What is the name of the Earth's outermost, 60-mile-thick, layer?
Asthenosphere
Biosphere
Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Which of these is NOT one of the four spheres of Earth that are said to drive all its processes and support life on the planet?
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
If scientists can ONLY detect P waves in a certain layer of the Earth's interior, what does that tell us?
We know that the layer is the mantle.
We know that the layer is solid.
We know that the layer is liquid.
We know that the layer could be either liquid or solid.
Why can both P and S waves travel through the mantle?
The mantle is not very far below the Earth's surface.
The mantle is a liquid.
The mantle is a solid.
Parts of the mantle are solid and other parts are liquid.
Which of Earth's interior layers is liquid iron?
None are liquid
The mantle
The inner core
The outer core
How do we know that seismic waves have reached a new layer in the Earth's interior?
Nothing happens, they simply travel through.
They get bounced back when they reach the mantle.
They travel all the way to the core before bouncing back.
They change speed as they reach different layers.
What happens to P waves when they reach the outer core?
They slow down because it is liquid.
They speed up because it is solid.
They speed up because it is liquid.
They slow down because it is solid.
Which statement about the four spheres of Earth is true?
They often occur in the same place and interact.
They describe distinct layers of Earth's interior.
Scientists think there are more than four spheres of Earth.
They occur in the same place, but do not interact.
The interior of the Earth is part of which sphere?
The geosphere
The biosphere
The atmosphere
The hydrosphere
Which is NOT one of Earth's four spheres?
The troposphere
The geosphere
The biosphere
The hydrosphere
Why are plants and animals part of the biosphere?
Because they can migrate.
Because all living things are part of the biosphere.
Because they can travel in the air.
Because they live on the ground.
Why is rain not part of the atmosphere?
Because it is part of the geosphere.
Because it is part of the biosphere.
Because it moves between spheres.
Because it is part of the hydrosphere.
Which parts of the Earth are contained in the lithosphere?
The outer core and lower mantle.
The lower mantle and the crust.
Both the inner and outer core.
The upper mantle and the crust.
Why is the inner core solid?
Because it is under too much pressure to melt.
Because it is very hot.
Because it consists mostly of silicon.
Because of plasticity.
What is the cause of earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountains on Earth?
Sinking of the oceanic crust.
Movements in the outer core.
Convection currents in the crust.
Convection currents in the mantle.
How does the inner core differ from the outer core?
The inner core is very cold while the outer core is very hot
The inner core is made of iron the outer core is lithium
The inner core is solid, while the outer core is liquid.
The inner core is characterized by plasticity.
