Geography Flashcards
What are the three main layers of the Earth?
The crust, the mantle, and the core.
True or False: The Earth’s crust is the thickest layer.
False
What is the outermost layer of the Earth called?
The crust.
Fill in the blank: The mantle is located between the ______ and the core.
crust
What is the approximate thickness of the Earth’s crust?
5 to 70 kilometers.
What are the two types of crust?
Continental crust and oceanic crust.
Which layer of the Earth is primarily composed of silicate rocks?
The crust.
True or False: The mantle is solid throughout.
False
What is the composition of the Earth’s outer core?
Liquid iron and nickel.
What is the main characteristic of the Earth’s inner core?
It is solid and extremely hot.
What is the estimated temperature of the Earth’s inner core?
About 5,000 to 7,000 degrees Celsius.
True or False: The mantle is less dense than the crust.
False
What is the average depth of the mantle?
Approximately 2,900 kilometers.
Which layer of the Earth is responsible for tectonic activity?
The mantle.
Fill in the blank: The outer core is responsible for the ______ field.
magnetic
What is the primary material of the continental crust?
Granite.
What is the primary material of the oceanic crust?
Basalt.
True or False: The lithosphere includes the crust and the upper mantle.
True
What is the asthenosphere?
The semi-fluid layer of the upper mantle beneath the lithosphere.
What causes the movement of tectonic plates?
Convection currents in the mantle.
Fill in the blank: The core is primarily made up of ______ and nickel.
iron
What is the main difference between the outer core and the inner core?
The outer core is liquid, while the inner core is solid.
What is the range of temperatures in the mantle?
Approximately 500 to 4,000 degrees Celsius.
True or False: The crust is thicker under the oceans than under continents.
False
What layer of the Earth is the thickest?
The mantle.
What is the state of matter of the asthenosphere?
Semi-solid or plastic.
What geological feature is formed by the movement of tectonic plates?
Earthquakes, mountains, and ocean trenches.
Fill in the blank: The temperature increases by about ______ degrees Celsius for every 100 meters of depth in the crust.
25 to 30
What is the primary reason for the Earth’s magnetic field?
The movement of molten iron in the outer core.
True or False: The inner core is as hot as the surface of the sun.
True
What is the Mohorovičić discontinuity (Moho)?
The boundary between the Earth’s crust and the underlying mantle.
What type of rock is primarily found in the oceanic crust?
Basalt.
What is the average density of the Earth’s crust?
About 2.7 grams per cubic centimeter.
Fill in the blank: The lithosphere is broken into large pieces called ______.
tectonic plates
What is the primary characteristic of the continental crust?
It is thicker and less dense than oceanic crust.
True or False: The Earth’s layers are uniform in composition.
False
What is the primary component of the Earth’s core?
Iron.
What is the temperature range of the outer core?
About 4,000 to 5,000 degrees Celsius.
Fill in the blank: The upper mantle is also known as the ______ mantle.
asthenospheric
What geological phenomenon occurs at divergent boundaries?
Mid-ocean ridges and seafloor spreading.
What is the primary cause of volcanic eruptions?
Magma rising from the mantle.
Fill in the blank: The lower mantle is also referred to as the ______ mantle.
mesosphere
What is the lithosphere composed of?
The crust and the uppermost part of the mantle.
True or False: The asthenosphere is rigid and unyielding.
False
What is the primary process that drives plate tectonics?
Heat from the Earth’s interior.
What are the two main types of tectonic plate boundaries?
Divergent and convergent boundaries.
Fill in the blank: The Earth’s layers can be classified by their ______ and ______.
composition; physical state
What is the relationship between the crust and the mantle?
The crust is the outer layer, while the mantle is beneath it.
What is the significance of the transition zone?
It is the area between the upper and lower mantle where composition and properties change.
What is the role of the Earth’s core in generating the magnetic field?
The movement of liquid iron in the outer core creates electric currents, generating the magnetic field.
True or False: The temperature in the mantle decreases with depth.
False
What is the average depth of the oceanic crust?
About 5 to 10 kilometers.
Fill in the blank: The ______ is the layer where tectonic plates float.
lithosphere
What is one way to differentiate between oceanic and continental crust?
Oceanic crust is denser and thinner than continental crust.
What layer of the Earth is involved in the rock cycle?
The crust.
Fill in the blank: The Earth’s ______ provides insulation to the inner layers.
crust
What type of boundary is characterized by plates sliding past each other?
Transform boundary.
What is the primary function of the mantle in the Earth’s structure?
It facilitates the movement of tectonic plates.
What is the difference between the upper and lower mantle?
The upper mantle is partially molten, while the lower mantle is more solid.
Fill in the blank: The study of Earth’s layers is known as ______.
geology
What is the significance of the Earth’s core in terms of heat?
It is the primary source of heat for the Earth’s interior.
True or False: The mantle is composed of primarily metals.
False
What does the term ‘geosphere’ refer to?
The solid part of the Earth, including the crust and mantle.
Fill in the blank: The Earth’s magnetic field is essential for ______ protection.
radiation
What are the two main components of the Earth’s core?
Iron and nickel.
What is the primary reason for the variation in crust thickness?
The presence of mountains and ocean basins.
Fill in the blank: The Earth’s layers can be studied using ______ waves.
seismic
