Earth's Interior Quiz

Earth's Interior Overview

• Seismic waves are vibrations that travel through Earth, conveying energy released during earthquakes.
• Evidence used by geologists to study Earth's interior includes direct evidence from rock samples and indirect evidence from seismic waves.

Earth's Layers

• The Earth is composed of three primary layers: the crust, the mantle, and the core.
• Pressure within the Earth increases as one moves from the surface to the center.
• Temperature also rises progressively from the surface to the Earth's center.

Mantle and Its Components

• The mantle is the hot, solid layer situated between the Earth's crust and core.
• The lithosphere is the rigid uppermost layer made of the crust and the upper part of the mantle.
• The asthenosphere is a softer layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere, allowing it to float.

Core Composition

• The outer core is a layer of molten metal that surrounds the inner core.
• The inner core consists of a dense ball of solid metal, primarily iron and nickel.

Crust Characteristics

• The oceanic crust is mainly composed of basalt, a dark-colored rock.
• The continental crust is primarily made up of granite, a light-colored rock.
• The two types of crust that constitute Earth's outer skin are oceanic crust and continental crust.