Name: ______

Date: ______

Period: ______

A PORTION OF CRUST

Mineral Information Institute with information for A Portion of Crust Activity

Periodic table of Elements:

http://www.mii.org/periodic/MIIperiodicChart.html

Element / Portion of Crust
Oxygen / 0.4660
Magnesium / 0.0209
Iron / 0.0500
Silicon / 0.2772
Aluminum / 0.0813
Potassium / 0.0259
Sodium / 0.0283
Calcium / 0.0363

The table above lists the most common elements that make up Earth’s crust. Choose an element from the above table to investigate. Complete the elemental box below and be ready to share what you have learned with others.

Atomic Number: ______Name: ______

Symbol: ______

q  Gas

q  Nonmetal solid

q  Metal

v  Description of element (characteristics such as color, hardness, etc.): ______

v  Abundance (how much of element is there on Earth?): ______

v  Uses of element: ______

v  Found where on Earth: ______

Journey to the Center of the Earth

Use the link provided to find the answers to the questions that follow.

http://www.cpalms.org/Public/PreviewResourceStudentTutorial/Preview/119030

1.  The planet Earth has how many layers? ______

a.  Write them in order from the outside of the planet inward to the center.

2.  Use the diagram to answer these questions:

a.  Name the thickest layer: ______

b.  Name the thinnest layer: ______

c.  Write as a fraction the relationship of the thinnest layer to the thickest layer or how many times thicker is the thickest layer than the thinnest layer?

d.  Imagine digging a tunnel through the Earth that comes out the other side…How many kilometers would you have to dig?

3.  Write 4 facts about the Earth’s crust:

a.  ______

b.  ______

c.  ______

d.  ______

4.  The crust and upper layer of the mantle together make up a zone of rigid, brittle rock called the ______.

5.  Write 3 facts about the mantle:

a.  ______

b.  ______

c.  ______

6.  What are convection currents?

7.  In which layer do convection currents happen that result in the movement of crustal (tectonic) plates? ______

8.  Draw and label a diagram of convection happening within the Earth.

9.  Describe the evidence scientists have that the Earth’s tectonic plates are moving:

  1. ______
  2. ______

10.  Name two metals found in the outer core.

  1. ______
  2. ______

11.  The border between the outer core and inner core is how many kilometers beneath the crust? ______

12.  The inner core is under so much pressure it does not move like a liquid. Instead, it ______

13.  Write the temperature of the center of the Earth: ______

14.  A scientist who studies rocks is called a ______.

Journey to the Center of the Earth Position Statement

Is a journey to the center of the Earth really humanly possible? Why or why not? Summarize your ideas about why you think travel to the center of the Earth would or would not be possible.

______

What you would encounter along the way if traveling through the real Earth? What does the Earth consist of in each layer?

______

Which layers are solid, liquid, or a mixture of both?

______

How many kilometers would you travel to get through each layer? How long do you think that might take?

______

What specialized equipment would you need and why?

______

______