Engineering Geology Multiple Choice Questions on “The Mantle, The Core”.
1. The depth up to which the mantle is said to exist is ________
a) 2000 km
b) 1500 km
c) 2900 km
d) 1800 km
Answer: c
Clarification: The second layer, Mantle, lies beneath the crust and this zone starting from the lower boundary of the crust continues up to a depth of 2,900 km.
2. The thickness of the 2 layers of the upper mantle is approximately said to be ________
a) 400 and 600 km
b) 300 and 500 km
c) 450 and 800 km
d) 300 and 400 km
Answer: a
Clarification: The upper mantle is further divided into two layers of 400 and 600 km thickness respectively.
3. The exact nature of the mantle is completely understood.
a) True
b) False
Answer: b
Clarification: It is said that the exact nature of the mantle is as yet incompletely understood.
4. Which of the following is not true about Asthenosphere?
a) It is present in the upper mantle
b) It is in solid state
c) It is the source of volcanic activity
d) It is in plastic rather than solid state
Answer: b
Clarification: It is in solid state is not true and the remaining options are true and they are characteristics of the asthenosphere. In Greek, “asthenes” means without strength and hence the name.
5. Who was the first person to tell about the Core?
a) Graham Bell
b) Albert Einstein
c) Isaac Newton
d) R.D. Oldham
Answer: d
Clarification: The existence of the core was suggested by R.D. Oldham in 1906 and subsequently confirmed by other seismologists.
6. The depth at which the core layer starts and ends respectively is ____________
a) 2900 and 6371 km
b) 2000 and 5371 km
c) 2500 and 4771 km
d) 2000 and 5000 km
Answer: a
Clarification: The mantle extends up to the depth of 2900 km and from that depth it is the core that is said to be present and the radius of the Earth is 6371 km and hence the core is said to extend till 6371 km.
7. Which of the following is true about the inner core?
a) It is believed to be a semi solid body
b) It is believed to be a solid body
c) It is believed to be a liquid body
d) It is believed to be a gaseous body.
Answer: b
Clarification: The inner core with a thickness of around 1790 km is believed to be a solid body.
8. The density of the Earth in the core immediately after the mantle is _______
a) 8 g/cc
b) 7.6 g/cc
c) 9.9 g/cc
d) 8.7 g/cc
Answer: c
Clarification: At the base of the mantle, density is inferred as 5.7 g/cc that jumps to 9.9 g/cc at the top of the core.
9. The layer which does not transmit the S-waves is _______
a) Outer core
b) Crust
c) Mantle
d) Inner core
Answer: a
Clarification: The outer core behaves more like a liquid because the S-waves from the earthquake shocks reaching this zone are not transmitted through this zone at all.
10. There is a hypothesis that the inner core is made up chiefly of iron and nickel.
a) True
b) False
Answer: a
Clarification: As regards the chemical composition of the inner core, the hypothesis that it is made up chiefly of iron and nickel elements has found support from many accounts.
11. The density of the Earth at its centre is said to be ________
a) 9.9 g/cc
b) 8.8 g/cc
c) 13 g/cc
d) 12.7 g/cc
Answer: c
Clarification: The value of density reaches 12.7 g/cc at the boundary of the inner core and becomes 13 g/cc at the centre of the Earth.
12. The layer which is said to support the slow moving tectonic plates is ________
a) Asthenosphere
b) Lithosphere
c) Mohorovic sphere
d) Core layer
Answer: a
Clarification: The Asthenosphere is believed to be located entirely in the upper mantle and supports the slowly moving tectonic plates.
13. What is the thickness of the inner core?
a) 790 km
b) 1790 km
c) 2790 km
d) 3790 km
Answer: b
Clarification: The inner core, is believed to be in solid metallic state and is said have thickness of about 1790 km.
14. The layer which is believed to be the source of volcanic activity is ________
a) Inner core
b) Outer core
c) Asthenosphere
d) Mohorovicic layer
Answer: c
Clarification: The asthenosphere is believed to be the source of much volcanic activity and many other processes. It is said be to located completely in the upper mantle.