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 get bounced back when they reach the mantle.
They travel all the way to the core before bouncing back.
The interior of the Earth is part of which sphere?
The biosphere
The hydrosphere
The geosphere
The atmosphere
Which of the following is true about the Hawaiian islands?
The islands get older as you travel northwest.
There is no order to their age.
none
The islands are all the same age.
How are mantle plumes and hot spots related?
None are correct
Hot spots erupt and form mantle plumes.
Mantle plumes rise & break through the crust, make hot spots
Hot spot is another word for mantle plume.
Why is rain not part of the atmosphere?
Because it moves between spheres.
Because it is part of the biosphere.
Because it is part of the hydrosphere.
Because it is part of the geosphere.
What is the cause of earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountains on Earth?
Convection currents in the crust.
Convection currents in the mantle.
Sinking of the oceanic crust.
Movements in the outer core.
Why is the inner core solid?
Because of plasticity.
Because it consists mostly of silicon.
Because it is under too much pressure to melt.
Because it is very hot.
Which of these is part of the Earth's lithosphere?
Liquid Mantle
Hydrosphere
Core
Crust
Which parts of the Earth are contained in the lithosphere?
The upper mantle and the crust.
The outer core and lower mantle.
Both the inner and outer core.
The lower mantle and the crust.
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?
Hydrosphere
Atmosphere
Geosphere
Lithosphere
How can you tell where one sphere ends and the next one begins?
You find the exact point where they meet.
You look it up in a textbook.
You calculate which sphere is more involved.
There are no hard rules, and often spheres overlap.
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 characterized by plasticity.
The inner core is solid, while the outer core is liquid.
Which is NOT one of Earth's four spheres?
The troposphere
The hydrosphere
The biosphere
The geosphere
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.
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 can migrate.
Because they live on the ground.
Why can both P and S waves travel through the mantle?
The mantle is a solid.
The mantle is a liquid.
Parts of the mantle are solid and other parts are liquid.
The mantle is not very far below the Earth's surface.
What is the name of the Earth's outermost, 60-mile-thick, layer?
Biosphere
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
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 solid.
We know that the layer is liquid.
We know that the layer could be either liquid or solid.
We know that the layer is the mantle.
Which of Earth's interior layers is liquid iron?
None are liquid
The inner core
The mantle
The outer core
What happens to P waves when they reach the outer core?
They speed up because it is liquid.
They slow down because it is solid.
They speed up because it is solid.
They slow down because it is liquid.
We look up in the sky and see a cloud. Which sphere is this cloud in?
The hydrosphere only
Both the hydrosphere and atmosphere
The atmosphere only
The geosphere only
A plant rooted in the ground has a connection to which sphere(s)?
Hydrosphere, atmosphere, and geosphere
Biosphere only
Geosphere, biosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere
Biosphere and hydrosphere only
Which of the following events is LEAST likely to trigger a tsunami?
Rock weathering in the Northwest Hawaiian Islands
A volcanic eruption on the Big Island of Hawaii
An underwater landslide
An underwater earthquake that causes a plate to move upwards
Which statement about the four spheres of Earth is true?
They often occur in the same place and interact.
Scientists think there are more than four spheres of Earth.
They describe distinct layers of Earth's interior.
They occur in the same place, but do not interact.