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