Grade 7 Science

Cluster 4: Earths Crust

1. What layers make up the earths structure? There are four main layers that make up
the earths structure. They are the crust, the mantle, the outer core and the inner core.
2. What is the crust? The crust is a very thin layer that
covers the surface of the earth. It is the solid top layer
that makes up the land masses we live on and the ocean
floor. It makes up only one percent of the earths mass.
When compared to the whole earth the crust is thinner
than the skin on an apple. It is about 7 km to 70 km
thick. It is basically made up of rocks. The deeper the
rocks are located in the earths interior, the
they become. Just 13 km under the surface rocks reach
temperatures of a blazing 200C. The crust is thinner
under the oceans but considerably denser.
www.llnl.gov

3. What is the mantle? The mantle is the layer below the crust. It makes up about
seventy percent of the Earths mass and is about 2900 km thick. It is a rocky shell over
the earths core. It is mostly a solid layer but there is some melting that takes place
because of the extreme heat and pressure. Temperatures in the mantle range from 500C
to 4000C.
4. What is the earths outer core? The earths outer core is the next layer below the
mantle. It is a liquid layer, composed mostly of iron. It surrounds the inner core. It is
estimated that temperatures in this layer range from 4000C to 5000C

5. What is the inner core? The

inner core is the center of the earth.
It is a sphere that has a radius of
about 1220 km. It is a solid layer of
iron and nickel. Temperatures in the
inner core are estimated to be
5000C to 7000C.
en.wikipedia.org

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Grade 7 Science
Cluster 4: Earths Crust

6. What are minerals? Minerals are solids that occur naturally on the earth. A mineral is
usually made up of crystals, which can be identified by properties such as color, hardness,
and crystal form. A mineral can be an element which is a pure substance or it can be a
compound made of two or more substances. Minerals look the same inside and out.
Minerals are the building blocks of rocks.

7. What are rocks? Rocks are mixtures of minerals. They vary in the
number and amount of minerals present.

8. What different types of rocks exist? There are three types of rocks,
igneous rocks, sedimentary rocks and metamorphic rocks.
Rocks are classified based on how they are formed.

picasaweb.google.com

9. What are igneous rocks? Igneous rock is made from magma

or molten lava. Magma is melted rock beneath the earths
surface. Lava is liquefied rock on the Earths surface. The
igneous rock is formed when these liquids cool and harden.
Examples of igneous rock include pumice, basalt, and granite.
projectdisaster.com

10. What are sedimentary rocks? Sedimentary rock is made of sediment

such as sand, mud, pebbles, silt, or remains of plants and animals that
settles in layers on the ground and at the bottom of lakes and oceans. This
process is called sedimentation. The weight of the layers eventually
compresses them into rock by a process called compaction. Plant or
animal remains are often trapped in the layers and can result in fossil
formation. Examples of sedimentary rocks are sandstone, limestone and
shale.

www.pbs.org

11. What are metamorphic rocks? Metamorphic rock changes from its original form by
heat and pressure below the earths surface. Examples of metamorphic rocks are marble,
slate, and gneiss.

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Grade 7 Science
Cluster 4: Earths Crust

12. What is the rock cycle? Rocks do not stay the same. The rock cycle is the naturally
occurring process in which rocks continue to change form over long periods of time.

www.troy.k12.ny.us

13. What is weathering? Weathering is the process in which rocks are broken down and
sediment is formed by physical, chemical, or biological means.
stephendanko.com

14. What is physical weathering? Physical weathering involves

factors such as water, ice and wind to break down rocks. Waves
crashing against a shore or rocks knocking against each other in a
river cause the rocks to break down. Sometimes in early spring or
in warm spells in the winter, water seeps into the cracks in rocks
and then freezes. When the water freezes into ice it expands and
pushes the cracks farther apart, eventually causing the rock to
break apart. The wind often blows objects that strike against rocks
causing them to wear down or break apart.

This gravestone is badly

weathered.

15. What is chemical weathering? Chemical weathering is the break-up or

disintegration of rocks through the effects of chemical reactions upon them. An example
of a chemical reaction is acid rain, which contains dissolved chemicals from air pollution.
This reacts with some rocks and helps to break them down.

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Grade 7 Science
Cluster 4: Earths Crust
16. What is biological weathering? Some physical or chemical weathering is caused by
plants and animals. This is called biological weathering. Some examples are as follows:
Animals burrow and scrape against rocks or cause them to
move.
Plants roots grow in rock cracks and separate the rock as the
plant grows.
Plant roots secrete an acid that softens the rock and causes it
to wear down more quickly.
Lichens and mosses secrete acids and chemically weather the
rock beneath them.
farm4.static.flickr.com

17. What is erosion? Erosion is the process of moving soil and rock
from one place to another. Erosion is caused by wind or water. In
erosion, very small particles are carried by the wind or by water. When
these particles hit against other materials such as rocks, they act like
sand paper and eventually wear them down. A rock that has been
exposed to a lot of erosion will eventually become much
smoother.

farm3.static.flickr.com

18. What is soil? Soil is a mixture of weathered rock, organic

matter (such as leaves, twigs, dead worms and insects), mineral
fragments, water and air. Soil is a very valuable resource because of
all the plants that are grown in it. Because it is so valuable, efforts
are made to control soil erosion, and to conserve the soil.
i.ehow.com

19. What are fossils? Fossils are any trace or remains of once-living organisms.
Fossils are often found in sedimentary rocks because they settled there when the
rock was formed.
school.discoveryeducation.com

20. What are fossil fuels? Fossil fuels are fuels made of decomposed plants and other
organisms that have been hardened or fossilized. Fossil fuels take a very long time to
develop. Once they are gone they are gone. So, it's best to not waste fossil fuels. They are
not renewable; they can't really be made again. We can save fossil fuels by conserving
energy.

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Grade 7 Science
Cluster 4: Earths Crust
21. What is geothermal energy? Geothermal energy is energy
that is generated in the interior of the earth. Using
geothermal energy to heat homes is a good alternative to using
fossil fuels.

www.reuk.co.uk

22. What is the continental drift theory? The continental drift theory is a theory about
the earths structure. It was a theory proposed by a scientist, Alfred Wegener. It states that
all of the continents in the world were once joined to each other
in one supercontinent, called Pangaea, but that over time, they
drifted apart. Some people believe this because of the shapes of
the continents that look like they could join together like pieces
of a jigsaw puzzle. Although some people believe this theory,
most scientists today do not accept it, because there is no
satisfactory explanation as to what force would cause the
continents to move.
www.uwgb.edu

23. What is plate tectonics? Plate tectonics is another theory about the earths structure.
According to this theory, the Earths crust is made up of very large pieces called
plates that are always moving very slowly on Earths mantle. This theory, which is
generally accepted by scientists, offers an explanation for geological processes such as
the formation of mountains, earthquakes and volcanoes.

www.enchantedlearning.com

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Grade 7 Science
Cluster 4: Earths Crust

24. What causes earthquakes? An earthquake is the shaking of the

ground caused by an abrupt shift of rock along a fracture of the earth,
called a fault. The earths crust is under pressure all the time from
tremendous forces. The pressure keeps the rock in constant movement.
Earthquakes occur as a result of two enormous rock surfaces moving.
Some earthquakes are caused by these rock surfaces pushing together.
Other earthquakes are caused by these surfaces pulling apart or sliding
past each other.

www.geocities.com

25. What causes volcanoes? All volcanoes are formed by the accumulation of
magma or molten rock that forms below the earths surface. As the magma forms it rises
and gathers in underground storage regions called magma reservoirs. When the pressure
of this gets too great it erupts onto the surface. With each eruption, the erupted material
adds another layer to the growing volcano.

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kara.allthingsd.com

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