Name: ____________________ Hour: _______
Earth’s Structure Notes
Directions: Answer the questions as we discuss them in class
Introduction:
1. Explain why scientists have not explored the Earth’s interior (inside) in the same way that they have explored outer
space.
Learning about the Earth:
2. Where has most of the information scientists have gathered about the Earth’s interior come from?
3. (Fill in the blanks) Earthquakes are produced when the Earth’s uppermost_____________ moves suddenly.
Earthquakes produce
___________ __________ that travel through the earth.
4. What is another name for shock waves?
5. Explain how Seismic Waves have helped scientist’s discover the layers of the earth.
6. What are the two types of Seismic waves that have been the most helpful to scientists in discovering the layers of
the earth?
7. Exactly how have seismic P and S waves helped scientists develop a model of the Earth’s inner structure?
The Earth’s Core
8. According to the behavior of P and S waves at 2900 kilometers beneath the earth; what is the composition of the
material found at 2900 Kilometers beneath the Earth? (Circle the correct choice and then justify your answer)
A. Liquid
B. Solid
C. Gas
Justification:
9. According to the behavior of P and S waves at 5150 kilometers beneath the earth; what is the composition of the
material found at 5150 Kilometers beneath the Earth? (Circle the correct choice and then justify your answer)
A. Liquid
B. Solid
C. Gas
Justification:
10. After observing the speeds of P and S waves, scientists have concluded that the Earth’s center, or core is actually
made up of how many layers? What are the names of the layers?
11. What is the inner most layer of the earth called?
A. Mantle
B. Outer Core
C. Crust
D. MOHO
E. Inner Core
12. What is the inner most layer of the Earth made of?
13. What is the temperature of the inner core?
14. How can the inner core be a solid when it is so hot?
15. How deep down is the inner core?
16. What is the layer surrounding the inner core called?
17. How deep down is the Earth’s outer core? What is the temperature in Celsius? Fahrenheit?
18. What is the outer core made of?
The Earth’s Mantle
19. Where is the Earth’s Mantle located?
20. How deep is the Mantle?
21. What is the Moho?
22. What is the Mantle made of?
23. Explain why density of the Earth’s Mantle increases with depth
24. What is the temperature of the Mantle layer?
The Earth’s Crust:
25. (Fill in the blanks). The _____________ crust is its thin ________________ layer.
26. How thick is the crust compared to the mantle?
27. What are the three main types of rocks found in the Earth’s Crust?
28. Which type of rock that makes up the Earth’s Crust would you find in abundance on a beach?
29. What type of rock would you most likely find near an old volcano?
30. How thick is the Earth’s crust? Does it vary? Explain?
What have you learned:
31. Now that you have learned about the four basic layers of the Earth let’s put your knowledge to the test. The table
below has each layer labeled. You need to fill in the missing information for each.
Earth’s
Layers
Crust
Mantle
Outer Core
Inner Core
Temperature
Depth
Thickness State of
Matter
Made
of?
32. Which of the four layers above is made of the densest materials? Explain.
33. Which of the four layers above is made of the least dense materials? Explain.
Layer
Water
Crust
Mantle
Outer Core
Inner Core
Approximate Density
1.00 g/mL
2.7 - 3.0 g/cm3
3.3 - 5.7 g/cm3
9.0 – 12.0 g/mL
12.7 – 12.0 g/cm3
34. Now that you know the four basic layer of the earth please draw a model of the earth on the back of this paper. In
order to get the full 10 points for this question your model must include the following things. You may earn two extra
credit points each for labeling another layer talked about (Hint it is named after a person).
a. Name of each layer
b. The temperature in Celsius and Fahrenheit of each layer
c. The depth in Kilometers of each layer
d. Color and visual appeal