Earth Structure Quiz: Test Your Knowledge of the Crust, Mantle & Core

1. The study of Earth’s internal structure matters because it helps explain:

2. Mountain building occurs mainly when:

3. Why do S-waves disappear in the outer core?

4. Geothermal energy is directly linked to:

5. Earthquakes help scientists map plate boundaries because they:

6. True or False: The outer core is solid.

7. The rigid, brittle shell broken into tectonic plates is called the:

8. Which of the following is NOT caused by tectonic plate movement?

9. Diamonds and other deep minerals form under:

10. The theory that explains how Earth’s surface is constantly reshaped is:

11. Seismology is mainly the study of:

12. Which wave type can travel through liquids?

13. The lithosphere includes:

14. The Earth’s mantle extends to a depth of about:

15. A CT-scan–like technique used to image the Earth’s interior is called:

16. Which layer of the Earth is made of solid iron despite extremely high temperatures?

17. True or False: S-waves can travel through both solids and liquids.

18. The Earth’s magnetic field is produced by movement in the:

19. A hotspot like Hawaii is created by:

20. Mantle convection occurs because:

21. Which layer of the Earth is described as the planet’s “outer skin”?

22. The Earth’s crust makes up approximately what percentage of the planet’s total mass?

23. What are the two main types of crust?

24. The layer responsible for driving plate tectonics through convection is the:

25. What is the asthenosphere?