18 Questions
What is the only option for scientists to develop a theory when direct evidence is not available?
indirect evidence
What are the two main types of rocks that make up the Earth's crust, and which type is denser?
Oceanic crust is basalt and continental crust is granite; Oceanic crust is denser.
What drives the movement of tectonic plates, and in which layer of the Earth does it occur?
Convection currents in the mantle drive the movement of tectonic plates.
How does the lithosphere relate to the tectonic plates?
The lithosphere is divided into tectonic plates.
What happens to temperature, pressure, and density as you move deeper into the Earth?
They all increase.
What is the layer of the Earth that the tectonic plates move on, and what is its characteristic?
The asthenosphere; it flows semi-liquid.
What are the two types of crust that make up the Earth's surface?
Oceanic and Continental
What is the relationship between the crust and the mantle?
The crust 'rides' over the molten mantle.
What is the composition of the crust?
Large amounts of silicon and aluminum
What drives the movement of the tectonic plates?
Convection currents in the mantle
How do the continents and oceans relate to the crust?
They rest on it.
What is the thinnest layer of the Earth?
The crust
What is the primary cause of convection currents in the mantle?
The hot material at the deepest part of the mantle rising due to lower density, then cooling and becoming more dense and sinking again.
What is the composition of the upper mantle, and what is its state of matter?
The upper mantle is composed of magnesium, silicon, oxygen, and iron, and is solid but capable of flow (like fudge).
What is the relationship between depth and temperature, density, and pressure in the Earth's interior?
Temperature, density, and pressure increase as depth increases.
What is the primary composition of the outer core, and what is its state of matter?
The outer core is composed of molten (liquid) metal, primarily nickel and iron.
What is the hottest layer of the Earth, and what is its approximate temperature?
The inner core is the hottest layer, with an approximate temperature of 6,650°C (12,000°F).
What is the process that drives plate tectonics, and what is its impact on the Earth's surface?
Mantle convection currents drive plate tectonics, leading to changes in the Earth's surface.
Explore the depths of the Earth's core and learn about the indirect evidence scientists use to understand what's beneath our surface. Label the different layers of the Earth and discover how seismic waves help us develop theories.
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