structure of the earth Flashcards by Abigail Hays

Q

what is geology?

A

the study of the earth’s interior

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

how do scientists study the inside of the the earth?

A

seismic waves

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

what are sound waves caused by?

A

earthquakes

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

what are the three layers of the earth?

A

crust, mantle, and core

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

what is the outer layer?

A

the crust

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

what is the crust made of?

A

rock

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

how thick is the crust?

A

22 miles

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

why is the crust only visible in a few places?

A

the soil and sediments cover it

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

what is the crust made of?

A

46.6% oxygen and 27.7% silicon

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

what’s the middle layer?

A

mantle

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

what is the mantle studied with?

A

seismic waves

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

why do scientists only study the mantle with seismic waves?

A

no one has been there

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

how thick is the mantle?

A

1800 miles

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

what is the mantle’s composition like?

A

the crust’s

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

what happens when you go farther in the mantle?

A

the density increases

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

what is the outer layer of the mantle made of?

A

solid rock

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

what are the rocks in the mantle like?

A

syrupy

How well did you know this?

1

Not at all

2

3

4

5

Perfectly

Q

why are the rocks in the mantle syrupy?

Study These Flashcards

A

the high temperatures and pressure

Q

what are the syrupy rocks called?

Study These Flashcards

A

plastic rock

Q

what happens when you go deeper in the mantle?

Study These Flashcards

A

it gets hotter

Q

how hot is it in the upper edge of the mantle?

Study These Flashcards

A

900°

Q

how hot is it in the lower edge of the mantle?

Study These Flashcards

A

6700°

Q

what is plastic rock always doing?

Study These Flashcards

A

moving

Q

where do the hottest rocks go?

Study These Flashcards

A

rise to the upper portion

as the mantle cools, what does the the plastic rock do?

sinks down in a circular motion

with what does the upper mantle moves?

the crust of the tectonic plates

what make up the tectonic plates?

the lithosphere

where is the asthenosphere?

under the lithosphere

what is in the asthenosphere?

plastic rock

what occurs in the asthenosphere?

convection

how thick is the core?

4000 miles

where does the core begin?

the bottom of the mantle

how hot is the outer part of the core?

9000°

why is the outer part of the core 9000°?

high temperature, its liquid, and it's made of molten iron and nickel

what is the inner core made of?

iron and nickel

why is the inner core made of iron and nickel?

pressure

what are the ppsi's of the core?

52 miles ppsi and 14.7 ppsi at sea level

how thick is the oceanic crust?

2-3 miles

how thick is the continental crust?

22 miles

how thick is the lithosphere?

450 miles

what is the lithosphere made of?

crust and solid part of the mantle

what is the outer core's function?

to emit the magnetic field

what does the magnetic field do?

protects the earth in a bubble

what would happen if we didn't have the field?

life wouldn't exist