Geology 1301

Why do geologists believe the inner core is solid?

P waves refract at the boundary between the outer core and inner core

What data provided information about the existence of different zones within Earth?

P-wave and S-wave arrival times

Why do we believe Earth's outer core is a liquid?

-S waves do not travel through the outer core -P waves slow down and refract at the boundary between the mantle and the outer core

According to the animation, what are the four primary zones in Earth's interior?

crust, mantle, outer core, inner core

Look at the figure below showing a slice through Earth's interior again. There is one layer in Earth that will transmit only one type of wave based on its composition. Select the layer from A, B, and C that doesn't transmit all waves.

B

Which of the following statements about seismic wave ray paths is most accurate?

Seismic waves move along curved ray paths because the properties of materials in the Earth change

How could you test whether the core of another planet were completely solid?

Set off a bomb to create seismic waves. If S waves arrive on the opposite side of the planet, then the core is solid