Earth's structure and the rock cycle
By the end of this chapter you will be able to
- Name the layers of the Earth and say what each is made of
- Give the evidence for continental drift and the idea of tectonic plates
- Link earthquakes and volcanoes to the three types of plate boundary
- Describe how igneous and sedimentary rocks form, and identify them by their texture
- Describe the rock cycle, including metamorphic rock, over very long timescales
You should already know
- Rocks and soils (Year 3 Science, Chapter 7)
- Sedimentary layers and fossils, from earlier school science
Where this leads
- The solar system and the Earth in space (Chapter 5)
National Curriculum for England, Key Stage 3 science, Year 9. Content: 9E1 the structure of the Earth: crust, mantle, outer and inner core; tectonic plates and continental drift (basic evidence), 9E1 earthquakes and volcanoes at plate boundaries, 9E2 the rock cycle: igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic rocks and how they form (basic), 9E2 recycling of rock material over long timescales (deepens Year 3, rocks and soils).
Exercise P Do you remember?
Method. Recall the rock type.
- Recall. Rocks formed from layers of sediment are sedimentary.layers of sediment
- Write the answer. sedimentary
Check. Fossils are often found in sedimentary rock. ✓
Method. Recall the outer layer.
- Recall. The outer layer of the Earth is the crust.outer layer
- Write the answer. crust
Check. The crust is the thin outer layer. ✓
Method. Recall the word.
- Recall. Small pieces of rock carried and dropped by water or wind are sediment.small pieces
- Write the answer. sediment
Check. Sediment builds up in layers. ✓
Method. Multiply 3 by 40.
- Multiply. Three lots of 40 is 40 + 40 + 40.40 + 40 + 40
- Calculate. The total is 120.3 x 40 = 120
- Write the answer. 120
Check. 120 divided by 3 is 40. ✓
Method. Recall the star.
- Recall. The Earth goes round the Sun, which is a star.the Sun
- Write the answer. Sun
Check. The Sun is a star. ✓
The structure of the Earth
The Earth has four layers. The crust is the thin, solid outer layer that we live on. Below it is the mantle, a thick layer of hot solid rock that flows very slowly over long times. The centre is the core. The outer core is liquid iron and nickel. The inner core is solid iron and nickel, because the pressure there is very high.
Key ideas
- Crust: thin, solid, outermost layer.
- Mantle: thick, hot, solid rock that flows very slowly.
- Outer core: liquid iron and nickel.
- Inner core: solid iron and nickel, under very high pressure.
Method. Compare the layers in the cross-section.
- Look. The crust is a thin band around the outside of the Earth.thin band
- Name it. So the crust is the thinnest layer.crust
- Write the answer. crust
Check. The mantle and core are much thicker. ✓
Method. Find the liquid layer in the table.
- Look. The table lists the outer core as liquid.liquid
- Name it. The outer core is the liquid layer of iron and nickel.outer core
- Write the answer. outer core
Check. The inner core is solid. ✓
Method. Think about what keeps the iron solid.
- Think. The inner core is under very high pressure.very high pressure
- Name it. High pressure keeps the iron and nickel solid, so the reason is pressure.pressure
- Write the answer. pressure
Check. Pressure can keep a hot material solid. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: the mantle is solid, but it flows very slowly over millions of years. Do not call it liquid.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Name the layers from the outside in: crust, mantle, outer core, inner core.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, cut a peach or an orange in half. Draw and label four layers: skin, flesh, a hard stone, and a seed. Say which layer is most like the crust and which is most like the core in the real Earth. This is a model only.
Exercise 4A The structure of the Earth
Method. Recall the outer layer.
- Recall. The crust is the outer layer.outer layer
- Write the answer. crust
Check. We live on the crust. ✓
Method. Look at the order of the layers.
- Look. The order from the outside in is crust, mantle, outer core, inner core.crust, mantle, outer core
- Write the answer. mantle
Check. The mantle is the layer below the crust. ✓
Method. Find the liquid layer.
- Find it. The outer core is the liquid iron and nickel layer.liquid iron and nickel
- Write the answer. outer core
Check. The inner core is solid. ✓
Method. Recall the state.
- Recall. The inner core is solid iron and nickel.solid iron and nickel
- Write the answer. solid
Check. It is solid because of very high pressure. ✓
Method. Recall the state of the mantle.
- Recall. The mantle is hot, solid rock that flows very slowly.solid rock
- Write the answer. solid
Check. Solid rock can still flow over long times. ✓
Method. Recall the state of the outer core.
- Recall. The outer core is liquid iron and nickel.liquid iron and nickel
- Write the answer. liquid
Check. The liquid core creates the magnetic field. ✓
Method. Count the layers marked solid.
- Count. The crust, the mantle and the inner core are solid.crust, mantle, inner core
- Total. So 3 layers are solid.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Only the outer core is liquid. ✓
Method. Look for the liquid layer.
- Look. Only the outer core is liquid.only the outer core
- Count. So 1 layer is liquid.1
- Write the answer. 1
Check. Four minus three solid is one. ✓
Method. Think about the layer below the crust.
- Think. The mantle is the thick layer below the crust.thick layer
- Name it. So the mantle is the layer between the crust and the core.mantle
- Write the answer. mantle
Check. Magma comes from the mantle and the crust. ✓
Method. Count the labels.
- Count. The labels are crust, mantle, outer core and inner core.four labels
- Total. So the Earth has 4 main layers.4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Four labels in the picture. ✓
Method. Think about pressure and state.
- Think. Very high pressure keeps the iron and nickel solid.very high pressure
- Conclude. So the inner core stays solid, even when very hot.stays solid
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the inner core is under very high pressure, which keeps the iron and nickel solid.
Check. Pressure can keep a material solid. ✓
Method. Think about depth and heat.
- Think. The centre of the Earth is thousands of kilometres deep.thousands of kilometres
- Conclude. The depth and heat are far beyond what drilling can reach.far beyond
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying that the depth and temperature are far beyond what drilling can reach.
Check. Scientists learn about the core from earthquake waves. ✓
Tectonic plates and continental drift
The crust is broken into large slabs called tectonic plates. They float on the mantle and move slowly, a few centimetres each year. The idea that the continents have moved over time is called continental drift. It was first proposed by Alfred Wegener in 1912.
Evidence for continental drift includes matching coastlines, matching fossils on continents now far apart, and matching rock types across oceans.
| Evidence | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Matching coastlines | the continents may have fitted together |
| Matching fossils on two continents | the same animals lived on both, when they were joined |
| Matching rock types | the same rocks formed on both sides of an ocean |
Key ideas
- Tectonic plates are large slabs of the crust that move slowly.
- Continental drift is the idea that the continents have moved over time.
- Fossils on continents now far apart are evidence for drift.
- Plates move a few centimetres each year.
Method. Multiply the speed by the time, then convert cm to km.
- Multiply. 3 cm x 1 000 000 = 3 000 000 cm.3 000 000 cm
- Convert. 1 km is 100 000 cm, so divide by 100 000.3 000 000 / 100 000 = 30
- Write the answer. 30
Check. Check: 30 x 100 000 = 3 000 000 cm, the same distance. ✓
Method. Recall the scientist.
- Recall. The idea was first proposed in 1912.1912
- Name him. The scientist who proposed it was Alfred Wegener.Wegener
- Write the answer. Wegener
Check. Wegener proposed the idea before plate tectonics. ✓
Method. Think about what matches across an ocean.
- Think. Matching fossils or coastlines on two continents suggest they were joined.suggest they were joined
- Name one. So matching fossils is evidence for continental drift.matching fossils
- Write the answer. Accept any one: matching fossils, matching coastlines, or matching rock types.
Check. Any one matching feature is enough. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: plates move a few centimetres a year, not a few metres. The movement is slow but adds up over millions of years.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Use the word plate for the large slabs of crust, and mantle for the layer they float on.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, cut two pieces of paper in the shape of South America and Africa, and fit them together. Then say what other evidence you would need to be sure the continents were once joined.
Exercise 4B Tectonic plates and continental drift
Method. Recall the name.
- Recall. The large moving slabs of crust are tectonic plates.tectonic plates
- Write the answer. tectonic plates
Check. Plates float on the mantle. ✓
Method. Recall the idea.
- Recall. The idea that continents move is continental drift.continental drift
- Write the answer. continental drift
Check. Continental drift was proposed by Wegener. ✓
Method. Recall a piece of evidence.
- Recall. Matching coastlines and matching fossils support drift.matching coastlines
- Write the answer. Accept any one: matching coastlines, matching fossils, or matching rock types.
Check. Any one is correct. ✓
Method. Recall the layer under the crust.
- Recall. The plates float on the mantle below the crust.float on the mantle
- Write the answer. mantle
Check. The mantle flows very slowly. ✓
Method. Recall whether plates are still moving.
- Recall. Plates move a few centimetres each year, all the time.a few centimetres
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The movement is slow but continuous. ✓
Method. Look at the map.
- Look. South America is on the western side of the Atlantic Ocean.western side
- Name it. Africa is on the eastern side, so the ocean is the Atlantic.Atlantic
- Write the answer. Atlantic
Check. The two coastlines face each other across the Atlantic. ✓
Method. Multiply the speed by the years.
- Multiply. 3 cm x 10 years.3 x 10
- Calculate. So the plate moves 30 cm.3 x 10 = 30
- Write the answer. 30
Check. 30 / 10 = 3 cm each year. ✓
Method. Multiply, then convert cm to km.
- Multiply. 2 cm x 5 000 000 = 10 000 000 cm.10 000 000 cm
- Convert. 10 000 000 / 100 000 = 100 km.100 km
- Write the answer. 100
Check. 100 km x 100 000 = 10 000 000 cm. ✓
Method. Think about where the animal lived.
- Think. The same animal could only live on both if they were close together.close together
- Decide. So the answer is yes.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. Matching fossils are a key piece of evidence. ✓
Method. Recall the year.
- Recall. Wegener first proposed continental drift in 1912.1912
- Write the answer. 1912
Check. It was proposed before plate tectonics was understood. ✓
Method. Think about the missing part of the idea.
- Think. Wegener could not explain what made the continents move.could not explain
- Conclude. So the idea was not accepted until the mechanism was known.until the mechanism
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying no mechanism was known to move the continents.
Check. Evidence alone did not convince everyone. ✓
Method. Compare the two ideas.
- Compare. Continental drift described the movement of the continents.described the movement
- Conclude. Plate tectonics adds the plates moving on the mantle, which explains how.explains how
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying the plates move on the mantle, which gives a mechanism for the movement.
Check. Plate tectonics gives a mechanism. ✓
Earthquakes and volcanoes at plate boundaries
Most earthquakes and volcanoes happen at the edges of tectonic plates, called plate boundaries. There are three types of boundary. At a divergent boundary, plates move apart and new crust forms. At a convergent boundary, plates move towards each other, and one plate can sink under the other. At a transform boundary, plates slide past each other, causing earthquakes.
| Boundary | Plate movement | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| constructive (divergent) | plates move apart | new crust forms; volcanoes and some earthquakes |
| destructive (convergent) | plates move towards each other | earthquakes; volcanoes where one plate sinks |
| conservative (transform) | plates slide past each other | earthquakes |
Key ideas
- Earthquakes and volcanoes happen mainly at plate boundaries.
- Divergent: plates move apart. Convergent: plates move together. Transform: plates slide past.
- Magma rises through cracks; when it reaches the surface it is called lava.
- An earthquake is a sudden release of energy as plates move.
Method. Recall the boundary types.
- Recall. At a divergent boundary, plates move apart.move apart
- Name it. So the boundary type is divergent.divergent
- Write the answer. divergent
Check. Iceland is on a divergent boundary. ✓
Method. Recall the boundary types.
- Recall. Plates sliding past each other are at a transform boundary.sliding past
- Name it. So the boundary type is transform.transform
- Write the answer. transform
Check. Transform boundaries cause earthquakes. ✓
Method. Recall the boundary types.
- Recall. At a convergent boundary, plates move together, and one can sink.one can sink
- Name it. So the boundary type is convergent.convergent
- Write the answer. convergent
Check. Sinking plates melt and produce magma. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: a volcano is not always at a boundary; some occur over hot spots. Most, however, are at plate boundaries.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Name the boundary with its movement, for example “convergent, plates move towards each other”.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, look at a world map of volcanoes and earthquakes. Mark where the plate boundaries lie. Do not visit a volcano. Write one sentence describing the pattern you see.
Exercise 4C Earthquakes and volcanoes at plate boundaries
Method. Recall where they occur.
- Recall. Most earthquakes and volcanoes happen at plate boundaries.at plate boundaries
- Write the answer. plate boundaries
Check. The middle of a plate is quieter. ✓
Method. Recall the word.
- Recall. Magma that reaches the surface is called lava.reaches the surface
- Write the answer. lava
Check. Magma is the name underground. ✓
Method. Recall the boundary types.
- Recall. A destructive boundary is where plates move towards each other.move towards each other
- Write the answer. convergent
Check. Convergent boundaries destroy crust. ✓
Method. Recall where crust is formed.
- Recall. New crust forms where plates move apart.move apart
- Write the answer. divergent
Check. Divergent boundaries are constructive. ✓
Method. Recall the definition.
- Recall. An earthquake happens when stored energy is suddenly released as plates move.suddenly released
- Write the answer. a sudden release of energy
Check. The shaking travels through the Earth. ✓
Method. Recall the name.
- Recall. The point underground where an earthquake starts is the focus.the focus
- Write the answer. focus
Check. The epicentre is directly above the focus. ✓
Method. Match the movement to the boundary.
- Match. Plates moving apart is a divergent boundary.moving apart
- Write the answer. divergent
Check. Iceland has many volcanoes. ✓
Method. Add the two speeds.
- Add. Each plate moves 2 cm, in opposite directions.2 + 2
- Calculate. So they separate by 4 cm each year.2 + 2 = 4
- Write the answer. 4
Check. Two plates moving apart each move 2 cm. ✓
Method. Count the rows.
- Count. The table lists divergent, convergent and transform boundaries.three rows
- Total. So there are 3 boundary types.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Three rows in the table. ✓
Method. Recall where earthquakes happen.
- Recall. Most earthquakes happen at plate boundaries.at plate boundaries
- Decide. So they are not common in the middle of a plate.not common
- Write the answer. no
Check. The middle of a plate is quieter. ✓
Method. Think about where earthquakes happen.
- Think. Earthquakes happen mainly at plate boundaries.mainly at plate boundaries
- Conclude. So the risk is higher near a boundary, and planning reduces harm.reduces harm
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying the risk is higher near a boundary.
Check. Planning reduces the harm from an earthquake. ✓
Method. Think about what happens to a sinking plate.
- Think. One plate can sink under another at a convergent boundary.sink under
- Conclude. The sinking rock melts, and the magma rises to form volcanoes.magma rises
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying one plate sinks and melts, producing magma that rises.
Check. The magma comes from melting, not from the surface. ✓
Igneous and sedimentary rocks
Igneous rock forms when magma or lava cools and becomes solid. Cooling slowly underground makes large crystals, as in granite. Cooling quickly at the surface makes small crystals, as in basalt.
Sedimentary rock forms when sediment builds up in layers. The layers are pressed together and cemented, a process called compaction. Sedimentary rock often has grains in layers, and often contains fossils, such as sandstone and limestone.
| Rock | How it forms | Texture | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| igneous | magma or lava cools and becomes solid | large crystals if cooled slowly; small if fast | granite (slow); basalt (fast) |
| sedimentary | layers of sediment are pressed and cemented | grains of sand or fossils in layers | sandstone, limestone |
| metamorphic | existing rock is changed by heat and pressure, without melting | crystals in bands or layers | marble (from limestone); slate (from mudstone) |
Key ideas
- Igneous: magma or lava cools and becomes solid; slow cooling gives large crystals.
- Sedimentary: sediment is pressed and cemented into layers; often contains fossils.
- Grains in layers suggest a sedimentary rock.
- Granite is igneous; sandstone and limestone are sedimentary.
Method. Link the cooling to the rock type.
- Think. Magma that cools slowly underground forms an igneous rock.cools slowly
- Name it. So the rock is igneous.igneous
- Write the answer. igneous
Check. Large crystals mean slow cooling. ✓
Method. Recall the sedimentary rocks.
- Recall. Sand grains pressed together form sandstone.sand grains
- Name it. So the rock is sandstone.sandstone
- Write the answer. sandstone
Check. Sandstone is sedimentary. ✓
Method. Think about how it cooled.
- Think. Granite cooled slowly underground.cooled slowly
- Name it. So the crystals grew large, because cooling was slow.slow
- Write the answer. slow
Check. Fast cooling gives small crystals, as in basalt. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: crystal size tells you how fast a rock cooled, not how old it is.
Exam tip
Exam tip. For an igneous rock, link the crystal size to the cooling speed. For a sedimentary rock, link layers to fossils.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, look at a sample of sandstone or limestone, and a sample of granite if you have one. Describe the grains and layers, and say whether the rock formed from sediment or from cooling magma.
Exercise 4D Igneous and sedimentary rocks
Method. Recall the rock type.
- Recall. Magma or lava cooling and solidifying makes igneous rock.cooling and solidifying
- Write the answer. igneous
Check. Igneous comes from fire-formed magma. ✓
Method. Recall the rock.
- Recall. Basalt forms when lava cools quickly at the surface.cools quickly
- Write the answer. basalt
Check. Basalt has small crystals. ✓
Method. Recall the rock.
- Recall. Granite cools slowly underground and has large crystals.cools slowly
- Write the answer. granite
Check. Granite is igneous. ✓
Method. Recall the definition.
- Recall. Sediment is small pieces of rock or other material, carried and dropped by water or wind.carried and dropped
- Write the answer. small pieces of rock or material
Check. Sediment becomes sedimentary rock. ✓
Method. Recall the process.
- Recall. Pressing sediment layers together is called compaction.pressing
- Write the answer. compaction
Check. Compaction and cementing make sedimentary rock. ✓
Method. Recall the rock.
- Recall. Limestone is made from the shells and skeletons of sea creatures.shells and skeletons
- Write the answer. limestone
Check. Limestone is sedimentary. ✓
Method. Use the texture to choose the type.
- Look. Grains in layers and fossils point to sediment.grains in layers
- Name it. So the rock is sedimentary.sedimentary
- Write the answer. sedimentary
Check. Fossils are common in sedimentary rock. ✓
Method. Use the texture to choose the type.
- Look. Large interlocking crystals show slow cooling of magma.slow cooling
- Name it. So the rock is igneous.igneous
- Write the answer. igneous
Check. Crystals grow in cooling magma. ✓
Method. Use the crystal size.
- Look. Granite has large crystals.large crystals
- Decide. Large crystals show slow cooling.slowly
- Write the answer. slowly
Check. Basalt cooled quickly. ✓
Method. Add the new layers.
- Add. 5 + 2 = 7.5 + 2
- Write the answer. 7
Check. 7 - 2 = 5. ✓
Method. Think about how layers form.
- Think. Sediment buries remains as it builds up.buries remains
- Conclude. So the remains are preserved as the layers form.preserved
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying remains are buried and preserved as the layers form.
Check. Fossils form in sediment. ✓
Method. Compare the cooling.
- Compare. Both come from molten material.molten material
- Conclude. Granite cools slowly underground, and basalt cools quickly at the surface.cools quickly
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying both form from cooling magma or lava, but granite cools slowly underground and basalt cools quickly at the surface.
Check. Cooling speed sets the crystal size. ✓
Metamorphic rocks and the rock cycle
Metamorphic rock forms when existing rock is changed by heat and pressure, without melting. Marble forms from limestone; slate forms from mudstone.
The rock cycle shows how rocks change over millions of years. Rock is worn down by weathering and erosion to make sediment, which becomes sedimentary rock. Rock can be heated and pressed into metamorphic rock, or melted into magma, which cools to form igneous rock. The rock material is recycled.
Key ideas
- Metamorphic rock forms from heat and pressure, without melting.
- Marble comes from limestone; slate comes from mudstone.
- Weathering and erosion make sediment.
- The rock cycle recycles rock material over millions of years.
Method. Recall what marble is made from.
- Recall. Marble forms when limestone is heated and pressed.limestone
- Name it. So marble forms from limestone.limestone
- Write the answer. limestone
Check. Limestone is sedimentary, and marble is metamorphic. ✓
Method. Recall the process.
- Recall. Rock is broken into pieces by the weather.broken into pieces
- Name it. This is weathering.weathering
- Write the answer. weathering
Check. Erosion then carries the pieces away. ✓
Method. Think about heat and pressure.
- Think. Heat and pressure without melting change a rock into a new type.without melting
- Name it. So the new rock is metamorphic.metamorphic
- Write the answer. metamorphic
Check. Heat and pressure make metamorphic rock. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: metamorphic rock is not melted rock. If the rock melts, it becomes magma, and the cooled result is igneous.
Exam tip
Exam tip. Describe the rock cycle with arrows: weathering, erosion, compaction, heat and pressure, melting, cooling.
Try it (with your teacher, or a grown-up at home). With your teacher, look at the sample of marble or slate if available, and at limestone. Compare how they look and feel. Say which process the limestone went through to become marble.
Exercise 4E Metamorphic rocks and the rock cycle
Method. Recall the rock type.
- Recall. Heat and pressure change existing rock into metamorphic rock.change existing rock
- Write the answer. metamorphic
Check. Metamorphic means changed in form. ✓
Method. Look at the word.
- Look. The word means the rock has changed form.changed form
- Write the answer. changed form
Check. The rock changes without melting. ✓
Method. Recall the rock.
- Recall. Slate forms when mudstone is heated and pressed.mudstone
- Write the answer. slate
Check. Slate is metamorphic. ✓
Method. Recall the process.
- Recall. Rock is broken down by the weather, which is weathering.broken down by the weather
- Write the answer. weathering
Check. Erosion moves the pieces. ✓
Method. Recall the process.
- Recall. Water, wind and ice carry sediment away in erosion.carry sediment away
- Write the answer. erosion
Check. Erosion moves weathered pieces. ✓
Method. Recall the process.
- Recall. When rock melts it becomes magma.becomes magma
- Write the answer. melting
Check. Magma cools to form igneous rock. ✓
Method. Recall the idea.
- Recall. Rock material is recycled over millions of years.recycled
- Write the answer. yes
Check. The cycle goes on for ever. ✓
Method. Count the rock types.
- Count. The rock types are igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic.three types
- Total. So there are 3 rock types.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Three rock types, one sediment, one magma. ✓
Method. Recall the rock.
- Recall. Limestone changed by heat and pressure becomes marble.becomes marble
- Write the answer. marble
Check. Marble is metamorphic. ✓
Method. Divide the time by the time per layer.
- Divide. 10 years / 2 years per layer.10 / 2
- Calculate. So 5 layers form.10 / 2 = 5
- Write the answer. 5
Check. 5 x 2 = 10 years. ✓
Method. Think about the processes.
- Think. Weathering, burial and melting are slow processes.slow processes
- Conclude. So the cycle takes millions of years.millions of years
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying processes such as weathering, burial and melting are slow, taking millions of years.
Check. Rocks are recycled slowly. ✓
Method. Follow the arrows in the rock cycle.
- Think. A sedimentary rock can be heated and pressed.heated and pressed
- Conclude. It can also be melted to magma, then cooled into igneous rock.cooled into igneous rock
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying it can be heated and pressed to metamorphic rock, or melted to magma and cooled to igneous rock.
Check. Rock material is recycled, not used up. ✓
Chapter summary
| Skill | Method |
|---|---|
| Layers of the Earth | Crust (thin, solid), mantle (solid, flows slowly), outer core (liquid), inner core (solid). |
| Continental drift | Continents have moved; evidence includes matching fossils, coastlines and rocks. |
| Plate boundaries | Divergent (apart), convergent (together, one sinks), transform (slide past); most earthquakes and volcanoes. |
| Igneous rock | Magma or lava cools and solidifies; slow cooling gives large crystals. |
| Sedimentary rock | Sediment is compacted and cemented into layers; often contains fossils. |
| Metamorphic rock and cycle | Heat and pressure change existing rock without melting; rock material is recycled over millions of years. |
Can you…?
- I can name the four layers of the Earth and say what each is made of
- I can give evidence for continental drift and explain plate movement
- I can link earthquakes and volcanoes to the three plate boundary types
- I can describe how igneous and sedimentary rocks form, and identify them by texture
- I can describe the rock cycle, including metamorphic rock, over millions of years
Key terms
- crust
- the thin, solid, outer layer of the Earth
- mantle
- the thick layer of hot, solid rock below the crust that flows very slowly
- outer core
- the liquid layer of iron and nickel
- inner core
- the solid centre of iron and nickel, under very high pressure
- tectonic plate
- a large slab of the crust that moves slowly
- continental drift
- the idea that the continents have moved over time
- plate boundary
- the edge of a tectonic plate, where earthquakes and volcanoes are common
- magma
- molten rock below the surface
- lava
- magma that has reached the surface
- igneous rock
- rock formed when magma or lava cools and solidifies
- sediment
- small pieces of rock or material carried and dropped by water or wind
- sedimentary rock
- rock formed when sediment is compacted and cemented in layers
- metamorphic rock
- rock changed by heat and pressure, without melting
- rock cycle
- the process by which rocks change and are recycled over millions of years
Exercise 4Z Check-up
Method. Compare the layers.
- Compare. The crust is the thin outer layer.thin outer layer
- Write the answer. crust
Check. The mantle is much thicker. ✓
Method. Find the liquid layer.
- Find. The outer core is liquid.outer core
- Write the answer. outer core
Check. The inner core is solid. ✓
Method. Recall the name.
- Recall. Large moving slabs of crust are tectonic plates.tectonic plates
- Write the answer. tectonic plates
Check. Plates float on the mantle. ✓
Method. Recall the scientist.
- Recall. Alfred Wegener proposed continental drift in 1912.Alfred Wegener
- Write the answer. Wegener
Check. Wegener was the first to propose it. ✓
Method. Recall the boundary.
- Recall. Plates sliding past each other form a transform boundary.sliding past
- Write the answer. transform
Check. Transform boundaries cause earthquakes. ✓
Method. Recall the word.
- Recall. Magma reaching the surface is lava.reaches the surface
- Write the answer. lava
Check. Lava cools to form igneous rock. ✓
Method. Use the crystal size.
- Decide. Large crystals show slow cooling.slow cooling
- Write the answer. slowly
Check. Basalt cooled quickly. ✓
Method. Multiply the speed by the years.
- Multiply. 3 x 10 = 30.3 x 10 = 30
- Write the answer. 30
Check. 30 / 10 = 3 cm each year. ✓
Method. Recall the rock.
- Recall. Limestone changed by heat and pressure becomes marble.becomes marble
- Write the answer. marble
Check. Limestone is sedimentary. ✓
Method. Think about how solid rock moves.
- Think. Hot rock in the mantle can slowly deform.slowly deform
- Conclude. Over millions of years it flows, even though it stays solid.stays solid
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying the solid rock flows very slowly under heat and pressure over millions of years.
Check. Slow flow is not the same as liquid. ✓
Total 21 marks. Allow about 21 minutes.
Exercise 4X Practice test questions
Method. Look at the order of the layers.
- Look. The order from the outside in is crust, mantle, outer core.crust, mantle, outer core
- Write the answer. mantle
Check. The mantle is thick and solid. ✓
Method. Recall the boundary.
- Recall. Plates moving apart form a divergent boundary.moving apart
- Write the answer. divergent
Check. New crust forms at divergent boundaries. ✓
Method. Recall the rock type.
- Recall. Pressed and cemented sediment is sedimentary rock.pressed and cemented
- Write the answer. sedimentary
Check. Sedimentary rock often has fossils. ✓
Method. Recall the evidence.
- Recall. Matching coastlines, fossils or rocks on two continents support drift.support drift
- Write the answer. Accept any one: matching coastlines, matching fossils, or matching rock types.
Check. Any one matching feature is correct. ✓
Method. Multiply the speed by the years.
- Multiply. 2 x 5 = 10.2 x 5 = 10
- Write the answer. 10
Check. 10 / 5 = 2 cm each year. ✓
Method. Think about the cooling.
- Think. Magma cools slowly underground.cools slowly
- Conclude. So large crystals have time to grow.time to grow
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying magma cools slowly underground, so large crystals grow.
Check. Slow cooling gives large crystals. ✓
Method. Think about metamorphic rock.
- Think. Limestone is changed by heat and pressure.changed by heat and pressure
- Conclude. Without melting, it becomes marble, which is metamorphic.becomes marble
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying limestone is heated and pressed without melting, which changes it into marble.
Check. Metamorphic rock forms without melting. ✓
Method. Recall the processes that make sediment.
- Recall. Weathering breaks rock down.breaks rock down
- Name two. Erosion carries the pieces away, so weathering and erosion make sediment.weathering and erosion
- Write the answer. Accept any two: weathering and erosion.
Check. Both processes are needed to make sediment. ✓
Method. Think about what happens at the boundary.
- Think. At a convergent boundary, plates move together.move together
- Conclude. One plate can sink, causing earthquakes and melting that makes magma.makes magma
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence saying the plates collide and one can sink, causing earthquakes and magma.
Check. Earthquakes and volcanoes both come from the movement. ✓
Method. List the layers in order, then find the liquid one.
- List. Crust, mantle, outer core, inner core.crust, mantle, outer core, inner core
- Find. The outer core is the liquid layer.outer core is liquid
- Write the answer. crust, mantle, outer core, inner core; outer core is liquid
Check. Four layers in order from the outside in. ✓
Method. Follow the arrows in the rock cycle.
- Step one. Heat and pressure, without melting, change it to metamorphic rock.metamorphic
- Step two. If it melts, the magma cools to form igneous rock.igneous
- Write the answer. Accept any answer saying heat and pressure change it into metamorphic rock, and melting then cooling makes igneous rock.
Check. Each arrow is one process in the cycle. ✓