structure of the earth Flashcards

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1
Q

what is geology?

A

the study of the earth’s interior

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2
Q

how do scientists study the inside of the the earth?

A

seismic waves

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3
Q

what are sound waves caused by?

A

earthquakes

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4
Q

what are the three layers of the earth?

A

crust, mantle, and core

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5
Q

what is the outer layer?

A

the crust

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6
Q

what is the crust made of?

A

rock

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7
Q

how thick is the crust?

A

22 miles

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8
Q

why is the crust only visible in a few places?

A

the soil and sediments cover it

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9
Q

what is the crust made of?

A

46.6% oxygen and 27.7% silicon

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10
Q

what’s the middle layer?

A

mantle

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11
Q

what is the mantle studied with?

A

seismic waves

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12
Q

why do scientists only study the mantle with seismic waves?

A

no one has been there

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13
Q

how thick is the mantle?

A

1800 miles

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14
Q

what is the mantle’s composition like?

A

the crust’s

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15
Q

what happens when you go farther in the mantle?

A

the density increases

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16
Q

what is the outer layer of the mantle made of?

A

solid rock

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17
Q

what are the rocks in the mantle like?

A

syrupy

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18
Q

why are the rocks in the mantle syrupy?

A

the high temperatures and pressure

19
Q

what are the syrupy rocks called?

A

plastic rock

20
Q

what happens when you go deeper in the mantle?

A

it gets hotter

21
Q

how hot is it in the upper edge of the mantle?

A

900°

22
Q

how hot is it in the lower edge of the mantle?

A

6700°

23
Q

what is plastic rock always doing?

A

moving

24
Q

where do the hottest rocks go?

A

rise to the upper portion

25
Q

as the mantle cools, what does the the plastic rock do?

A

sinks down in a circular motion

26
Q

with what does the upper mantle moves?

A

the crust of the tectonic plates

27
Q

what make up the tectonic plates?

A

the lithosphere

28
Q

where is the asthenosphere?

A

under the lithosphere

29
Q

what is in the asthenosphere?

A

plastic rock

30
Q

what occurs in the asthenosphere?

A

convection

34
Q

how thick is the core?

A

4000 miles

35
Q

where does the core begin?

A

the bottom of the mantle

36
Q

how hot is the outer part of the core?

A

9000°

37
Q

why is the outer part of the core 9000°?

A

high temperature, its liquid, and it’s made of molten iron and nickel

38
Q

what is the inner core made of?

A

iron and nickel

39
Q

why is the inner core made of iron and nickel?

A

pressure

40
Q

what are the ppsi’s of the core?

A

52 miles ppsi and 14.7 ppsi at sea level

41
Q

how thick is the oceanic crust?

A

2-3 miles

42
Q

how thick is the continental crust?

A

22 miles

43
Q

how thick is the lithosphere?

A

450 miles

44
Q

what is the lithosphere made of?

A

crust and solid part of the mantle

45
Q

what is the outer core’s function?

A

to emit the magnetic field

46
Q

what does the magnetic field do?

A

protects the earth in a bubble

47
Q

what would happen if we didn’t have the field?

A

life wouldn’t exist