25-26 Heat Flow Inside the Earth

Open Ended

Why is understanding the flow of heat inside the Earth important for scientists and society?

Multiple Choice

Which statement best describes how heat transfer works?

• Heat always moves from a warmer place to a cooler place.

• Heat always moves from a cooler place to a warmer place.

• Heat moves randomly between objects regardless of temperature.

• Heat only moves when objects are touching.

Multiple Choice

Which method of heat transfer is responsible for the handle of a metal pan becoming hot when placed on a stove?

• Conduction

• Convection

• Thermal Radiation

• Evaporation

Open Ended

Explain how the process of convection occurs in boiling water, and describe what causes the movement of water within the saucepan.

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about convection are correct?

• Convection occurs in liquids and gases.

• Convection is caused by differences in density due to temperature changes.

• Convection can occur in solids.

• Convection involves the movement of heated material.

Open Ended

Compare and contrast conduction, convection, and thermal radiation in terms of how heat is transferred and the types of materials involved.

Fill in the Blank

Thermal radiation is the transfer of energy by electromagnetic ___ .

Multiple Choice

Where is heat inside Earth generated?

• Mantle

• Crust

• Inner Core

• Outer Core

Open Ended

Explain how gravity contributes to the generation of heat in the Earth's inner core.

Fill in the Blank

Radioactive elements are unstable, breaking down over time to more stable forms. When radioactive elements decay, nuclear energy is transformed into ___.

Multiple Select

Which of the following are sources of heat in the Earth's inner core?

• Collisions

• Gravity

• Radioactive Decay

• Sun

Multiple Choice

Based on the temperature-depth graph, at approximately what depth does the temperature inside the Earth reach 6000°C?

• 1000 km

• 3000 km

• 6000 km

• 200 km

Open Ended

Describe the two main mechanisms by which heat is transferred from the Earth's core to the crust, as shown in the diagram.

Multiple Choice

Which heat transfer mechanism is primarily responsible for transferring heat from the inner core to the outer core?

• Conduction

• Convection

• Radiation

• Evaporation

Open Ended

Explain how the flow of iron in the outer core contributes to Earth's magnetic field.

Multiple Choice

What would happen to a compass if Earth's magnetic field reversed polarity?

• The compass needle would point south instead of north.

• The compass would stop working entirely.

• The compass needle would spin continuously.

• The compass would always point east.

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about convection currents in Earth's mantle are correct?

• Magma rises due to low density.

• Magma sinks due to high density.

• Magma is heated by the core.

• Magma becomes more dense as it spreads out.

Open Ended

Describe how heat from the core affects the movement of magma in the mantle and the formation of convection cells.

Fill in the Blank

As magma continues to sink and float in Earth’s Mantle it creates a ___ current known as a convection cell.

Multiple Choice

What happens to magma as it spends more time near the lithosphere?

• It cools down and becomes more dense

• It heats up and becomes less dense

• It evaporates

• It turns into rock immediately

Open Ended

Explain how convection currents in the mantle contribute to the movement of tectonic plates.

Multiple Select

Which of the following statements about tectonic plates are correct?

• They fit together like a jigsaw puzzle

• They float on the asthenosphere

• They are only made of continental crust

• They move due to convection currents

Fill in the Blank

The rigid crust and top part of the mantle float on the hot, plastic material of the ___.

Open Ended

Describe the difference between convergent and divergent plate boundaries using the diagrams provided.

Fill in the Blank

Heat always moves from a ___ place to a cooler place.

Open Ended

Summarize what you learned about how heat moves inside the Earth and how this relates to heat transfer in general.