Deck 29: Planet Earth in Profile: the Layered Interior

Question 1

Which evidence helps scientists understand the physical properties of Earth's internal structure?

A) tsunami activity
B) earthquake activity
C) volcanic activity
D) atmospheric composition

Answer 1

B

Question 2

A seismograph recorded P waves but no S waves. The most likely explanation would be:

A) the seismograph is located between 0 to 103 degrees from the epicenter
B) the seismograph is located between 103 to 142 degrees from the epicenter
C) the seismograph is located between 142 to 180 degrees from the epicenter
D) None. Seismographs always measure both P and S waves

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Seismographs positioned in the Southern Hemisphere can record earthquakes that occur in the Northern Hemisphere.

Answer 3

True

Question 4

A type of body wave that moves at right angles to the direction of the travelling wave is called:

A) p-wave
B) s-wave
C) surface wave
D) propagation wave

Question 5

The internal layer within the Earth responsible for allowing lithospheric plates to move along the surface is the:

A) liquid outer core
B) asthenosphere
C) hydrosphere
D) oceanic crust

Question 6

The Mohorovicic discontinuity, or Moho, is:

A) a sharp density change in Earth's interior
B) a contact plane between the crust and mantle
C) helps scientists determine the thickness of Earth's crust
D) all of the above

Question 7

Which statement best describes the characteristic of Earth's continental crust?

A) It has the lowest densities and floats over denser material
B) It is composed mostly of felsic rocks
C) Feldspar is a common mineral
D) all of the above

Question 8

The internal layer of the earth that is composed mostly of iron and magnesium would be the:

A) mantle
B) core
C) oceanic crust
D) continental crust

Question 9

Which layers make up the lithosphere?

A) inner core and outer core
B) crust and uppermost mantle
C) crust and core
D) mantle and core

Question 10

It is difficult to directly observe the internal structures of our Earth, yet we understand many of its physical and chemical properties. One way to understand the chemical properties of the Earth is by calculating the mass and size of the Earth. The average density of the Earth is 5.5 g/cm³; whereas the average density of the continental crust is 2.7 g/cm³ and oceanic crust is 3.3 g/cm³. Which statement best explains the discrepancy between the densities of the Earth's crust versus the overall average?

A) the deeper layers of the Earth are made up of heavier elements such as iron, nickel, and magnesium
B) the sun's effect on the density of the Earth's crust has not been calculated
C) these numbers change with every earthquake occurrence
D) adding the moon's density to the density of the continental and oceanic crusts adds up to Earth's average density

Question 11

The vertical difference between the highest and lowest elevations in a given area is known as:

A) the Moho
B) continental shield
C) orogenic belt
D) topographic relief

Question 12

Low relief areas may sometimes lie at high elevations.

Question 13

Large, stable, relatively flat expanses of extremely old igneous and metamorphic rocks are:

A) continental shields
B) orogenies
C) low relief areas
D) lithospheric plates

Question 14

The Guyana and Brazilian shields make up the _____ craton.

A) North American
B) South American
C) Eurasia
D) African

Question 15

A series of linear mountain chain zones of high relief is typical of:

A) areas of low relief
B) orogenic belts
C) continental shields
D) lithospheric plates