Layers of the Earth Webquest
Name _________________________ Hr____ Score _____/20
Explore the following websites and answer the corresponding questions below.
Part I. The Layers of Earth
A. The Volcano World website: http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/education/vwlessons/lessons/Earths_layers/Earths_layers2.html
1. Color/shade and label the layers of the Earth. (Note: The mantle is sometimes divided into upper and lower)
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11.
2. What causes the mantle to “flow” ? (see the 6th slide) ____________________________________________
3. What are the two main metals that make up the Earth’s core? ________________ and _________________
4. Describe, in your own words, how the earth’s layers were formed? (see slide #1: “The Four Layers”)
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B. The Earth’s Interior website: http://library.thinkquest.org/17457/platetectonics/1.php
1. How is the Earth’s interior like an apple? _______________________________________________________
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2. The lithosphere is divided into two parts (or crusts).
a. What are the two crusts called? ____________________________ and __________________________
b. What are the thicksnesses of each crust?
c.
The _____________ crust is _______________km. The _____________ crust is _______________km.
d. What is each crust made of?
The _____________ crust is _________________. The _____________ crust is _________________.
C. The Layers of the Earth website: http://www.sciencemonster.com/earth-science/layers-of-the-earth.html
1. What are tectonic plates? _______________________________________________________________
2. What is something else that you learned from pages 1-3? ______________________________________
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D. Speaking of digging through the Earth: http://www.livephysics.com/simulations/mechanics-sim/dig-hole-earth/
1. Is digging through the Earth possible? _______________
2. If it is possible, where would you end up if you started digging in Alexandria? ______________________
Part II. Convection Currents and the Mantle
Heat transfer is the movement of heat energy from a warmer object/place to a colder object/place. There are three
ways in which heat can be transferred: radiation, conduction, and convection. Answer the questions below.
A. Go to Convection, Conduction and Radiation and Heat Transfer websites.
1. How is heat transferred by conduction? ____________________________________________________
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2. Explain the process of convection._________________________________________________________
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3. How is heat transferred by radiation?______________________________________________________
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4. If air is a fluid, why isn’t convection responsible for transferring heat to Earth from the sun?
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B. On the Heat Transfer web page, click here and take the “Mini Quiz”. Put your answers below.
1.
_____
2. _____
3. _____
C. Go to www.universetoday.com/26717/earths-mantle/ to learn about what influence convection
currents have on Earth. Read and answer the following questions.
1. Describe how convection currents occur in Earth’s mantle. ____________________________________
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2. What is a constructive force caused by the convection in the mantle? ___________________________
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3. What is a destructive force caused by the convection in the mantle? ____________________________
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