3.1 The Earth’s Interior

Open Ended

What are some ways scientists learn about the layers inside the Earth?

Multiple Choice

Why is it important for scientists to study the Earth's interior?

• To understand earthquakes and volcanic activity

• To predict weather patterns

• To discover new animal species

• To improve transportation systems

Open Ended

What do you already know about the Earth’s interior? Or, What would you like to know?

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is the deepest point shown in the diagram: Mount Everest, Mariana Trench, Kola Superdeep Borehole, or Deepest Active Mine?

• Mount Everest

• Mariana Trench

• Kola Superdeep Borehole

• Deepest Active Mine

Multiple Choice

According to the nebular hypothesis, what caused the solar system to begin forming?

• A collision with an asteroid

• A giant cloud of dust and gas collapsing in space

• The explosion of a nearby star

• The cooling of the sun

Open Ended

Compare the composition and thickness of the oceanic crust and continental crust. How do these differences affect their behavior?

Multiple Choice

Which layers make up the lithosphere?

• Crust and upper layer of the mantle

• Mantle and outer core

• Inner core and outer core

• Crust and inner core

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about the mantle are correct?

• It is the largest layer of the Earth.

• It is about 2900 km thick.

• The middle mantle flows like asphalt under weight.

• It is composed entirely of solid rock.

Multiple Choice

What causes convection currents in the mantle?

• Heating from the inner core

• Cooling from the crust

• Very hot material rising and then cooling and sinking

• Movement of tectonic plates

Open Ended

Explain how the movement of the mantle affects the lithospheric plates.

Open Ended

Compare the properties of the outer core and the inner core of the Earth.

Multiple Choice

What is the main difference between the oceanic crust and the continental crust?

• Oceanic crust is thinner and solid, while continental crust is thicker.

• Oceanic crust is thicker and solid, while continental crust is thinner.

• Oceanic crust is liquid, while continental crust is solid.

• Oceanic crust is made of metals, while continental crust is made of rocks.

Open Ended

Explain the role of convection currents in the Earth's mantle and how they affect the movement of tectonic plates.

Multiple Choice

Which layer of the Earth is composed of solid iron and nickel and has a thickness of approximately 750 miles?

• Inner Core

• Outer Core

• Mantle

• Crust

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements are true as you move from the Earth's crust toward the core?

• Pressure increases

• Density increases

• Temperature increases

• Thickness decreases

Multiple Choice

Which of the following are compositional layers of the Earth?

• Core, mantle, crust

• Lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere

• Outer core, inner core, mantle

• Crust, mantle, outer core

Open Ended

Summarize what the study of seismic waves has revealed about the Earth's interior.