9.1 Earth's Interior

Block

• 1A
• 1B
• 3A
• 3B
• 4A

According to the big bang theory, Earth formed in a swirling disk of matter surrounding the sun. As particles in the disk collided and stuck together, they grew larger and some eventually became planets. What force was responsible for the collisions between these particles?

• gravity
• solar radiation
• seismic waves
• radioactive decay

Which of the following is a source of heat in Earth's interior?

• earthquakes
• solar radiation
• seismic waves
• radioactive decay

One of the first discoveries from seismic wave data was the boundary between the crust and mantle. This boundary marks a change in composition, which in turn affects density. The speed of both P waves and S waves increases at this boundary. Which of the following statements best describes the difference between the crust and the mantle?

• The crust is denser than the mantle is.
• The crust is liquid and the mantle is solid.
• The crust is solid and the mantle is liquid.
• The crust is less dense than the mantle.

The depth of the boundary between the crust and the mantle varies from about 5 to 8 km under ocean basins and abut 20 to 70 km under continents. How do scientists study the location of this boundary?

• They study the composition of meteorites.
• They study the behavior of seismic waves.
• They study the composition of volcanic rocks.
• They study the properties of Earth's magnetic fields.

The diagram shows the Earth divided into five layers. Scientists divide Earth into these layers based on what properties?

• core properties
• physical properties
• chemical properties
• atmospheric properties

Imagine you could travel in a straight line through Earth from a point on one side and come out on the other side. What compositional layer would you travel through in the exact center of the Earth?

• core
• crust
• lithosphere
• mesosphere

The hot, convection ______________ is the layer of the rock between the Earth's crust and core.

• mantle
• core
• crust
• inner core

Earth can be divided into five layers: lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, outer core, and inner core. Which properties are used to make these divisions?

• compositional properties
• physical properties
• chemical properties
• elemental properties

Earthquakes release waves of energy that travel through rock and the Earth's interior. Scientists collect and record seismic-waves with a device called a ________.

• seismic-wave II
• seismograph
• seismic wave properties
• interior wave graph