Earth's Layers Review

1. Select the THREE characteristics that describe the oceanic crust​ ​ (a)   ​ (b)   ​ (c)  

• Thinner form of crust
• 5-10 km thick
• made mostly of basalt
• older form of crust
• mostly granite

Select the THREE characteristics that describe the asthenosphere​ (a)   ​ (b)  

• contains the crust and upper mantle
• contains the upper mantle only
• made of less rigid rock, like silly putty
• made of solid rock
• Closer to Earth's care

Select the THREE characteristics that describe the mantle​ (a)   ​ (b)   ​ (c)  

• thinnest of Earth's layers
• thickest of Earth's layers
• made of rock rich in nickel and lead
• average temperature of 3000 F
• rocks rise and sink through convection
• average temperature of 6000 F

Select the THREE characteristics that describe the inner core​ (a)   ​ (b)   ​ (c)  

• made of solid nickel and iron
• made of liquid nickel and iron
• 1,250 Km thick
• 2,300 Km thick
• spins faster and Earth rotates
• Earth's magnetic field created here

Your classmates are having a disagreement on what creates Earth's magnetic field.

Each student saw the diagram above and stated that a different part is responsible for the magnetic field.

Melena: Part A, the crust

Jordan: Part B, the mantle

Corinne: Part C, the outer core

Michael: Part D, the inner core

Which student is correct?

• Melena

• Jordan

• Corinne

• Michael

Your classmates are having a disagreement on what creates Earth's magnetic field.

Each student saw the diagram above and stated that a different part is responsible for the magnetic field.

Melena: Part A, the crust

Jordan: Part B, the mantle

Corinne: Part C, the outer core

Michael: Part D, the inner core

Which evidence supports the answer best?

• The solid core spins as Earth rotates

• Convection in the mantle creates a magnetic field

• Magma in the outer core moves to create a magnetic field

• Metals in the crust rotate with Earth to make a magnetic field

A team of scientists sent a deep ocean probe to study the ocean floor. Explain how the oceanic crust studied by the submarine is different from the crust found on a continent.

• The oceanic crust is made of basalt. It's denser, thinner, younger and deeper than the continental crust

• The oceanic crust is made of granite. It's less dense, thicker, older and more shallow than the continental crust

Your science teacher heats a beaker of water on a burner. She then adds rice to the heating water. The rice spins in the water as shown to the left.

Which layer of Earth's crust does this model the best? Explain why.

• The mantle, rice represents molten rock circulating in the convection currents of the mantle.

• The inner core, rice represents molten rock circulating in the convection currents of the mantle.

• The outer core, rice represents molten rock circulating in the convection currents of the mantle.

• The crust, rice represents molten rock circulating in the convection currents of the mantle.

Scientists know a lot about Earth's layers, but we have never dug below the crust. Explain how seismic waves help us understand Earth's layers.

Answer explanation

Earthquakes and rock movement create seismic wave. These waves travel through Earth's layers but cannot pass through certain materials. This helps us understand which layers are solid and which are liquid