Earth's Interior

Early in its formation, Earth was a molten mass of evenly mixed composition. During the next few million years, the heavier and more dense elements sank to the center, while lighter and less dense elements rose toward the surface. This is called chemical fractionation.

Which pair of elements sank to Earth’s center during chemical fractionation?

• aluminum and silicon

• carbon and sulfur

• iron and nickel

• oxygen and potassium

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Compared to the average density and composition of oceanic crust, continental crust is

• less dense and more felsic

• less dense and more mafic

• more dense and more felsic

• more dense and more mafic

Which two Earth layers are separated by the Moho boundary?

• rigid mantle and plastic mantle

• outer core and stiffer mantle

• stiffer mantle and asthenosphere

• crust and rigid mantle

In which Earth layer does the pressure reach 3.5 million atmospheres?

• crust

• stiffer mantle

• outer core

• inner core

The pressure at the interface between Earth’s outer core and inner core is inferred to be

• 0.2 million atmosphere

• 1.5 million atmospheres

• 3.1 million atmospheres

• 3.6 million atmospheres

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

The inferred temperature at the interface between the stiffer mantle and the asthenosphere is closest to

• 1000°C

• 2500°C

• 4500°C

• 5000°C

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-4

NGSS.MS-PS3-4

The inferred temperature and pressure of Earth’s interior at a depth of 3,000 kilometers are approximately

• 1000°C and 0.5 million atmospheres

• 1000°C and 1.0 million atmospheres

• 5000°C and 1.5 million atmospheres

• 5000°C and 3.0 million atmospheres

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

Which combination of temperature and pressure is inferred to occur within Earth’s stiffer mantle?

• 3500°C and 0.4 million atmospheres

• 3500°C and 2.0 million atmospheres

• 5500°C and 0.4 million atmospheres

• 5500°C and 2.0 million atmospheres

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

The convection currents responsible for moving tectonic plates occur in which Earth layer?

• crust

• rigid mantle

• stiffer mantle

• asthenosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Base your answer to the question on the cross section below, which shows a portion of Earth’s interior layers and the location of an earthquake epicenter. Letter A represents a seismic station on Earth’s surface. Letter B represents a location in Earth’s interior.

What is the approximate depth at location B?