Layers of Earth

Question 1

How far have we been able to drill into the Earth?

Answer 1

12.3 km

Question 2

What are seismic waves?

Answer 2

Waves of energy emitted by Earthquakes

Question 3

What happens when we are able to observe changes in the speed of seismic waves?

Answer 3

We are able to pinpoint the boundary of b/t layers

Question 4

What are the two ways we can describe the layers of the earth?

Answer 4

Composition and behavior

Question 5

Describe the crust (outermost layer)

Answer 5

Relatively thin, 7-70 km thick

Question 6

Describe the oceanic crust

Answer 6

thin, 7-10 km thick, composed of basalt

Question 7

Describe the continental crust

Answer 7

Thick, 25-70 km thick, composed of granite

Question 8

Describe the mantle

Answer 8

2900 km thick, composed of peridotite

Question 9

What are the two parts we can describe the mantle?

Answer 9

-upper 0-660 km
-lower 660-2900 km thick

Question 10

What are the two parts of the core?

Answer 10

Outer core-2900-5155 km
Inner core-5155-6371 km

Question 11

Describe the outer core and what is it made of

Answer 11

Composed of liquid iron, generates the magnetic field (generates in liquid iron core)

Question 12

Describe the inner core and what is it made of

Answer 12

Solid iron, this is caused by atoms packing tightly together to form a solid

Question 13

What is the lithosphere?

Answer 13

Uppermost parts of the earth, included all of the crusts and parts of the upper mantle, rocks are cool and tend to fracture and break

Question 14

What is the asthenosphere?

Answer 14

Lowermost parts of the earth, (upper mantle and down), rocks are warm and flow like a melted chocolate