Podcast
Questions and Answers
What is the primary composition of oceanic crust?
What is the primary composition of oceanic crust?
What layer of the Earth makes up about 84% of its total volume?
What layer of the Earth makes up about 84% of its total volume?
What is the function of the outer core?
What is the function of the outer core?
What is the Mohorovicic Discontinuity?
What is the Mohorovicic Discontinuity?
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What is the average distance of Earth from the Sun?
What is the average distance of Earth from the Sun?
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Which layer of Earth is known as the lithosphere?
Which layer of Earth is known as the lithosphere?
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What is the primary reason Earth is classified as an oblate spheroid?
What is the primary reason Earth is classified as an oblate spheroid?
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What layer lies directly above the outer core?
What layer lies directly above the outer core?
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Chocolate contains antioxidants that improve blood flow and protect against ______ damage.
Chocolate contains antioxidants that improve blood flow and protect against ______ damage.
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The three main layers that make up Earth's interior are the crust, mantle, and ______.
The three main layers that make up Earth's interior are the crust, mantle, and ______.
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The boundary between the crust and mantle is called the ______ discontinuity.
The boundary between the crust and mantle is called the ______ discontinuity.
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The mantle makes up about ______% of Earth's total volume.
The mantle makes up about ______% of Earth's total volume.
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Basalt is the primary rock type that makes up ______ crust.
Basalt is the primary rock type that makes up ______ crust.
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The ______ core is mostly composed of liquid iron and nickel.
The ______ core is mostly composed of liquid iron and nickel.
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The plastic layer below the lithosphere is known as the ______.
The plastic layer below the lithosphere is known as the ______.
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The radius of the inner core is approximately ______ kilometers.
The radius of the inner core is approximately ______ kilometers.
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The ______ discontinuity refers to the boundary between the mantle and outer core.
The ______ discontinuity refers to the boundary between the mantle and outer core.
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The crust is the outermost ______ of the Earth.
The crust is the outermost ______ of the Earth.
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Study Notes
Earth Science
- Earth science studies the Earth's structure, composition, and processes.
Earth's Spheres
- The Earth is composed of five spheres: atmosphere (air), hydrosphere (water), geosphere (land), biosphere (life), and cryosphere (ice).
Earth's Shape & Size
- Earth is an oblate spheroid, meaning it is flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator due to its rotation.
- It is the third planet from the Sun and the fifth largest in the solar system.
- Earth's average distance from the Sun is 149,598,262 km.
- Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old.
Earth's Interior
- Earth's interior is divided into three main layers: the crust, the mantle, and the core.
Crust
- The crust is the outermost layer of Earth.
- It's composed of two types: oceanic crust (denser, made of basalt) and continental crust (less dense, made of granite).
- The boundary between the crust and mantle is known as the Mohorovicic Discontinuity, named after Andrija Mohorovicic.
Mantle
- The mantle is the mostly solid bulk of Earth's interior, about 2,900 km thick.
- It represents 84% of Earth's total volume.
- The crust and the upper part of the mantle form the lithosphere, a 100 km thick layer.
- The lithosphere floats on the asthenosphere, a plastic layer below it.
Outer Core
- The outer core is about 2,200 km thick and mostly composed of liquid iron and nickel.
- It has temperatures ranging from 4,500° to 5,500° Celsius.
- The outer core generates Earth's magnetic field.
- The magnetic field shields the Earth from harmful radiation from the Sun.
Inner Core
- The inner core is a hot, dense ball of mostly iron with a radius of about 1,220 km.
- The boundary between the outer and inner core is called the Lehmann Discontinuity, named after Inge Lehmann.
Chocolate and Skin
- Chocolate is good for the skin
- Antioxidants in chocolate improve blood flow
- Chocolate can protect the skin from UV damage
Earth Science
- Earth science is the study of the Earth’s structure, properties and processes
Earth's Spheres
- Atmosphere - Air
- Hydrosphere - Water
- Geosphere - Earth/Land
- Biosphere - Life
- Cryosphere - Ice
Earth: An Oblate Spheroid
- Earth is the third planet from the sun
- Earth is the fifth largest planet in the solar system
- The shape of the Earth is an oblate spheroid
- Earth’s spin causes the poles to be squashed and the equator to be swollen
- Average distance from the sun: 149,598,262 km
- Earth is approximately 4.6 billion years old
Earth's Interior - Main Layers
- Crust
- Mantle
- Core (Outer and Inner)
The Crust
- Outermost shell of the Earth
- Composed of oceanic and continental crust
Oceanic Crust
- Denser than continental crust
- Made of basalt - a dense, dark, fine-grained rock
Continental Crust
- Less dense than Oceanic Crust
- Made of granite
Mohorovičic Discontinuity
- Boundary between the crust and mantle
- Named after Andrija Mohorovičić in 1909
The Mantle
- Mostly solid bulk of the Earth’s interior
- Approximately 2,900 kilometers (1,802 miles) thick
- Makes up 84% of Earth’s total volume
Lithosphere
- The crust and the upper part of the mantle
- 100 km thick
- Less dense than the material below, so it floats
Asthenosphere
- Plastic layer below the lithosphere
- Plates on the lithosphere float on the Asthenosphere
Gutenberg Discontinuity
- Boundary between the mantle and the outer core
- Named after Beno Gutenberg
Convection Current
- The mantle heats and rises
- Cooler mantle material sinks
Outer Core
- About 2,200 kilometers thick
- Composed of mostly liquid iron and nickel
- Very hot, between 4,500° and 5,500° Celsius
- Generates the Earth’s magnetic field
- Shields the Earth from harmful radiation from the sun.
Lehmann Discontinuity
- Region between the outer and inner core
- Named after Danish seismology and geophysicist Inge Lehmann
Inner Core
- Hot and dense ball of mostly iron
- Radius of about 1,220 kilometers (758 miles)
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Description
This quiz covers fundamental concepts of Earth science, including the Earth's structure, composition, and its five spheres. Learn about Earth's shape, size, and the various layers of its interior. Test your knowledge on key terms and processes associated with our planet.
