Sophia was studying with Maalik about the layers of the Earth. They were given several different statements about the layers.
Which statement about the layers would they identify as correct?
The outer core is less than 70 km in thickness.
The crust assists in forming Earth's magnetic field.
The mantle is denser than the crust.
Pressure increases when moving from the core to the crust.
Sophia and Maalik would identify the statement "The mantle is denser than the crust" as correct.
Sophia and Maalik would identify the statement "The mantle is denser than the crust" as correct.
To identify the correct statement about the layers of the Earth, let's analyze each option.
1. "The outer core is less than 70 km in thickness."
The outer core is actually located below the mantle and is estimated to be about 2,300 km thick. This statement is incorrect.
2. "The crust assists in forming Earth's magnetic field."
The Earth's magnetic field is mainly influenced by the core, which is made up of the outer and inner core. The crust plays no direct role in forming the magnetic field. This statement is incorrect.
3. "The mantle is denser than the crust."
This statement is correct. The mantle, which lies between the crust and the core, is composed of denser rocks, including silicates and oxides. The crust, on the other hand, is made up of lighter materials such as granite and basalt.
4. "Pressure increases when moving from the core to the crust."
This statement is incorrect. The pressure actually increases as you move deeper into the Earth, from the crust to the mantle and then to the core. The core of the Earth experiences the highest pressure due to the weight of the overlying rocks.
Therefore, both Sophia and Maalik would identify statement number 3, "The mantle is denser than the crust," as the correct statement about the layers of the Earth.