Earthquakes and Volcanoes Quiz: Our Changing Earth

Study Notes

Earth's Structure and Physical Processes

The Earth's crust is the outermost layer of rock, approximately 40 km thick, formed as the Earth's surface cooled down.
The mantle is a layer beneath the crust, about 2,900 km thick, solid towards the crust and molten deeper down.
The outer core is a layer of molten rock, about 2,000 km thick.
The inner core is a solid ball made mostly of iron, with a radius of about 1,200 km.

Earthquakes

Earthquakes occur when two plates of the Earth's surface move suddenly against each other, causing rocks deep underground to split.
The epicenter is the part of the Earth's surface positioned directly above the focus of the earthquake.
Shakes and tremors move outwards in rings around the epicenter.
The weak place between two plates is known as the fault plane.

Volcanoes

Volcanoes are eruptions of molten rock from beneath the Earth's crust.
Magma is hot rock that flows in liquid form beneath the surface.
When magma flows out onto the Earth's surface, it is called lava.
Some volcanoes erupt peacefully, with magma flowing slowly, while others are sudden and violent.
Volcanic eruptions can cause clouds of steam and hot ash, which can be dangerous to people and animals.
The volcano may also release poisonous gases that can cause acid rain, destroy crops, and affect climate change.

Weathering and Erosion

Weathering is the process of breaking down rocks and soil into smaller pieces.
Erosion is the removal of rocks and soil from the Earth's surface.
There are many types of erosion, including those caused by water, wind, and ice.
Rainfall collects in spaces between mountains and rocks, and as it freezes, it expands, cracking the rock.
As the sun melts the ice, it forms rivers and waterfalls, carrying stones with it.
As water flows along rivers and streams, rocks and stones knock against each other, breaking up into smaller pieces.

Plate Movement

The Earth's surface consists of a series of plates that are always moving.
The boundaries between these plates are the places on Earth that have high occurrences of earthquakes.
The "Ring of Fire" is a region on the Earth's surface prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

Description

Explore how physical processes like earthquakes and volcanoes have influenced the Earth's evolution and the formation of valuable resources. Learn about the Earth's crust, its composition, and the impact of natural phenomena on our planet's surface.