Download N.HW101

Earth Science
INSIDE THE EARTH
Temperature
Notes 101
PRE-READING
Temperature. As you travel beneath Earth’s surface, the surrounding
rock is cool. Then at about 20 meters down, the rocks get warmer. For
every 40 meters that you descend from that point, the temperature rises
1 Celsius degree. This rapid rise in temperature continues for several
tens of kilometers. After that, the temperature increases more slowly,
but steadily. Near the top of the crust, temperatures average around
20°C. At the bottom of the crust temperatures can be as high as 870°C. At
the bottom of the mantle, temperatures can be 2,200°C. The temperature of
the outer core ranges from 2,200°C to 5,000°C. The inner core is the hottest of all the
layers, with an average temperature around 5,000°C or higher.
The high temperatures inside Earth are the result of heat left over from the
formation of the planet. In addition, radioactive substances inside Earth release
energy. This further heats the interior.
Pressure. As you travel beneath Earth’s surface, there is an increase in
pressure in the surrounding rock. Pressure results from a force pressing on an area.
Because of the weight of the rock above, pressure inside Earth increases as you go
deeper. The deeper you go, the greater the pressure. This is just like how pressure
increases as you travel farther beneath water in a swimming pool.
Pre-Reading Questions (Complete these questions after reading the passage.)
1. Using the reading above, complete the following table:
Earth Layer
Temperature Range
Crust
Mantle
Outer Core
Inner Core
2. As depth increases (as you go farther down into Earth), how do temperature and
pressure change?
Reading Questions
1) If the temperature of the Earth's layers increases by about 90 degrees Fahrenheit for
every 1 mile from the surface and you are estimating the temperature of a point in the
mantle 211 miles below the surface, how hot would the mantle be at that depth?
2) For every 40 meters that you descend from Earth’s surface, the temperature rises
approximately 1°C. Approximately what temperature would you expect to find at 3,480
meters below Earth’s surface?
Homework 101
1. Which layer of Earth is the hottest?
2. Which layer of Earth is coolest in temperature?
3. Order the 4 main Earth layers from lowest to highest temperature:
4. What temperature is found in Earth’s inner core?
5. If the temperature of the Earth's layers increases by about 90 degrees Fahrenheit for
every 1 mile from the surface and you are estimating the temperature of a point 411
miles below the surface, how hot would it be at that depth?
6. For every 40 meters that you descend from Earth’s surface, the temperature rises
approximately 1°C. Approximately what temperature would you expect to find at 640
meters below Earth’s surface?
7. If the temperature of the Earth's layers increases by about 90 degrees Fahrenheit for
every 1 mile from the surface and you are estimating the temperature of a point 235
miles below the surface, how hot would it be at that depth?
8. For every 40 meters that you descend from Earth’s surface, the temperature rises
approximately 1°C. Approximately what temperature would you expect to find at
4,440 meters below Earth’s surface?
CHALLENGE QUESTION! Complete this only if you are up for the challenge!
1. If you start at Earth’s inner core, the temperature decreases approximately 1
degree Celsius for every 40 meters. If you are 880 meters from Earth’s inner
core, approximately what temperature will it be?