Inside the Earth

Inside the Earth

Pencil and paperOnline interactive
Overview
Using this Resource
Connecting to the Curriculum
Marking Student Responses
Further Resources
This task is about using information to draw and label a diagram of the Earth's interior

Question Change answer

Read the following information about the Earth's interior.
 
It is 6370 kilometres from the surface of the Earth to its centre. The Earth's interior consists of two main parts: the mantle and the inner part called the core. The mantle is 2900 km thick. The core consists of two parts; the outer section is the liquid core which is 2100 km thick, and the inner section is the solid core; its temperature can reach 6000°C. The outermost part of the mantle is the Earth's crust. It can be from 5 to 65 km thick. The temperature under the crust is about 1000°C. This increases to 4000°C at the boundary between the mantle and the core.
 
Draw a scale diagram of the Earth's interior. Label each layer and write the temperatures given above in the correct places. Use this scale to help do your drawing.
Task administration: 
This task can be completed with pencil and paper or by drawing online.
Copyright: 
Equipment:
Compass (pencil and paper)
Level:
5
Curriculum info: 
Science, Communicating in science, Planet Earth
Keywords: 
Earth systems, Earth, Earth's interior, diagram construction, drawing
Description of task: 
Students are provided with information about the Earth's interior. Using this information and a provided scale, students construct and label a scale diagram of the Earth's interior.
Curriculum Links: 
Science capabilities
The capabilities focus is brought about by the conversations you have and the questions you ask.
 
Capability: Interpret representations
Scientists represent their ideas in a variety of ways, including models, graphs, charts, diagrams and written texts. This resource provides opportunities to discuss the challenges of turning written texts into visual texts.
Science capabilities: 
Interpret representations
Answers/responses: 

 

Y10 (11/2000)


Scale drawing
Accurate scale drawing of Earth's interior, NOTE: the Earth's crust may or may not be drawn, but if drawn it should be relatively small in width. The boundary between the liquid and mantle should be drawn slightly closer to the Earth's centre. 

NOTE 1: A common error is having the boundary between the mantle and core closer to the Earth's crust than the core, or 1 part missing.
NOTE 2: Accept if students draw a segment diagram.
Labels
All labels present and in correct areas.
NOTE: Accept if students label cores as outer and inner.
Temperatures
All temperatures present and in correct positions

 

 

 

Scale drawing

2 correct – moderate
 1 correct – easy

 

Labels
2 correct – moderate
 1 correct – easy
 Temperatures
difficult