4.1 Structure of the Earth
What is the outer layer of the Earth called?
The Crust
What is a volcano?
An opening in the Earth's crust where magma, ash, and gases come out.
What is an earthquake?
A sudden shaking of the Earth's surface.
What is a habitat?
The natural place where a plant or animal lives.
If a polar bear lived in the desert, what problems would it face?
Too hot because of thick fur and fat
Hard to find suitable food
No cold habitat it is adapted to
Name the three main layers of the Earth.
Crust, mantle, core.
What is molten rock called inside the Earth?
Magma.
What do we call the place on the Earth's surface directly above where an earthquake starts?
The Epicenter
What do we call a feature that helps a living thing survive in its habitat?
An adaptation.
Why do many people still choose to live near volcanoes even though eruptions are dangerous?
Volcanic soil is very fertile for farming
Tourism brings jobs
Some areas have valuable minerals
People may have lived there for generations
Which layer of the Earth is the thickest?
The Mantle.
What is molten rock called after it reaches the Earth's surface?
Lava
Why do earthquakes happen?
Because tectonic plates move or suddenly slip.
Name one adaptation birds have that helps them survive.
Wings for flying
Beaks for eating different foods
Feathers for warmth
Why can a tsunami travel very far across the ocean but become dangerous only when it reaches land?
In deep water the wave is low and spreads out, but near land it slows down and grows taller, becoming very powerful.
Is the Earth's core hotter or colder than the crust?
Much hotter.
Which area of the world has the most volcanoes?
The Pacific Ring of Fire.
Which places on Earth are most at risk of earthquakes?
Places near tectonic plate boundaries.
How are desert plants adapted to survive with little water?
Thick stems to store water
Small leaves/spines
Deep roots
Scientists have never travelled to the Earth's core. How do they know about the Earth's layers?
Scientists study seismic waves from earthquakes, rocks, and temperature data to understand the Earth's layers.
Why can humans live only on the crust and not in the mantle or core?
Because the mantle and core are extremely hot and under great pressure.
Name one way volcanoes can affect people.
Destroy homes
Cause fires
Cover land with ash
Force people to leave their homes
What is a tsunami?
A very large sea wave usually caused by an underwater earthquake.
What might happen if a plant or animal is moved to a habitat it is not adapted to?
It may struggle to survive or may die because it is not suited to that environment.
How are volcanoes, earthquakes, and tsunamis connected?
They are all caused by movements of the Earth's tectonic plates.