Download Earth`s Interior-Study Guide

Earth's Interior- study guide
1. Which structural layer of Earth comprises the greatest volume of Earth?
2. Which structural layer of Earth is the thinnest and least voluminous?
3. Which structural layer of Earth is liquid?
4. What is the major source of information used in developing this model of Earth's interior?
5. Velocities of P- and S-waves are determined by which two physical properties of the material through
which they pass?
6. How are discontinuities located?
7. Why are the paths of seismic waves curved?
8. What are 2 important and very useful differences between P-waves and S-waves?
9. What happens to P- waves and S-waves when they encounter the core-mantle boundary?
10. Briefly explain why the outer core can be liquid at temperatures of 3,500 - 5,000 øC while the inner
core is solid.
11. What significant boundary occurs at a depth of approximately 30 km beneath Earth's surface?
12. Instead of the X-rays used in CAT scans, what energy is used in seismic tomography?
13. For what purpose is seismic tomography used?
14. What are the major elements comprising Earth's core?
15. What does the abrupt change in behavior of P- and S-waves at the core boundary indicate about the
core?
16. Where is the continental crust thickest?
17. Where is the continental crust thinnest?
18. Where is the oceanic crust thinnest?
19. Continental crust has a mineral composition like that of and is known as granitic crust.
20. Which igneous rock is considered the most likely candidate for representing the composition of the
mantle?
21. What is the geothermal gradient?
22. Why do we know that the geothermal gradient near the surface cannot continue very deeply into
Earth?
23. What is an estimate of the temperature range at the base of the crust?
24. What is an estimate of the temperature at the core-mantle boundary?
25. What is an estimate of the maximum temperature at the center of the core of Earth?
26. What is the primary source of Earth's internal heat?
27. What is meant by the term "gravity anomaly"?
28. What causes a positive gravity anomaly?
29. What is isostatic rebound?
30. Briefly explain why, according to the principle of isostasy, continental crust should be thicker than
oceanic crust.
31. Given the phenomenon of isostatic rebound, what happens to the depth of a mountain range's roots
as it is eroded?
32. What is meant when Earth's magnetic field is described as "dipolar"?
33. What is the Curie point?
34. Although experts do not fully understand how Earth's magnetic field is generated, what appears to
be the best explanation for the field?
35. What are magnetic anomalies?
36. What is paleomagnetism?
37. What is a magnetic reversal?
38. What is a cause of a positive magnetic anomaly?
39. Given two objects of the same mass, one at sea level, and the other atop Mount Everest, which has
the greater weight?
A. the object on Mount Everest because the distance to the center of Earth, and therefore,
the mass of Earth is locally greater
B. the object at sea level because the distance to the center of Earth is least from this
elevation
C. the object at sea level because the centrifugal force is greatest at sea level
D. the object on Mount Everest because centrifugal force increases with distance from the
center of gravity
E. the object on Mount Everest because the Coriolis effect is strongest at high altitudes