Inferred Properties of Earth's Interior

Base your answer on the diagram of Earth shown. Letters B, C, and D represent layers of Earth. Letter Q represents a location on Earth's surface.

Which letter best represents Earth's mantle?

• Q

• B

• D

• C

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-1

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

Earth’s outer core is best inferred to be

• liquid, with an average density of approximately 4 g/cm3

• solid, with an average density of approximately 4 g/cm3

• liquid, with an average density of approximately 11 g/cm3

• solid, with an average density of approximately 11 g/cm³

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

From the top of the stiffer mantle to the center of Earth, the rock material is inferred to be

• solid all the way to the center of the inner core

• solid, then liquid to the center of the inner core

• solid, then liquid, then solid again to the center of the inner core

• solid, then liquid, then gaseous to the center of the inner core

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

In the Earth's interior, which zone has a temperature higher than its melting point? In other words, it is liquid.

• crust

• stiffer mantle

• inner core

• outer core

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

The pressure at the interface (boundary) 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

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

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

As depth within the Earth's interior increases, the

• density, temperature, and pressure decrease

• density, temperature, and pressure increase

• density and temperature decrease, but pressure increases

• density decreases, but temperature and pressure increase

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

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

Which part of Earth's interior is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move?

• rigid mantle

• asthenosphere

• outer core

• inner core

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS1-5

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3