(Stnd 17) Quiz-Seismic Waves and Earth's Structure WS

Name: ID:

Email:

A glimpse into the future of space exploration.

In 2021, a new spherical dwarf planet was discovered in our solar system in a large elliptical orbit past Pluto. It was given the name of Ajax, and a robotic space probe containing a seismometer was launched in 2022 to explore it. This space probe contained special explosive charges that were detonated on Ajax’s surface to examine the internal structure of this dwarf planet my tracking the seismic waves from the explosion. The seismic wave data from this experiment is shown in the two tables below.

Examine the information in Ajax Data Table 01 and 02 to answer this question.
At what depth was the first anomaly discovered, and what evidence is there that the rock was solid at this depth?

a.	The first anomaly was at a depth of 150 km. Since S-Waves were able to propagate through this substance, it must have been solid rock.
b.	The first anomaly was at a depth of 1000 km. Since S-Waves were not able to propagate through this substance, it must have been liquid rock.
c.	The first anomaly was at a depth of 750 km. Since P-Waves were able to propagate through this substance, it must have been solid rock.
d.	The second anomaly was at a depth of 150 km. Since both P-waves and S-Waves were able to propagate through this substance, it must have been solid rock.

Examine the information in Ajax Data Table 01 and 02 to answer this question.
At what depth was the second anomaly discovered, and what evidence demonstrated that the rock at this depth is not molten (magma).

a.	The second anomaly was at a depth of 900 km. Since the speed at this depth was an even number for both P and S-Waves, it could not have been magma.
b.	The second anomaly was at a depth of 1200 km. Since S-Waves were not able to propagate through this substance, it must have been liquid rock.
c.	The second anomaly was at a depth of 750 km. Since P-Waves were able to propagate through this substance, it must have been solid rock.
d.	The second anomaly was at a depth of 750 km. Since S-Waves were able to propagate through this substance, it could not be magma.

Examine the information in Ajax Data Table 01 and 02 to answer this question.
What was the thickness of the second layer of rock revealed by the seismic wave data from Ajax, and which of the following diagrams is the best model of this dwarf planet?

a.	The second layer was 600 km thick. Model Four is the best diagram.	c.	The second layer was 600 km thick. Model Two is the best diagram.
b.	The second layer was 150 km thick. Model One is the best diagram.	d.	The second layer was 450 km thick. Model Three is the best diagram.

How did seismologists determine that the Earth has multiple internal layers, and what did analysis of S-wave data demonstrate that one layer inside is the Earth is liquid?

a.	They chemically analyzed rocks from Earth and Mars. The results of this analysis showed that all rocks in our solar system are made of elements from the periodic table.
b.	They examined the atomic structure of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rock. Then they used seismometers to determine the number of layers inside the Earth.
c.	They tracked the speed of seismic waves propagating through the Earth, and they compared this to patterns in the way celestial objects move in our solar system.
d.	They analyzed data from seismometers, and they observed that S-waves were unable to penetrate one of the layers inside the Earth.

Use the following data tables to help you answer question 5 to 10.

Examine the information in Seismic Data Table 02 to answer this question.
Speed changes and refraction has been observed in seismic wave data as the waves travel through different substances with different densities.
What is one location where this is revealed in Seismic Data Table 02, and what best explains this phenomenon?

a.	At a depth of 5200 kilometers the S-Waves slowed from 7.5 km/s to 0 km/s. This occurred because S-Waves are unable to travel through liquid rock.
b.	At a depth of 5200 kilometers the S-Waves slowed from 14 km/s to 8 km/s. This occurred as the wave hit the boundary of the crust and the mantle.
c.	At a depth of 50 kilometers the S-Waves slowed from 5 km/s to 4 km/s. This occurred as the wave hit the boundary of the crust and the mantle.
d.	At a depth of 50 kilometers the S-Waves increased speed from 4 km/s to 5 km/s. This occurred as the wave hit the boundary of the inner core and the outer core.

Examine the information in Seismic Data Tables 01 and 02 to answer this question.
What was the thickness of the layer of liquid rock revealed by Earth’s seismic data, and which of the following diagrams is the best model of our planet?

a.	Earth’s crust is about 50 km thick. Model Two is the best diagram.
b.	Earth’s mantle is about 3000 km thick. Model Three is the best diagram.
c.	Earth’s outer core is about 2300 km thick. Model One is the best diagram.
d.	Earth’s inner core has a radius of about 1200 km. Model Four is the best diagram.

Examine the information in Seismic Data Table 02 to answer this question.
P-Waves can travel through both solid and liquid rock. S-Waves, on the other hand, can only travel through solid rock.
What is one location in Seismic Data Table 02 where liquid rock is revealed by the S-Wave data?

a.	At a depth of 2900 kilometers the S-Waves slowed from 5 km/s to 4 km/s. This occurred as the wave hit the boundary of the crust and the mantle.
b.	At a depth of 5200 kilometers the S-Waves slowed from 14 km/s to 8 km/s. This occurred as the wave hit the boundary of the crust and the mantle.
c.	At a depth of 2900 kilometers the S-Waves stopped. This occurred because after 2900 km there is a layer of liquid rock.
d.	At a depth of 50 kilometers the S-Waves increased speed from 4 km/s to 5 km/s. This occurred as the wave hit the boundary of the inner core and the outer core.

Examine the information in Seismic Data Table 01 to answer this question.
Layers of rock inside the Earth have been revealed by analyzing seismic data. Geologists have observed that seismic waves change speed as they move downward toward Earth’s center.
What is one location where this is revealed in Seismic Data Table 01, and what best explains this phenomenon?

a.	After 5200 km, P-Wave speed was a constant 11 km/s all the way to Earth’s center. This occurred as the wave moved from the outer core through the inner core.
b.	At a depth of 2900 kilometers the P-Waves decreased speed from 9 km/s to 8 km/s. This occurred as the wave hit the boundary of the outer core and inner core.
c.	At a depth of 5200 kilometers the P-Waves slowed from 11 km/s to 10 km/s. This occurred because P-Waves are unable to travel through solid rock.
d.	At a depth of 50 kilometers the P-Waves stopped. This occurred as the wave hit the boundary of the mantle and the outer core.

Examine the information in Seismic Data Table 02 to answer this question.
Refraction and changes in speed have been observed in seismic wave data as the waves travel towards the center of our planet.
What is one location where this is revealed in Seismic Data Table 02, and what best explains this phenomenon?

a.	At a depth of 50 kilometers the S-Waves increased speed from 4 km/s to 5 km/s. This occurred as the wave hit the boundary of the inner core and the outer core.
b.	At a depth of 2900 kilometers the S-Waves slowed from 5 km/s to 4 km/s. This occurred as the wave hit the boundary of the crust and the mantle.
c.	At a depth of 5200 kilometers the S-Waves slowed from 14 km/s to 8 km/s. This occurred as the wave hit the boundary of the crust and the mantle.
d.	At a depth of 2900 kilometers the S-Waves slowed from 7.5 km/s to 0 km/s. This occurred because S-Waves are unable to travel through liquid rock.

10.

Examine the information in Seismic Data Table 01 to answer this question.
What is the primary cause of seismic waves, and what pattern do you notice about the P-Waves as they propagated downward towards the center of our planet?

a.	Seismic waves mainly occur beneath the seas due to the mass of the water. P-Waves speed up as they travel down towards the center of the Earth.
b.	Seismic waves mainly occur when massive celestial objects impact the Earth. The P-Waves maintain a constant speed as they the move through our planet.
c.	Seismic waves mainly result from tectonic plate movement. The P-Waves slow down as they move through different rock layers within the Earth.
d.	The primary cause of seismic waves are explosions from nuclear detonations. P-Waves are unable to travel through liquids. So, they cannot be detected in oceans.