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CHAPTER 4
\, Syllabus
Core. mantle,
sonypasiien.
crust
Structure
rt dys
event and their ¢
ric}
- knowledge about the interior of = ae
: from excavations and explora a
of the i of the earth but from :
study af seismic Waves, materials thrown ae
‘canoes and the evidence from the theories
t of seismic
earth, In respec
comes n0T
nienor parts
Poy
of the origin of the
or the earthquake waves, only primary WAVES
(P-waves) teach the surface of the earth. The
secondary waves (S-waves) do not pass through
iguids. The scientific instruments which record
hese waves have enabled scientists to know
about the density, pressure and temperature af
the interior of the earth.
The molten material] thrown up by volcanoes
mses to the surface of the earth from the magma
chamber deep inside the earth. From the study
f this materia], scientists have come ta know
about the materials that constitute the interior
of the earth. Keeping in mind the theories
of the origin of the earth, scientists study
meteorites which fall on the surface of the earth.
The earth is said to be constituted of the same
materials as the meteorites. The heat given out
by the earth comes from radioactive elements
ep inside the earth. The etady ofthis het
temperature pore helps us to estimate the
of (he interior of the earth.
EARTH’S STRUCTURE
oe €arth is made Up of several] concentric
ayers. The outer layer is the earth's crust
TOTAL GEOGRAPHY 5
the fifths here, Pape, nf the earth's ¢
are linmersed under the aecans and seas fer
the hydrosphere Extending upwards, the eage
is enveloped by 2 Wanket af gases which mag
up the atmosphere (Figure 4.1)
Chemical Composition
e The Lithosphere or the outer most crust
the earth is the thinnest layer.
It is made up of rocks with large contents
silicates, feldspar, mica etc.
e The Lithosphere can be divided inty ty
broad divisions: the SIAL and SIMA.
e Sial appears te float above Sima becg
has less density.
® The name Sial is taken from Silica (Sp F
Aluminium (Al). Sima is named after Sil
(Si) and Magnesium (Mg).
- =
ey a
Fo
4
Discontinully \
———— =
Fig. 4.1. Layers of the Earth
Based on +h
Carth's inte
Care, Mant!,
Core
* It is the
Centre a;
® The core
Iz is alsa
® The en:
diameter
© The tem:
to abour
® It is ze:
i$ comp
Ls FesDec
The main
and Sou;
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e The solid state of the inner core ig ave
to high density and pressure which have
compressed the melten rick material. The
S- waves disappear in the outer core which
aiippesis iis ina molten state,
Mantle
e® This layer lies below the crust
BINA ® (ts average thickness is 2900 km and makes ran 3
up &4 per cent of the earth's total volume
Fig. 4.2 Chemical composition of crust e The mantle is divided into two partsa—the
in apis upper mantle and the lower mantle. The =
® Sial layer forms the continents, while Sim upper mantle extends from the Moho ,
makes up the Ocean floor. Discontinuity to a depth of 700 km. It is vr .
e The core of the earth is called NIFE, It 18 cooler and made of solid rocks. The
lower
made up of Nickle (Ni) and Iron (Fe]. Since mantle extends fram 700 km to 2900 kry
xt
these are heavy metals, having high density, @ [Lower mantle is hotter and denser
than the
they are found deep inside the ea rth. upper mantle. <<
= _ — ® At the depth of around 100-410 km, the _
——7~e _ mantle is partially molten and is known as ax
Based on the above chemical composition, the asthenosphere, Lower mantle is solid
due to “
earth’s interior is divided into three layers— high pressure.
Core, Mantle and Crust. ® As the pressure increases towards the interior
of the earth, the density also increases.
a ® The temperature varies between abdout a
@ itis the most inaccessible part lying at the 1000°C to around 3,700°C.
centre of the earth.
The core is the densest part of the earth.
It is also divided into outer and inner core.
The entire core is about 7000 km in
diameter.
The temperature ranges from about 4400°C -
to about 6000°C.
Tt is generally believed, that the core
is composed of iron and nickel which
is responsible for earth's magnetism.
The magnetic field is oriented towards North
and South Poles, t
EARTH
Fig. 4.4. Structure of the Earth
Gutenberg Discontinuity: The boundary
between the mantle and the core or the mantle.
core interface is known as the Gutenberg
Discontinuity.
@ It begins at the depth of 2800 km.
Here there is an abrupt change in the
seismic waves (generated by earthquakes
or explosions) that travel thre
—_—,,,
MANTLE ®
Fig. 4.3, Asthenosphere
EARTH'S STRUCTURE
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le
elma
continuity” It wag disc,
. rp
cat cheer wohe
4 ee nin. wae yuensiavian acientist Andrraja Moher 4 y
st wanrye * - Pigg! mh
i var hale Sf rete! Cort? A
“a nine oe awnar eninine nw wena! eh ferns the boundary betwee, the. \
Se ae a -_ rhe tantte -
a fe it “ ce al ie a [alee the crust it does not exist at ’
pene iepth. Ht is found at about @ k
Lither pers . Peat ise ies the of enns and about 32 kr ete, :
coat Lath epic yetones ents “ath, 5
e Thecus Linhes mea ie cant ,
anwks ! ? er SS aes
ephere of seine! a ently pm of earth's na e it has the characteristics of both gy
ap reeks) 1 igi saan hfe in the unive FE laver (the crust) and its bottorn laa
yi romans a latively thin layer of Mantle) Tt iy ?
sai rast 1 4 relativel i * below Ee
e The er neeg of 60 km wae of the continuous chan ‘
rh a thickness o ; ause OF Tre BES in}
ocks with 2 vist 5-10 km below Bee fi s of nature, the + tne amy,
oh mountains and just crust due to torce esis thicknes,
71 ¥ Lj * = +
ee ocealts t the lithosphere 1s WEty fragile Compared te ;
» Considering the size of the earth, the crus nature and composition of the earth.
The Th.
L bs * :
1s a relatively thin layer. of Continental Drift put forward by w
the early 20th century and the Thenry of Bs
2 12
T ure of the upper part of the
r ae cin bee been estimated at ore but Tectonics put forth in 1960s eile =
it gradually starts msing towards theinterior. a rh’s crust undergoes structural ‘
The weight and pressure of rocks also starts Besides, the lateral] movements give
the
a new shape though very slowly ove; milling
increasing with depth.
of years.
Mohorovicic Discontinuity: This discorifinuiti
I. Choose the correct option:
i. The molten material thrown up by volcanoes rises to the surface of the earth
from the
[a) Magnum chamber (b) Magma chamber ag
(d) Magma
(c) Magnum
2. Meteors are rocks from outer space. They hold special significance for niches te
Cause
(a) they contain radioactive materials (b) th i al
‘ € earth is made of same ma Ti
(c) they give an idea of other planets. {d) they pass through the ccmneshere of
arth
of earth.
3. The earth is made u
of sever. :
eatitre to tive mee eral concentric layers. The correct order of the layers from th
(a) Crust — Mantle —
(¢) Mantle — caat ~ Core (b) Core ~ Mantle - Crust
$. Name the two broad div (d) Mantle — Core — Crust
V1Si , ,
(a) Lithosphere, hy diteche the earth’s crust is divided, depen dling —s
(b) SIAL SIMA . on chemical composition
(c] Core, Mantle
8. Study the §
Bure ;
Continents - SIAL .. the right and comp!
ee. MA
ih a tops
(b) ©,
= Céan floor
the : |
denses; Part of the farth , nti “S
i léve sins
"Sponsible §
la) Mantle OF earth's Magnet; dt m
ism, ob
€ Identify it, © Composed of iron and nickel which #
b) Cor
(qd) Crust, Asthenosphere
€te the analogy:
[c) Crust
(d) None of the above
TOTAL ano, a
EO ee
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7. Assertion (A): Saal Appears bey font abwewe Sine
Reason (R): Sial lias jower density tyre Sorte
ja) Both A and 8 are trae and Kis the enere topsyplonion ab A
(b) Both A and Rare trie buat fe cferes vol explain A
fe) Ais true fut f is fafse
(dl Ads faise fut ft is tee
8. Which of the following 1s the correct aude near qiove towards the intertar af
the earth
v ° 1 . sy ;
ja) SIAL - SIMA. NIFP fs i e ca faa sa net
(ce) NIFE SIAL SIMA Phra eee vee, nN ‘
8. Which of the following is imeorreet atetit the wane core? ‘
(a) It ts in a molten state fb) Wisse region of high density re
je) Wt is a region of high pressure {dj is composed of iron and nickel, i
O. Atthe depth of around 1O0-4 lOden, mantle is perdiablly molten and is known as;
~\e
ial Asthenosphere (hb) Mantlenaspfiere fc) Moltenosphere (d) None of the above
: _ ee
fi. What ts the femperature variation in the mantle in “Ce =
iat 2500 to 3700 (b) 1500 to 2500 (c) 1000 to 37600 id} 1000 ta 4006 a
>. Name the mantle-core interface where ptimary seismic waves slow down and
secondary seismic
waves disappear completely. a
ja) Gutenberg Discentinuiy (b) Mantlic Discontinuity
jc) Core Discontinuity {d) Mohorovicic Discontinuity a 9
1a. Name the boundary between the crust and the mantle which has characteristics of
both layers.
: v a
ja} Gutenberg Discontinuity (o} Crust Discontinuity
(c) Mantlic Discontinuity (dj Mohorovicie Discontinuity ai
14. Assertion {A): The thickness of the lithosphere is very fragile compared to the
nature and -
composition of the earth.
Reason {R): There are continuous changes in the earth’s crust due to forces of
nature
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
lc) Ais true but R is false.
(d) Ais false but R is true.
15. Whar life sustaining unit contains only one per cent of the earth’s mass?
{b) lithosphere (c) crust (dq) mantle
{aj biosphere
16. Mohorovicic discontinuity is found at about
beneath the continents.
(b) 36 km, 10 km (c} 60 km, 6 km
beneath the oceans and
{d} 40 km, 4 km
fa) 8 kn, 32 km
i7. Extending upwards, the earth is enveloped by a blanket of gases, Name it.
(a) Lithosphere (b) Hydrosphere {c) Atmosphere {da} Chamber
18. The diameter of the core is about km.
{aj SGOG (bp) GOOO {c) 7000 (ad) 8000
Name the layer of the earth that is fragile as compared fo the rest af the layers
of the earth,
Different theories suggest that this layer undergoes changes to give earth a new
shape.
{a} Mantle {b} Core {c) Crust (d) Asthenosphere
l. Short Answer Questions
{. In which part of the earth is NIFE found? What is it composed of?
2. What are the consequences of the pressure and temperature in the interior of the
earth?
SSS a
EARTH’S STRUCTURE
19,
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_ Distingt
neientiahy 0 ferpensy eNTaca Lt thie latertor af the earthy)
if
aorles help
ple earths ere
a. How do ihe fret at?
4. What isthe compas tient vl
4 ath
& What is the Lithosphere:
4 4 ; (hielr leirielaries
a yi thes jeter ie Neva f Mh,
ae jay ers at tite i
6. Names wi Iylel cheracteristles.
‘4 a it woe
ibe thie yenithe State ils Pw
Mia awhich form tlacs exist?
g atthe Galeakert Diseontinuity? CHAPT
Desel :
Where ts asthenospher’ foie
What happens | the Pand S wave : juntas
ace eaveriar a mest part found in a Sauer s ate despite preg ;
Why is the earth's interior | | — =
j
1ish between the following:
(ii) Sial and Sima,
ji) Crust and Core, vet
ty and Mohorovicic Discontinuity.
(ini Gutenberg Discontinui
+ Structured Questions
VI. Project/Practical Activist
Suppose yOu Were y
report describing th
Project, etc.
ja) Describe the layers of the interior of the earth and their chemical COMPOSition
(b) There are two transitional zones between the two consecutive layers of the in;
earth, Name them and state their chief characteristics.
ic} Give a geographical reason for each of the following:
Landforn
(i) Temperature starts rising gradually towards the interior of the earth.
plateaus,
(ii) The asthenosphere is in a semi-molten state. their farm
(iii} The inner core of the earth is in a solid state. Mount
Platea'
(dq) Look at the figure on the side and answer the questions:
(i) Label the parts: (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5).
(ti) Name the state (solid, liquid or gas) in which each part
Plains
Example:
exists.
(iii) Which part of the earth is suitable for human The enetn is
habitation? Why? rock layers
The intense
_ ; i s not travel tc
Slayer ie responsible for artis magnetic field? Why? conductors
Give a geographical reason for emcee
: each of the fi oe earth there
i} NIFE is so called, ee & Fig. for Q. 1 (dj asthenosoh
(ii) The core of the earth i in a semi-
ue is the most inaccessi :
(ili) The earth’ essible part of the earth conditions
€ § crust undergoes many changes. : $
art
(a) State two chief characteristics of the earth’s crust
(b)
