Earth - Structure

Question 1

What is the structure of the Earth?

Answer 1

Solid centre
Transition Zone
Liquid Layer
Mantle
Crust

Question 2

What forms the outer core?

Answer 2

The transition zone and the liquid layer

Question 3

What is the outer mantle layer made of?

Answer 3

The lithosphere and asthenosphere

Question 4

Asthenosphere

Answer 4

A mechanically weak layer beneath the lithosphere, with low seismic wave velocities and high attenuation

Question 5

Mohorovicic Discontinuity

Answer 5

Boundary layer between the Earth crust and the mantle

Question 6

Isostasy

Answer 6

Rising/Settling portion of Earths lithosphere, occuring when weight is removed or added, to maintain equilibrium between buoyancy forces that push lithosphere upward and gravity that pull it downward.

Question 7

Seismic Waves

Answer 7

Vibrations/disturbances propogating from a source, through the earth until reflected by a surface

Question 8

Example of isostatic equilibrium?

Answer 8

Compensation masses in the upper mantle, weight added to crust means it sinks, and if removed, crust rises.

Question 9

What does isostasy describe?

Answer 9

How lithosphere floats atop the atmosphere

Question 10

What regions do not coincide with isostasy theory?

Answer 10

Orogenic belts

Question 11

What are three rock types?

Answer 11

Igneous
Sedimentary
Metamorphic

Question 12

Igneous Rocks

Answer 12

Rocks forming from very hot molten material, with mostly crystal minerals, being hard and weathering slowly.

Question 13

Sedimentary Rocks

Answer 13

Rocks formed by sedimentation of material at the Earth surface and within bodies of water

Question 14

Metamorphic Rock

Answer 14

Rocks derived from protoliths by chemical and physical processses, that change minerals and strucure of rock

Question 15

Metamorphism

Answer 15

The changing of rocks into new forms by temperature, pressure or chemicals

Question 16

Diagenesis

Answer 16

Chemical and physical changes occuring by conversion of sediment to sedimentary rock

Question 17

Where are sedimentary rocks found?

Answer 17

Oceans, deserts and caves, like limestone

Question 18

What does limestone form from?

Answer 18

CaCO3 precipitations and marine animal remains/shells

Question 19

Process of sedimentary rock formation

Answer 19

Surface rocks are weathered, where the deposit hardens when they build up

Question 20

What is the rock cycle?

Answer 20

Igneous and sedimentary become metamorphic under pressure and heat, any can sediment when eroded, all can be melted to igneous.