Earth Study Guide

1. Crazy Men On Ice (Crust-Mantle-Outer Core-Inner Core) can help you memorize the order of the Earth’s interior from the outside layer to the inner core. The crust is the outer layer of the Earth. This layer is thicker beneath the continents than beneath the oceans.

2. The outer portion of the Earth’s core is called the mantle. This layer is made of melted iron and nickel.

3. The thick layer between the curst and the core of the Earth is called the Outer Core. This layer is made of hot solid rock that can flow like syrup or be stretched like putty.

4. The central, solid portion of the Earth’s core is called the Inner Core. This layer is made of solid iron and nickel.

Picture Credit: http://www.world-builders.org/planets01/laga/lagaimages/Laga_structure.jpg

Earthquakes and Volcanoes:

1. Plate Tectonics: The Earth’s crust is made up of many plates. Plate tectonics is a theory that states that the plates slowly move on the Earth’s mantle. The continents are on each of these plates. It is believed the continents were at one time one continent called Pangaea. Through the last 200 million years, the continents have drifted apart. This is called the Continental Drift.

2. Earthquakes are vibrations caused by two plates moving against each other.

3. An earthquake can cause a tsunami (tidal wave).

4. A seismograph measures the earthquakes.

5. Melted rock under ground is called lava.

6. There are 3 kinds of volcanoes:

A. Cinder volcano: usually steep and erupts

B. Shield volcano: is broad with gently sloping slides. It usually does not erupt; lave continually flows from it.

C. Composite volcano: usually erupts and has lava continually flowing from it.

Rocks and Minerals

1. Minerals are building blocks of rocks. There are 3 types of rocks: Igneous, Sedimentary, and Metamorphic.

A. Igneous Rocks come from magma. They are formed by melting.

B. Sedimentary rocks are layered rocks and are weathered

C. Metamorphic rocks are sedimentary or igneous rocks formed by pressure and heat.

2. Crystals are the building blocks of minerals.

3. Qualitites of minerals are:

A. soft/hard

B. luster (shiny/dull)

4. Examples of minerals are: gold, diamonds, calcite, pyrite, talc, and hematite.

Fossils

1. Fossils are remains of ancient plants and animals preserved in the rock.

2. Fossils are usually found in sedimentary, layered rocks.

Weathering and Erosion

1. Weathering is the breaking down of rocks.

2. Erosion is the taking or carrying away of sediments by water, ice, or wind.