Regents Earth Science Test Preparation Practice Earth Dynamic Interior

Which layer of Earth’s interior is inferred to be composed of solid iron and nickel?*

(1) asthenosphere

(2) stiffer mantle

(3) outer core

(4) inner core

The first S-wave reaches a seismic station22 minutes after an earthquake occurred. How

long did it take the first P-wave to reach the same seismic station?*

(1) 8 minutes 50 seconds

(2) 10 minutes 00 seconds

(3) 12 minutes 00 seconds

(4) 12 minutes 50 seconds

Which graph best shows the range of density in each of Earth’s layers?*

(1)

dynamic-earth, earth-dynamic-interior, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, velocity-slope-sediment-size-channel-shape-stream-valume-distance-from-the-sun-gravitational-force-period-of-revolution-speed-of-revolution fig: esci12012-examw_g18.png

(2)

(3)

(4)

Base your answers to questions 4 on the cross section below, which shows the type of seismic waves recorded at various locations after an earthquake has occurred. Point A is a location on Earth’s surface and X is the epicenter of the earthquake.

dynamic-earth, earth-dynamic-interior, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, velocity-slope-sediment-size-channel-shape-stream-valume-distance-from-the-sun-gravitational-force-period-of-revolution-speed-of-revolution fig: esci12012-examw_g29.png

Point A is located 7600 kilometers from the epicenter of this earthquake. How many minutes did it take the first S-wave to reach point A?*

(1) 9 min

(2) 11 min

(3) 16 min

(4) 20 min

A P-wave takes 5 minutes to travel from the epicenter of an earthquake to a seismic station. Approximately how many minutes will it take an S-wave to travel that same distance?*

(1) 15 min

(2) 12 min

(3) 9 min

(4) 4 min

Which two Earth layers are separated by the Moho boundary?*

(1) rigid mantle and plastic mantle

(2) outer core and stiffer mantle

(3) stiffer mantle and asthenosphere

(4) crust and rigid mantle

The map below shows changes in the position of the tsunami wave front produced by the 1964 Alaskan earthquake. The numbers indicate the time, in hours, for the wave front to reach the positions indicated by the isolines.

dynamic-earth, earth-dynamic-interior, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci12014-examw_g15.png

If the wave front reached the Hawaiian Islands at 10:30 p.m., at approximately what time did the earthquake occur?*

(1) 1:30 p.m.

(2) 5:30 p.m.

(3) 3:30 a.m.

(4) 4:30 a.m.

The diagram below represents the analysis of a seismogram used to calculate an earthquake’s magnitude on the Richter Scale. This seismogram shows the difference in arrival times, in seconds, of the first P-wave and S-wave and the amplitude of the S-wave in millimeters.

dynamic-earth, earth-dynamic-interior, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci12014-examw_g17.png

The diagram below represents how the earthquake’s magnitude is determined by drawing a line connecting the difference in arrival times of the P-wave and the S-wave, and the S-wave amplitude.

dynamic-earth, earth-dynamic-interior, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci12014-examw_g16.png

What is the magnitude of a recorded earthquake if the difference in arrival times of the first P-wave and S-wave is 2 seconds and the S-wave amplitude is 20 millimeters?*

(1) 3.8

(2) 2.0

(3) 3.0

(4) 4.8

Base your answers to questions 9 on the cross section of Earth below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The cross section represents the pattern of seismic wave movement away from an earthquake. Point W represents a location at the boundary between two layers of Earth’s interior. Points X, Y, and Z represent seismic stations on Earth’s surface.

Which data best describe the depth below Earth’s surface and the density of Earth’s interior at location W?*

(1) Depth: 600 km Density: changes from 3.4 g/cm³ to 5.6 g/cm³

(2) Depth: 1000 km Density: averages 4.5 g/cm³

(3) Depth: 2900 km Density: changes from 5.6 g/cm³ to 9.9 g/cm³

(4) Depth: 5100 km Density: averages 11.1 g/cm³

How long after receiving the first P-wave from an earthquake centered 4000 kilometers away does a seismic station receive its first S-wave from the same earthquake?*

(1) 1 minute

(2) 5 minutes 35 seconds

(3) 7 minutes

(4) 12 minutes 40 seconds

Which evidence recorded at seismic stations following an earthquake supports the inference that Earth’s interior changes from solid rock to molten iron and nickel at the mantle-core boundary?*

(1) P-waves arrive earlier than S-waves.

(2) P-waves and S-waves are both recorded at all stations.

(3) Only S-waves are recorded at all stations.

(4) Only P-waves are recorded on the opposite side of Earth.

The pressure at the interface between Earth’s outer core and inner core is inferred to be*

(1) 0.2 million atmosphere

(2) 1.5 million atmospheres

(3) 3.1 million atmospheres

(4) 3.6 million atmospheres

Base your answers to questions 13 on the passage and map below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The map shows the location of a major earthquake that occurred in 2010 off the west coast of Chile, in South America. The star (graphfile:esci12020-examw_g38.png) represents the location of the earthquake epicenter.

On February 27, 2010, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 8.8 occurred off the west coast of South America near the city of Concepción in central Chile. There was tremendous damage to the region and loss of life, as buildings collapsed. Tremors were felt as far north as Ica, Peru, 2400 kilometers away. The earthquake triggered a tsunami that damaged several coastal towns. Tsunami warnings were issued to 53 countries, including the United States, where damage was reported. This earthquake is ranked as one of the highest in magnitude ever recorded by a seismograph. Chile has experienced some of the strongest earthquakes in the past, including a 1960 earthquake that had a magnitude of 9.5, the highest ever recorded.

dynamic-earth, plate-tectonics, standard-1-math-and-science-inquery, changing-length-of-a-shadow-based-on-the-motion-of-the-sun, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci12020-examw_g39.png

Determine the P-wave travel time, in minutes and seconds, from this earthquake’s epicenter to the tremors that were felt in Ica, Peru. [1]

___________ min ___________ s*

Base your answers to questions 14 on the map below and on your knowledge of Earth science. The map shows the major islands in the Galapagos Island chain. These islands were formed by volcanic eruptions as the tectonic plate passed over the Galapagos Hot Spot. The age of the volcanic bedrock on certain islands is shown in millions of years (my).

geologic-history, reference-tables, earth-history, earth-history, geologic-time-units-and-the-events, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci62013-examw_g52.png

Some of the magma at the Galapagos Hot Spot is believed to originate 1000 kilometers below Earth’s surface. What is the approximate temperature of Earth’s interior at that depth? [1]

°C*

Base your answers to questions 15 on the data table below, on the graph in the image provided, and on your knowledge of Earth science. The data table shows the velocity of seismic S-waves at various depths below Earth’s surface. The graph shows the velocity of seismic P-waves at various depths below Earth’s surface. Letter A is a point on the graph.

dynamic-earth, earth-dynamic-interior, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci62014-examw_g47.png

On the graph in the image provided, plot the S-wave velocity at each depth given on the data table. Connect the plots with a line. [1]

dynamic-earth, earth-dynamic-interior, standard-6-interconnectedness, models fig: esci62014-ansbk_abkq4.png