Earth’s Layers
This thin, brittle outer layer is where we live.
The Crust
Evidence for continental drift includes these identical remains found on different continents.
Matching fossils on different continents
Earthquakes and landslides are examples of this type of timescale process.
Fast processes (earthquakes, landslides, eruptions)
Faster particle motion means this happens to temperature.
Temperature increases
***DAILY DOUBLE***
The process that splits a heavy nucleus.
Fission
***DAILY DOUBLE***
This thick, semi‑solid layer convects and drives plate motion.
The mantle
New crust forms at these divergent boundaries.
Mid‑ocean ridges
Mountain building and seafloor spreading occur on this timescale.
Slow processes (mountain building, seafloor spreading)
***DAILY DOUBLE***
When heated, particles do this (motion + spacing).
Particles speed up and spread apart
The process that powers the Sun.
Fusion
This part of the core is liquid metal.
The outer core
Folded mountains form when these two types of plates collide.
Continental–continental collision
***DAILY DOUBLE***
This fast process can reshape land after a major storm.
Erosion after a storm
Energy stored due to position is called this.
Gravitational potential energy
Radioactive decay happens because the nucleus wants to become more ______.
More stable
This part of the core is solid due to extreme pressure.
The inner core
***DAILY DOUBLE***
This boundary is known for shallow earthquakes but no volcanoes.
Transform boundary (faults, shallow earthquakes)
This slow process wears down mountains over millions of years.
Weathering and erosion
This type of energy transfer drives convection in the mantle.
Heat from Earth’s interior (thermal energy driving convection)
This type of nuclear reaction releases particles and energy from unstable atoms.
Radioactive decay
This process in the mantle moves plates by rising when hot and sinking when cool.
Convection (hot material rises, cool material sinks)
Oceanic crust gets older as you move in this direction from a mid‑ocean ridge.
Away from the mid‑ocean ridge
Name one fast and one slow Earth process and explain each.
Fast: earthquakes, eruptions, landslides
Slow: mountain building, erosion, plate movement
Explain how adding energy affects particle motion and temperature.
Adding energy increases particle speed and temperature
Describe what happens inside the nucleus during radioactive decay.
The nucleus releases particles/energy to become more stable