Earth's Layers
What is the thinnest layer of the Earth?
The crust
What layer of the atmosphere do we live in?
Troposphere
What are tectonic plates?
Large pieces of Earth’s crust that move over the mantle
What is the process of breaking down rocks?
Weathering
What causes earthquakes?
Sudden movement of tectonic plates
Which layer is made of solid iron and nickel?
Inner Core
What gas do plants need for photosynthesis?
Carbon dioxide
What theory explains continental drift?
Pangea
Which process moves sediment from one place to another?
Erosion
What is the Ring of Fire?
A major area in the Pacific where many volcanoes and earthquakes occur
Name the layer where convection currents occur.
Mantle
Why is the ozone layer important?
It blocks harmful UV rays
What happens at a convergent boundary?
Plates move together, often causing mountains or subduction
What process drops sediment in a new location?Deposition
Deposition
What is a tsunami and what causes it?
A large ocean wave caused by underwater earthquakes or landslides
How do scientists learn about Earth’s inner layers?
Seismic Waves
Name all the layers of the atmosphere from lowest to highest. You can only look at your notes for 5 seconds while naming them!
Troposphere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere, Exosphere
A supercontinent from millions of years ago
How can plants cause weathering?
Roots break through rock)
What's the difference between a P-wave and S-wave?
P-waves are faster and compress, S-waves are slower and move side-to-side
Explain how the density and temperature change as you go deeper into the Earth.
Both increase with depth
How does the atmosphere regulate Earth's climate?
It traps heat using greenhouse gases, maintaining livable temperatures
Describe how convection currents in the mantle cause plate movement.
Hot material rises, cools, and sinks, creating movement in the plates above.
Describe how weathering, erosion, and deposition work together to change the Earth’s surface.
Weathering breaks rocks, erosion moves them, and deposition lays them down to form new landforms.
How can technology help reduce damage from natural disasters?
Early warning systems, building codes, disaster planning