ASS

Republic of the Philippines

Department of Education
REGION III – CENTRAL LUZON
SCHOOLS DIVISION OFFICE OF NUEVA ECIJA
MACATCATUIT HIGH SCHOOL
MACATCATUIT, GUIMBA, NUEVA ECIJA 3115

Name: ____________________________ Grade Level: _________

Date: _____________________________ Score: ______________
LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET
The Earth’s internal heat
Background Information for the Learners (BIL)
Earth's interior is the site of great amounts of heat. Most of this heat is produced by the decay of radioactive
elements. Overall, the flow of Earth's internal heat is outward toward Earth's surface.
Many geologic processes and features, such as tectonic plate motion, volcanic activity, and geysers, are
related to the Earth's internal heat. Large convection currents in the Earth's mantle cause heat to circulate
within the Earth's interior. These convection currents are linked to tectonic plate motion and geologic
activity at plate boundaries.
TWO CATEGORIES OF THE INTERNAL HEAT SOURCES OF THE EARTH
a. Primordial heat: heat from accretion and bombardment of the Earth during the early stages of
formation. If you hit a hammer on hard surface several times, the metal in the hammer will heat up (kinetic
energy is transformed into heat energy).
Primordial heat is the heat lost by the Earth as it continues to cool from its original formation, and this is in
contrast to its still actively-produced radiogenic heat. The Earth core's heat flow—heat leaving the core and
flowing into the overlying mantle—is thought to be due to primordial heat.
The early formation of the Earth's dense core could have caused superheating and rapid heat loss, and the
heat loss rate would slow once the mantle solidified. Heat flow from the core is necessary for maintaining
the convecting outer core and the geodynamo and Earth's magnetic field; therefore primordial heatfrom the
core enabled Earth's atmosphere and thus helped retain Earth's liquid water.
b. Radioactive heat (the heat generated by long-term radioactive decay): its main sources are the four
long-lived isotopes (large half-life), namely K40, Th232, U235 and U238 that made a continuing heat
source over geologic time.
The radioactive decay of elements in the Earth's mantle and crust results in production of daughter isotopes
and release of geoneutrinos and heat energy, or radiogenic heat.
THE ESTIMATED INTERNAL TEMPERATURE OF THE EARTH
a. The mantle and asthenosphere are considerably hotter than the lithosphere, and the core is much hotter
than the mantle.
b. Core-mantle boundary: 3,700°C
c. Inner-core – outer-core boundary: 6,300°C±800°C

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d. Earth’s center: 6,400°C±600°C
REDISTRIBUTION OF THE EARTH’S HEAT:
a. Simultaneous conduction, convection and radiation
b. Convection occurs at the mantle, but not between the core and mantle, or even between the
asthenosphere and lithosphere (except at sea-floor spreading zones).The only heat transfer mechanism in
these transition zones is through conduction.
Diagram

Diagram illustrating how heat is transferred in the Earth’s interior. (source:

http://www.ucl.ac.uk/EarthSci/people/lidunka/GEOL2014/Geophysics8%20-%20Thermal%20evolution/Heat.htm).

MANTLE CONVECTION
The movement of Earth's tectonic plates relates to many factors, including mantle convection and density
differences in the plates. More recent studies suggest that although mantle convection was likely a key
factor in beginning plate motion long ago, plate motion may actually be the main driving force behind
present mantle convection.
The concept of convection can be explained by comparing it to coffee preparation
A. Mechanisms that occur when boiling water:
I. There is a heat source at the bottom of the water.
II. The heat rises to the top from the bottom, causing the surface water to become hot. It radiates its heat
into the air and then cools.
III. The cooler water sinks into the space vacated by the ascending warmer water. This cooler water starts
to warm up, while the water that rises starts to cool.
IV. The process continues, forming a top-to-bottom circulation of water.
B. Observations after pouring in the coffee (while the water is still hot):
I. The top portion has a relatively lighter color, compared to the lower zone. This represents the top of a
convection cell.
II. Condensing water vapor marks the top of rising columns of warm water. The dark line separating them
marks the location of sinking cooler water.

MAGMA FORMATION AS A RESULT OF INTERNAL HEAT

1. The special conditions required for the formation of magma (Marshak, et al, Essentials of Geology, 2013,
pp 99-100):
a. Crust and mantle are almost entirely solid, indicating that magma only forms in special places where pre-
existing solid rocks undergo melting.
b. Melting due to decrease in pressure (decompression melting): The decrease in pressure affecting a hot
mantle rock at a constant temperature permits melting forming magma. This process of hot mantle rock
rising to shallowerdepths in the Earth occurs in mantle plumes, beneath rifts and beneath mid-ocean
ridges.
c. Melting as a result of the addition of volatiles (flux melting): When volatiles mix with hot, dry rock, the
volatile decreases the rock’s melting point and they help break the chemical bonds in the rock to allow
melting.
d. Melting resulting from heat transfer from rising magma (heat transfer melting): A rising magma from the
mantle brings heat with it that can melt the surrounding rocks at the shallower depths.
Learning Competency:
Describe where the earth’s internal heat comes from (S11/12ES-IB-14)
Activity 1: Self-Test
Directions: Choose the letter of the correct answer. Write the letter of your choice before each item /
encircle the letter of your choice.
____1. Which of the following is a necessary requirement in maintaining the convecting outer core and
earth’s magnetic field?
a. Heat flow from the core of the earth.
b. Heat accretion of the early element on earth.
c. Heat generated by long term radioactive decay.
d. Heat lost by the earth during the formation of primordial heat.
____2. What may be possibly formed if there is a radioactive decay of elements in the earth’s mantle?
a. There may be production of radiogenic heat.
b. Convection current may occur thus producing elements.
c. Convection current will produce daughter cells and heat loss.
d. There may be production of accretion and bombarded heat.
____3. Which of the following are the sources of earth’s internal heat?
a. Heat from the accretion and bombardment of the earth during its early stage.
b. Heat generated from the radioactive decay.
c. Both a and b are the correct answer.
d. Only b is the correct answer.
____4. In which particular layer of the earth does the convection current occurs?
a. Mantle b. Crust c. Inner core d. outer core
____5. What are the elements that participate in the production of radioactive heat on earth?
a. K40, Th232, U235 and U237
b. K40, Th231, U235 and U238
c. K40, Th222, U235 and U238
d. K40, Th232, U235 and U238
____6. What may likely to happen if there is no production of daughter isotopes of the elements that
produce radioactive heat?
a. The earth would not be able to exist.
b. The earth may not generate enough heat for living things existence.
c. The earth would loss all its energy until it becomes a flatten sheet crust.
d. All of the above.
____7. Which of the following statements is NOT TRUE about the internal heat of the earth?
a. Earth’s center is about 6,400°C±600°C which means it is where most heat comes from.
b. The isotopes of potassium can generate heat on for the earth.
c. Heat loss rate would slow down once the mantle solidified on earth.
d. Primordial heat and radioactive heat are enough to cool the earth.
____8. Which of the following statements is TRUE about the mantle convection in earth?
a. Convection occurs at the mantle, but not between the core and mantle.
b. Convection occurs at the mantle, but not between the crust and mantle.
c. Convection occurs at the mantle and it distributes the heat for lava formation inside the earth.
d. Convection occurs at the crust and it distributes the heat for lava formation inside the earth.
____9. It is a type of heat formed in the early stage of the formation of the earth?
a. Radiogenic heat b. Accretion heat c. convection heat d. primordial heat
____10. Why is convection current important on earth?
a. It distributes the heat of the earth evenly in all its layers.
b. It enhances the production of heat loss.
c. It creates the magma needed for heat transfer from core to core.
d. It enables the heat to escape through the atmosphere.
Activity 2: Chocolate Mantle Convection
 Objective: To illustrate how heat works in the mantle.
Materials :1 flat pan or any can, 1 small candle, pan holder (higher than the candle), clean water, 1
cup chocolate/cocoa powder/ Coffee powder(to represent the lithosphere)
Instructions:
i. Put water in the pan. Sprinkle it with chocolate powder until the top is thickly covered with dry powder.
ii. Slowly put it on the pan holder. Light the candle and place it under the center of the pan.
iii. Let it boil for few minutes. Observe what happens.
QUESTIONS
1. How is heat transferred in the activity? Give evidence for your answer.

2. Describe what happens to the powder when the water starts to boil. Explain why this occurs.

3. How does this activity relate to the formation of magma?

Activity 3: Identifying Errors

Directions: underline the word/words that make the statement incorrect and write the correct answer.
1. Decompression melting occurs by reducing the temperature at a constant pressure.
2. Lava transfers the heat from the Earth’s interior to the surface when it rises.
3. Rising magma from the crust brings heat with it which can melt the surrounding rocks at the shallower
depths.
4. Primordial heat is the heat lost by the Earth as it continues to warm from its original formation.
5. The radioactive decay of elements in the Earth's mantle and crust results in production of single
isotopes.
Activity 4: True or False
Directions: Write T if the statement is True and F if it is False.
____1. Temperature increases with depth.
____2. The mantle and asthenosphere are considerably cooler than the lithosphere, and the core is much
hotter than the mantle.
____3. Convection occurs at the mantle, but not between the core and mantle.
____4. Radioactive decay is caused by the disintegration of natural radioactive elements.
____5. In the Earth's crust, about 92% of the elements undergo radioactive decay.