It’s sort of mind-boggling to realize that humans have only really explored the Earth’s crust. We haven’t had any first-hand accounts on what it’s like in the Earth’s mantle or core, but perhaps you can help us uncover their mysteries someday.
In the meantime, how many facts about the Earth’s core, mantle and crust do you know?
Questions
Our crust is mainly composed of relatively light materials, such as…
A.hydrogen, helium and oxygen
B.silica, aluminum and oxygen
C.carbon, nitrogen and iron
D.nickel, copper and gold
What is the average distance from the surface of the Earth’s crust to the core?
A.6,137 kilometers
B.6,173 kilometers
C.6,371 kilometers
D.7,631 kilometers
The crust and the upper part of the mantle exists as large, jigsaw-like pieces known as…
A.tectonic plates
B.subduction zones
C.fissures
D.basalt columns
With a thickness of 2,900 km, which part of the Earth comprises 85% of its weight?
A.Crust
B.Mantle
C.Outer core
D.Inner core
Which materials are the most abundant within the mantle?
A.Copper, sodium, phosphorus
B.Selenium, arsenic, xenon
C.Platinum, gold, tungsten
D.Iron, magnesium, silicon
Near the upper edges of the mantle is a layer of partially-molten rock called the…
A.Lithosphere
B.Asthenosphere
C.Nitrosphere
D.Hydrosphere
The heat at our inner core, which stands at around ________ Celsius, is so high that it is comparable to the heat on the surface of the Sun.
A.4,400
B.4,900
C.5,400
D.5,900
The Kola Superdeep Borehole in Russia is currently the deepest hole that humans have dug. Its deepest point reaches to around ____ kilometres.
A.1,200
B.120
C.12
D.1.2
Oceanic crust is made mostly out of _____, while continental crust is mainly ______.
A.basalt, granite
B.granite, calcium carbonate
C.marble, basalt
D.granite, basalt
Which layer generates the Earth’s magnetic field?
A.Inner core
B.Outer core
C.Mantle
D.Crust
What happens in this layer that produces our magnetic field?
A.Circulation of liquid iron and nickel
B.A giant electromagnet has been stored there
C.Circulation of liquid uranium and thorium
D.Circulation of liquid mercury and tungsten
The pressure in the inner core is approximately ________ times greater than on the surface.
A.300
B.3,000
C.300,000
D.3 million
Magnetic field reversals, in which Earth’s magnetic North and South “flip”, happen around once every ________ years.
A.300 to 1,000
B.20,000 to 30,000
C.30,000 to 100,000
D.200,000 to 300,000
The Earth’s inner core is largely composed of…
A.solid iron and nickel
B.liquid iron and nickel
C.gaseous iron and nickel
D.plasma
How much of the Earth’s mass is represented by its core?
A.10 percent
B.20 percent
C.30 percent
D.40 percent