
The largest Earth’s internal zones.

Answer to Problem 2FQ
Mantle is the thickest layer of the Earth while crust is the thinnest layer. The crust is very thin when compared to the mantle. The thickness of crust varies from 5 to 70 kilometers (3-43 mi.), while the thickness of mantle is 2,885 kilometers (1800 mi).
Explanation of Solution
The major zones of the Earth’s interior in order from the center to the surface are inner core, outer core, mantle, oceanic crust, and continental crust. These zones vary by the material composition, thickness and density, which are decreasing toward the surface from the center.
The deepest section of the Earth’s interior is the core. It encompasses one third of the Earth’s mass and having a radius of 3360 kilometers, the core is primarily composed of iron and nickel. The core has two sections, solid inner core and molten outer core.
Mantle is 2885 kilometers thick layer above the outer core and it consists of about two third of the Earth’s mass. Mantle is less dense than the outer core and it is composed of solid rock materials. Mantle has high silicate content and significant amount of iron and magnesium.
Crust is the solid outer layer of the Earth, which consists of vast variety of rock types. When compared to the core and mantle, the density of crust is considerably less. Crust is also thin when compared to the thickness of core and mantle. The thickness of crust ranges from 5 to 70 kilometers. Crust has two sections, oceanic crust and continental crust. In relation to the size of the Earth, the crust is comparable to the relative thickness of an eggshell to an egg.
Want to see more full solutions like this?
Chapter 10 Solutions
Fundamentals of Physical Geography
- 7. _ The climate-change scientist Mike Hulme has argued that people who tend to see nature as tolerant, and who believe that global climate properties would likely respond very favourably to certain planetary geo-engineering solutions, tend to be: a. egalitarians. b. hierarchists. c. individualists.arrow_forwardCronon’s Research on Wilderness – Consider Cronon’s study of wilderness, as discussed by Kanazawa (2023). In what ways, if any, would it have been appropriate for Cronon to have used quantitative methods in his study of the concept of wilderness, and to what end? Why were qualitative methods particularly appropriate for the study, given the nature of his research topic? 150-200 words response to the questionarrow_forwardConsider Cronon’s study of wilderness, as discussed by Kanazawa (2023). In what ways, if any, would it have been appropriate for Cronon to have used quantitative methods in his study of the concept of wilderness, and to what end? Why were qualitative methods particularly appropriate for the study, given the nature of his research topic?arrow_forward
- Why might drought actually cause fire risk to reduce in a desert area?arrow_forwardPart 1: A completely saturated sample of sandstone has a bulk density of 2.61 g/cm³, an effective porosity of 10 percent, and a total porosity of 12 percent. Determine the density of the solid phase (i.e., the density of the mineral). Part 2: One cubic meter of quartz sand has a dry mass of 2,320 kg. a) Calculate the porosity of the sand. b) Calculate the mass (in kg) of the sand for the following degrees of saturation: 25 percent, 75 percent, 100 percent. Part 3: A sample of quartz sand has a dry mass of 753.7 kg and a volume of 0.36 m³. a) Calculate the porosity of the sand. b) Calculate the mass (in kg) of the sand assuming a degree of saturation equal to 62 percent.arrow_forwardWhat is an oxbow lake and how is it formed?arrow_forward
- For the past 3 million years the earth has experienced glacial-interglacial cycles at regular intervals that coincide with the Milankovitch Cycles. Please briefly describe the three Milankovitch Cycles and their timescales. What is the leading theory for why the timing of glacial-interglacial cycles is connected to these Milankovitch Cycles?arrow_forwardWhy do waterfalls move backwards over time? In your explanation, please use the term “nickpoint”?arrow_forwardThe picture below is of the Kaskawulsh Glacier in Yukon, Canada. What is the name of the type of feature that the red arrows are pointing to in the middle of the glacier and how are these features formed? In your answer please also define the term lateral moraine and how lateral moraines relate to the feature with the red arrows?arrow_forward
- it was stated that one major effect of rivers is to flatten out the continents. How do rivers flatten continents?arrow_forwardThe figure below shows the average change in glacier mass per unit area for various mountainous regions around the world. Why are the globe’s mountain glaciers shrinking? Does glacial melt increase or decrease the amount of water stored on the continents? What are the factors in the continental water budget equation that must change in order to restore equilibrium when glaciers melt ? What is the effect on global sea level?arrow_forwardWhat is continental precipitation recycling ?Using the concept of precipitation, please explain why changes in landcover in one place can feed back to impact the climate not only in the area where the landcover change occurred but also in other regions?arrow_forward
- Applications and Investigations in Earth Science ...Earth ScienceISBN:9780134746241Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. TasaPublisher:PEARSONExercises for Weather & Climate (9th Edition)Earth ScienceISBN:9780134041360Author:Greg CarbonePublisher:PEARSONEnvironmental ScienceEarth ScienceISBN:9781260153125Author:William P Cunningham Prof., Mary Ann Cunningham ProfessorPublisher:McGraw-Hill Education
- Earth Science (15th Edition)Earth ScienceISBN:9780134543536Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. TasaPublisher:PEARSONEnvironmental Science (MindTap Course List)Earth ScienceISBN:9781337569613Author:G. Tyler Miller, Scott SpoolmanPublisher:Cengage LearningPhysical GeologyEarth ScienceISBN:9781259916823Author:Plummer, Charles C., CARLSON, Diane H., Hammersley, LisaPublisher:Mcgraw-hill Education,





