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Earth Science Book
Name________________________________________ Period___________
Chapter 2: Section 1: Directed Reading Pages 27- 30
Section: Earth: A Unique Planet
(page 27)
1. List three reasons that Earth is unique.
EARTH BASICS
(page 27)
Use the terms from the list below to complete the sentences that follow. Each term
may be used only once. Some terms may not be used.
Rock ellipse
radius points
oblate spheroid
diameter
global ocean
mountains
Earth
2. The third planet from the sun in our solar system is _________________________.
3. Formed about 4.6 billion years ago, Earth is made mostly of _____________________.
4. About 70 percent of Earth’s surface is covered with water, called the __________________.
5. Earth appears to be a perfect circle, but it is actually a slightly flattened sphere called an ______________.
6. Earth’s surface is relatively smooth; that is, the distance between Earth’s high and low _______________
are small relative to its size.
7. Earth’s average ________________ is 12,756 km.
EARTH’S INTERIOR
(page 28)
In the space provided, write the letter of the definition that best matches the term or phrase.
______ 8. crust
a. the solid, outer layer of Earth that consists of the crust and the rigid upper part of the
______ 9. oceanic crust
b. the central part of Earth below the mantle
mantle
______ 10. continental crust c. the strong, lower part of the mantle between the asthenosphere and the outer core
______ 11. Moho
d. the thin, solid, outermost layer of Earth above the mantle
______ 12. mantle
e. the crust beneath the oceans
______ 13. core
f. the lower boundary of the crust
______ 14. lithosphere
g. the layer of rock between Earth’s crust and core
______ 15. asthenosphere
h. the crust that makes up the continents
______ 16. plasticity
i. the solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle rock that
flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on top of it
______ 17. mesosphere
j. a dense liquid below the mantle
______ 18. outer core
k. the ability of a solid to flow
EARTH’S GRAVITY (page 30)
19. Define gravity
Chapter 2-1: Earth: A Unique Planet: STUDY NOTES
Directions: Complete the following notes and then use them to study for your test.
1. Earth’s circumference is about 40,000 km, and its shape is an ______________
______________.
2. According to the law of gravitation, the force of attraction between two objects
depends on the mass of the objects and the _________________ between
them.
3. The lower boundary of Earth’s crust is called the ______________.
4. The solid, plastic layer of the mantle is called the _____________________.
5. The force of attraction that exists among all matter in the universe is
called ____________.
6. The mesosphere is the strong, lower part of the ________________ between the
asthenosphere the outer core.
7. The ____________ is the thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the
mantle.
8. The lithosphere is the solid, outer layer of Earth that consists of the crust and
the rigid upper part of the ________________.
9. The ______________ is the central part of Earth below the mantle.
10. The ________________ is the layer of rock between Earth’s crust and core.