, and the dense metallic liquid and solid cores. (SC.7.E.6.1 - DoK 2)

• The outermost layer of the Earth is called the crust. There are two types of crust: continental and oceanic.

• The layer below the crust is the mantle and it is make of hot, solid, but fluid rock that flows in convection currents due to the heat of the Earth's core.

• The lower rock of the mantle is heated as it moves near the core, which causes its particles to move faster, making the rock less dense so it rises toward the crust. As it rises away from the core, it cools , condenses, and begins to sink back down toward the core, where the cycle begins again.

• It is these convection currents in the mantle that cause plate tectonics, or the shifting of the Earth's crust.

Multiple Choice

Earth consists of different layers within which heat flows. The diagram shows four layers of Earth. In part of which layer does heat flow by convection currents?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Earth is made up of layers with different characteristics and compositions. Which layer is made up of very dense, liquid metal?

• crust

• mantle

• outer core

• inner core

Multiple Choice

Earth’s mantle plays an important role in plate tectonics. Why is the mantle so important to this process?

• Earthquakes occur constantly in the mantle, which causes the plates to move.

• The mantle is made up entirely of liquid rock, on which Earth’s crustal plates can float.

• Heavy metals in the mantle set up strong magnetic fields that attract and repel Earth’s plates.

• Temperature differences in the mantle set up convection currents that help to drive the movement of the plates.

Multiple Choice

This is the continuous process of rock changing from one type to another.

• Igneous rocks

• Sedimentary rocks

• Metamorphic rocks

• Rock Cycle

Multiple Choice

Limestone is a sedimentary rock. During the rock cycle, limestone is changed into marble, a metamorphic rock. The processes that act on limestone and change it into marble are

• weather and erosion

• heat and pressure

• compacting and cementing

• melting, cooling, and hardening

Multiple Choice

Which rock is formed form the cooling of volcanic ash on Earth's surface?

• intrusive igneous

• foliated metamorphic

• extrusive igneous

• organic sedimentary

Multiple Choice

Rocks that form from colling magma inside Earth?

• Igneous intrusive

• Igneous extrusive

• Metamorphic foliated

• Metamorphic nonfoliated

Multiple Choice

The name rock is given when it is broken down into smaller pieces.

• texture

• weathering

• sediment

• erosion

Multiple Choice

Which of the following lists the steps an igneous rock undergoes in order to become a sedimentary rock, in the correct order?

• Deposition, erosion, melting, cooling

• Erosion, weathering, eruption, cooling

• Dissolving, deposition, cooling, fracture

• Weathering, erosion, deposition, cementation

Multiple Choice

What type of rock might contain evidence of past life?

• Sedimentary Rock

• Igneous Rock

• Metamorphic Rock

Multiple Choice

This rock was formed by smaller pieces of rock that settled at the bottom of a lake millions of years ago. What type of rock is this?

• Sedimentary

• Igneous

• Metamorphic

Multiple Choice

This rock started as molten magma. What type of rock is this?

• Sedimentary

• Igneous

• Metamorphic

Multiple Choice

This rock was another type of rock that was heated and compressed over time. What type of rock is this?

• Sedimentary

• Igneous

• Metamorphic

Multiple Choice

What are the two types of crust

• continental and oceanic

• ocean and upper

• lower and upper

• pizza and subway

Multiple Choice

Temperature _____________________ as you go deeper into the earth.

• increases

• decreases

• goes up and down depending on the layer

• stays the same

Multiple Choice

Why is the Inner Core solid?

• Extreme Heat

• High Pressure

• All the layers are solid

• It's made of rock

Multiple Choice

Which Layer creates the Earth's magnetic field?

• The Mantle

• The Outer Core

• The Crust

Multiple Choice

The rigid outermost layer of Earth that includes the uppermost mantle and crust.

• asthenosphere

• lithosphere

• core

• mantle

Multiple Choice

The partially melted portion of the mantle below the lithosphere

• mantle

• core

• crust

• asthenosphere

Multiple Choice

What is the correct order (starting from the surface) of Earth's layers?

• crust, mantle, inner core, outer core

• mantle, outer core, inner core, crust

• inner core, outer core, mantle, crust

• crust, mantle, outer core, inner core

Multiple Choice

There are how many different types of crust?

• 1
• 2
• 5
• 3

Multiple Choice

What is the thickest layer of the Earth?

• the crust

• the mantle

• the outer core

• the inner core

Multiple Choice

Which layer of Earth is located above the outer core?

• crust

• inner core

• mantle

• lithosphere

Multiple Choice

The thinnest layer of the Earth is the ___________.

• mantle
• crust
• core

Multiple Choice

Earth is composed of many metallic elements. Which layer of Earth contains the greatest amounts of dense, solid iron and nickel?

• crust

• mantle

• the inner core

• the outer core

Multiple Choice

Interactions between layers of Earth cause convection currents to move crustal plates. The diagram shows four layers of Earth. In which layer of Earth are the convection currents that directly result in tectonic plate motion found?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Ravi learns that convection currents within the mantle cause tectonic activity on Earth’s surface. What happens in a convection current?

• heated material sinks and cooler material rises

• heated material rises and cooler material sinks

• rock material melts and moves toward the Earth’s core

• rock material hardens and becomes part of Earth’s mantle

Multiple Choice

Earth’s tectonic plates move very slowly. Which of the following causes the movement of Earth’s tectonic plates?

• magnetic pole reversal

• large faults in mountain ranges

• energy released from volcanic activity

• convection of Earth’s upper mantle

Identify the patterns within the rock cycle and relate them to surface events (weathering and erosion) and sub-surface events (plate tectonics and mountain building). (SC.7.E.6.2 - DoK3)

Multiple Choice

Through the rock cycle, rocks continually change on and below Earth's surface. The diagrams show some of the processes and materials of the rock cycle. The numbers in the first diagram represent points at which one or more processes occur.

At which point in the cycle shown in the first diagram would the processes of cooling and hardening of melted rock occur?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Deep inside Earth, heat and pressure cause chemical changes in limestone. The diagram shows part of the rock cycle. At which point in the cycle shown above would the process of heat and pressure chemically changing a rock occur?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Multiple Choice

The second diagram shows a more detailed view of two of the processes in the rock cycle. At which point in the first diagram would these two processes occur?

• 1

• 2

• 3

• 4

Multiple Choice

Certain rocks contain minerals that are easily dissolved by water. This is why rain, especially acid rain, can break down rock. Of what process in the rock cycle is this an example?

• chemical weathering

• physical weathering

• cementation

• melting

Multiple Choice

Imagine a metamorphic rock that has been subjected to intense heat and pressure. Over time, it gets pulled underground with a tectonic plate that is sinking beneath another plate along a convergent boundary. The rock melts as it goes deeper; then the molten rock rises up and seeps out of a crack in the ocean floor and hardens. What type of rock is it now?

• composite

• igneous

• metamorphic

• sedimentary

Multiple Choice

A sedimentary rock was exposed to heat and pressure deep within Earth. The rock changed to metamorphic rock. Over a long time, it was exposed at Earth’s surface. How did this metamorphic rock reach Earth’s surface?

• Deposition acted on the rock, causing it to be exposed at the surface over time.

• Magma brought it up to Earth’s surface, where it flowed from a volcanic vent as lava.

• Weathering and erosion caused the metamorphic rock to become exposed.

• Weathering of the metamorphic rock brought magma up to Earth’s surface.

Multiple Choice

An intrusion of basalt cuts through a layer of limestone. Which of the following natural processes supports the conclusion that the basalt is younger than the limestone?

• When overturned, older layers of sedimentary rock can lie under younger ones.

• Older layers of undisturbed sedimentary rock lie under younger ones.

• Lava can flow out and cover existing rock layers on Earth's surface.

• Magma can move upward and push into existing rock layers.

Multiple Choice

Wind picks up and carries away pieces of weathered rock. When the wind slows down, it deposits the rock pieces in a new location. The diagram shows part of the rock cycle.

At which point in the cycle shown above would the process of transporting and depositing weathered rocks occur?

• W

• X

• Y

• Z

Multiple Choice

Weathering is the breaking down of rock .it or near Earth's surface. Which of the following is an example of chemical weathering?

• Water gets into cracks in rock, and substances in the water cause the rock to dissolve.

• Water freezes and expands in cracks in rock, pushing the rock apart.

• Pieces of rock carried by river water grind the rocks in the riverbed.

• A glacier scrapes the rocks it flows over on Earth's surface.