Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

EARTH SCIENCE > Layers of the Earth > Flashcards

Layers of the Earth Flashcards

1
Q

What are the 4 different layers of the Earth?

A

Crust, mantle, outer core and inner core

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Most outer layer of the earth where we live on.

A

Crust

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Thinnest layer of the earth. Solid layer made of rock

A

Crust

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How many kilometers thick does the crust is?

A

Around 30 kilometers thick

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Second most outer layer of the earth and is a really thick liquid layer made of molten rock.

A

Mantle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Thickest layer of the earth

A

Mantle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

SOLID OR LIQUID

Mantle

A

LIQUID

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

IDENTIFY

The mantle is sometimes called a ____________ instead of liquid.

A

plastic layer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How many kilometers thick does the mantle is?

A

3,000 kilometers thick

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

What part of the earth is next to the outer core?

A

Mantle

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What part of the mantle is hotter than the rest?

A

Mantle closest to the outer core.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is being made in the mantle that move the crust above around?

A

currents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Explain the cycle in the mantle.

A

The part of the mantle that is hotter is lighter, so it floats to the top and cools. After it has cooled, it sinks again because it is heavier.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Hotter : ________

A

lighter

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

cooler : ________

A

heavier

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Third most outer layer of the earth.

A

Outer core

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Center and solid layer of the earth.

A

Inner core

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Inner core is made up of?

A

Nickel and iron

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

SOLID OR LIQUID

Inner core

A

SOLID

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

How many kilometers thick does the inner core is?

A

250-400 kilometers thick

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Hottest layer of the earth.

A

Inner core

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

The inner core is solid even though it is the hottest layer of the earth.

A

TRUE

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Why inner core stays solid?

A

Because there is so much weight on it. The little bits that make it up have no room to move.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

What are the 3 types of plate tectonic boundaries?

A

Convergent, divergent and transform boundaries

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

What is convergent plate boundary?

A

The plates move towards each other.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

What is transform plate boundary?

A

The plates slide past one another.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

What is divergent plate boundary?

A

The plates move away from each other.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Who proposed that the continents were once a single supercontinent called Pangaea (all land).

A

Alfred Wegener

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

What is the name of the single supercontinent?

A

Pangaea

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

What does Pangaea means?

A

all land or all the earth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Alfred Wegener’s theory that the continents were once a single supercontinent called Pangaea (all land).

A

Continental drift theory

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Over time, this supercontinent slowly broke apart into what we have today - the 6 continents.

A

FALSE, 7 continents

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

What are the 4 evidence of Alfred Wegener to support his theory?

A

Puzzle, fossils, rock types and climate

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Explain those 4 evidence of Alfred Wegener.

35
Q

What is the theory of plate tectonics?

A

The crust is broken up into pieces that move on top of the liquid mantle (asthenosphere).

36
Q

liquid mantle

A

asthenosphere

37
Q

IDENTIFY

These pieces of crust are called _________.

A

Tectonic plates/plates

38
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Plates are moving extremely slowly but continuously.

39
Q

How many inches do crust moves?

A

1-2 inches

40
Q

Why we do not feel that the crust is moving?

A

Because it has a minimal measurement of 1-2 inches per year.

41
Q

Enumerate the 7 major plates.

A

Eurasian, African, Australian-Indian, North American, Pacific, Antarctic and South American.

42
Q

Enumerate the 7 intermediate plates.

A

Caribbean, Cocos, Nazca, Arabian, Philippine, Juan de Fuca and Scotia

43
Q

What are the 2 main types of plates?

A

Oceanic and continental

44
Q

Why oceanic plates subduct underneath continental crust?

A

Because it is denser (heavier).

45
Q

DENSER OR LESS DENSE

Continental plates

A

LESS DENSE

46
Q

DENSER OR LESS DENSE

Oceanic plates

47
Q

What does it mean when a material has a high density? What happens?

A

It is very compact, so it will be heavy. It will sink.

48
Q

What does it mean when a material has a low density? What happens?

A

It is less compact, so it will be lighter. It will float.

49
Q

IDENTIFY

Geologists often refer to the rocks of the continental crust as “________”.

A

“sial”

50
Q

What does sial stands for?

A

SI licate and AL uminum

51
Q

What are the most abundant minerals in the continental crust?

A

silicate and aluminum

52
Q

Lithosphere is made up of?

A

Crust and top of the upper mantle

53
Q

Asthenosphere is made up of?

A

Rest of the upper mantle that is made of melted rock.

54
Q

Upper mantle : __________

A

melted rock

55
Q

Lower mantle : __________

A

solid rock

56
Q

What is being created as the earth spins, creating charged particles?

A

Earth’s magnetic field

57
Q

Why inner core is a solid layer?

A

Due to its extreme temperature brought by nickel and iron, capability of melting of the nickel and iron and reach their melting point, and extreme gravitational pressure.

58
Q

Contains all known life in the universe.

59
Q

Earth’s crust is divided into 2 types. What are those?

A

Continental crust and oceanic crust

60
Q

IDENTIFY

Geologists often refer to the rocks of the oceanic crust as “________”.

A

“sima”

61
Q

What does sima stands for?

A

SI licate and MA gnesium

62
Q

What are the most abundant minerals in the oceanic crust?

A

silicate and magnesium

63
Q

IDENTIFY

Mantle is divided into ____________ and ____________.

A

upper mantle and lower mantle

64
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Oceanic and continental plates come together, spread apart and interact at boundaries all over the planet.

65
Q

Each crust, mantle and core can be further divided into 2 parts. What are those?

A

Oceanic and continental crust, upper and lower mantle and outer and inner core.

66
Q

In depth study, core is made up of 2 parts. What are those?

A

liquid outer core and solid inner core

67
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

Inner core is made up of nickel, iron and light elements.

A

FALSE, outer core

68
Q

What are the reasons why earth is constantly moving?

A

Due to the rotation on its axis, revolution around the sun and plate tectonics.

69
Q

What are the 2 layers of the earth divided into?

A

Compositional layers and mechanical layers

70
Q

It talks about the earth’s elements, materials and properties. Crust, mantle and core are included in this layer.

A

Compositional layers

71
Q

It talks about movement. Lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere, liquid outer core and solid inner core are included in this layer.

A

Mechanical layers

72
Q

Starting point of high temperature and increase in pressure.

A

Mesosphere

73
Q

______ million years ago, all continents are connected to each other forming a super continent called __________.

A

200, Pangaea

74
Q

What does Pangaea means?

A

“all the earth” or “all land”

75
Q

What theory is made when Pangaea broke down into small continents?

A

Continental drift theory

76
Q

Where 2 tectonic plates meet?

A

At boundaries

77
Q

3 types of plate tectonic boundaries.

A

Convergent, divergent and transform

78
Q

What zone is formed at convergent plate boundaries?

A

Subduction zone

79
Q

What is subduction zone?

A

Denser plate will sink, while less dense crust will move up.

80
Q

Plates in this boundary can collide and could form a mountain range.

A

Convergent plate boundary

81
Q

How earthquakes are created at transform plate boundaries?

A

When pressure builds up in the fault line until it creates an earthquake.

82
Q

Plates slide past each other.

A

Transform plate boundary

83
Q

Plates move apart from one another. An example of this is a sea floor movement.

A

Divergent plate boundary

84
Q

TRUE OR FALSE

The Philippine plate is an intermediate plate included in the Pacific major plate.

EARTH SCIENCE (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions