Why is the inner core solid?
Because it is very hot.
Because it is under too much pressure to melt.
Because of plasticity.
Because it consists mostly of silicon.
Which of these is part of the Earth's lithosphere?
Hydrosphere
Liquid Mantle
Crust
Core
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 slow down because it is solid.
They speed up because it is liquid.
Which of the following events is LEAST likely to trigger a tsunami?
An underwater earthquake that causes a plate to move upwards
Rock weathering in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands
An underwater landslide
A volcanic eruption on the Big Island of Hawaii
A plant rooted in the ground has a connection to which sphere(s)?
Biosphere only
Biosphere and hydrosphere only
Geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere
Hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere
We look up in the sky and see a cloud. Which sphere is this cloud in?
The geosphere only
Both the hydrosphere and atmosphere
The hydrosphere only
The atmosphere only
What is the cause of earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountains on Earth?
Convection currents in the crust.
Sinking of the oceanic crust.
Convection currents in the mantle.
Movements in the outer core.
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 solid.
We know that the layer is liquid.
We know that the layer is the mantle.
We know that the layer could be either liquid or solid.
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?
Geosphere
Lithosphere
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
How are mantle plumes and hot spots related?
Mantle plumes rise & break through the crust, make hot spots
Hot spot is another word for mantle plume.
None are correct
Hot spots erupt and form mantle plumes.
Which of the following is NOT a reason that sphere interactions are important?
They change matter through different phases.
They help to keep matter in one place.
They recycle material on Earth.
They form the overall system of Earth.
How do we know that seismic waves have reached a new layer in the Earth's interior?
Nothing happens, they simply travel through.
They change speed as they reach different layers.
They travel all the way to the core before bouncing back.
They get bounced back when they reach the mantle.
Which of Earth's interior layers is liquid iron?
The outer core
None are liquid
The inner core
The mantle
Which parts of the Earth are contained in the lithosphere?
The upper mantle and the crust.
Both the inner and outer core.
The outer core and lower mantle.
The lower mantle and the crust.
The interior of the Earth is part of which sphere?
The biosphere
The geosphere
The hydrosphere
The atmosphere
Why is rain not part of the atmosphere?
Because it is part of the hydrosphere.
Because it moves between spheres.
Because it is part of the geosphere.
Because it is part of the biosphere.
Which of the following is true about the Hawaiian islands?
The islands are all the same age.
The islands get older as you travel northwest.
none
There is no order to their age.
Why can both P and S waves travel through the mantle?
The mantle is not very far below the Earth's surface.
Parts of the mantle are solid and other parts are liquid.
The mantle is a solid.
The mantle is a liquid.
Which statement about the four spheres of Earth is true?
They describe distinct layers of Earth's interior.
They occur in the same place, but do not interact.
They often occur in the same place and interact.
Scientists think there are more than four spheres of Earth.
How does the inner core differ from the outer core?
The inner core is characterized by plasticity.
The inner core is made of iron the outer core is lithium
The inner core is very cold while the outer core is very hot
The inner core is solid, while the outer core is liquid.
Why are plants and animals part of the biosphere?
Because they can travel in the air.
Because all living things are part of the biosphere.
Because they live on the ground.
Because they can migrate.
What is the name of the Earth's outermost, 60-mile-thick, layer?
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
Hydrosphere
Biosphere
How can you tell where one sphere ends and the next one begins?
You calculate which sphere is more involved.
There are no hard rules, and often spheres overlap.
You look it up in a textbook.
You find the exact point where they meet.
Which is NOT one of Earth's four spheres?
The hydrosphere
The biosphere
The troposphere
The geosphere