Eath's Interior Practice

Which two Earth layers are separated by the Moho boundary?

• rigid mantle and plastic mantle

• outer core and stiffer mantle

• stiffer mantle and asthenosphere

• crust and rigid mantle

A model of Earth's internal structure is shown below.

Analysis of which type of data led to the developmentof this model?

• seismic waves

• depth of Earth's oceans

• electromagnetic radiation

• isobar gradients

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

Base your answer to the following question on the diagram of Earth shown below. Letters B, C, and D represent layers of Earth. Letter Q represents a location on Earth's surface.

Which letter best represents Earth's mantle?

• Q

• B

• C

• D

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

Base your answer to the following question on "the cross section below, which shows the paths of seismic waves traveling from an earthquake epicenter through the different layers of Earth's interior.

No P-waves or S-waves are received in the shadow zone because

• P-waves are absorbed and S-waves are refracted by Earth's outer core

• P-waves are refracted and S-waves are absorbed by Earth's outer core

• both the P-waves and S-waves are refracted by Earth's outer core

• both the P-waves and S-waves are absorbed by Earth's outer core

Which part of Earth’s interior is inferred to haveconvection currents that cause tectonic plates tomove?

• rigid mantle

• outer core

• inner core

• asthenosphere

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

Earth’s outer core is best inferred to be

• liquid, with an average density of approximately 4 g/cm3

• Liquid, with an average density of approximately 11 g/cm3

• solid, with an average density of approximately 4 g/cm3

• solid, with an average density of approximately 11 g/cm3

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

Why is Earth’s outer core inferred to be a liquid?

• P-waves can pass through the outer core.

• P-waves cannot pass through the outer core.

• S-waves can pass through the outer core

• S-waves cannot pass through the outer core.

From the top of the stiffer mantle to the center of Earth, the rock material is inferred to be

• solid all the way to the center of the inner core

• solid, then liquid to the center of the inner core

• solid, then liquid, then solid again to the center of the inner core

• solid, then liquid, then gaseous to the center ofthe inner core

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

The fact that S-waves are unable to travel through the Earth's outer core supports the inference that the outer core is

• composed of iron and nickel

• more dense than the inner core

• hotter than the rock's melting point

• in the solid state of matter

Compared to Earth’s continental crust, Earth’s oceanic crust is

• thinner and more dense

• thinner and less dense

• thicker and more dense

• thicker and less dense

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5