Planet Earth: Topics 4-7

Question 1

Crust

Answer 1

The thin, outermost layer of the Earth

Question 2

Mantle

Answer 2

The second layer of Earth, located between the crust and the core and made out of liquid rock

Question 3

Outer Core

Answer 3

The third layer of Earth, located between the Mantle and the Inner Core. Composed of liquid iron and nickle. Very hot

Question 4

Inner Core

Answer 4

The middle of Earth. Pressure from other layers forces this to be a solid ball. Very hot.

Question 5

Continental Drift

Answer 5

A theory about the Earth’s structure. According to this theory, the continents have slowly changed their positions over time. The slow movement of continents

Question 6

Sonar

Answer 6

A technology that bounces sound waves off an object to determine it’s distance from the source of the wave. SOund Navigation And Ranging.

Question 7

Sea floor spreading

Answer 7

The process in which an ocean floor slowly increases in size over time because of the formation of new igneous rock along a fault

Question 8

Plates

Answer 8

One of the large sections into which Earth’s crust is divided

Question 9

Theory of Plate Tectonics

Answer 9

Theory suggesting that the Earth’s crust is divided into plates that interact with each other

Question 10

Converging

Answer 10

Two or more plates colliding or coming together

Question 11

Diverging

Answer 11

Two or more plates moving away from each other (or dividing)

Question 12

Convection Currents

Answer 12

Flow resulting from the rise of warmer materials and the sinking of cooler materials.

Question 13

Subduction Zones

Answer 13

A place on Earth’s crust where high pressure pushes one very large piece of rock below another.

Question 14

Seismograph

Answer 14

Used to measure Earthquakes

Question 15

Bedrock

Answer 15

The solid rock that lies beneath the soil and looser rocks

Question 16

Richter Scale

Answer 16

Used to measure the strength of an Earthquake. Scale of 0 and can go as high as necessary.

Question 17

Seismic waves

Answer 17

Energy waves that are released by an Earthquake and travel outward

Question 18

Aftershocks

Answer 18

Smaller ground movements caused by seismic waves moving outward from the earthquakes focus

Question 19

Primary Waves

Answer 19

The fastest moving of the three types of seismic waves that are produced by an earthquake. Can pass through solids, liquids, and gases.

Question 20

Secondary Waves

Answer 20

The second fastest moving of the three types of seismic waves that are produced by an earthquake. Can pass through solids but not liquids or gases

Question 21

Surface Waves

Answer 21

The slowest of the three types of seismic waves. Do the most damage

Question 22

Focus

Answer 22

The source of primary and secondary earthquake waves. The place deep in the crust where the earthquake begins

Question 23

Epicenter

Answer 23

The area on the surface of Earth that is directly above the focus of an earthquake. Source of surface waves

Question 24

Normal Faults

Answer 24

A vertical fault in which rock moves downward. Tension pulls rocks apart. Causes shallow earthquakes usually on the sea floor

Question 25

Reverse Faults

Answer 25

A vertical fault in which rock moves upward. Compression squeezes rock together. Forms a subduction zone.

Question 26

Strike/Slip/or Transform Faults

Answer 26

Plates slide past each other. Top surface gets twisted.

Question 27

Vents

Answer 27

An opening in Earth’s crust through which magma can escape, forming lava

Question 28

Dormant

Answer 28

A stage when no eruption is occurring for a volcano

Question 29

Anticline

Answer 29

An upfold of rock layers in sedimentary rock

Question 30

Syncline

Answer 30

A downfold of rock layers in sedimentary rock

Question 31

Thrust faulting

Answer 31

Low angle faulting of rock. Slabs of rock move over each other like shingles on a roof

Question 32

Fault block mountains

Answer 32

Mountains formed by the process of thrust faulting

Question 33

Complex Mountains

Answer 33

Mountains that are formed by a combined process of folding and faulting

Question 34

Age of Mountains

Answer 34

young mountains have jagged tops. Old mountains have rounded tops.