8.ESS2.2 and 2.3 Modeling Earth's Interior Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards defining key science terms for modeling Earth's interior and understanding seismic evidence.

Earth’s interior

inside of Earth

crust

thin outer layer of Earth

mantle

thick layer below the crust

outer core

liquid metal layer around the inner core

inner core

solid metal center of Earth

layer

one part stacked or arranged with others

density

how tightly matter is packed

pressure

force pushing on an area

temperature

how hot or cold something is

seismic wave

wave energy from earthquakes

earthquake

shaking of Earth’s crust

P-wave

seismic wave that travels through solids and liquids

S-wave

seismic wave that travels through solids but not liquids

wave speed

how fast a wave travels

indirect evidence

evidence gathered without seeing something directly

model

representation of something hard to see directly

convection

movement caused by warm material rising and cool material sinking

molten

melted

solid

keeps its shape

liquid

flows and takes the shape of its container