Determining and Measuring Earth's Layered Interior

Resource 11 Related Resources Fact-Sheets Animations Videos Software-Web-Apps Posters Determining and Measuring Earth's Layered Interior Novice Resource Files EarthStructure a.xls InstructorsGuide.pdf Slide Show Download All 14MB Optional Files 3 Earthquake Related Glossary Reading/Modeling Extension Activity Adding a facilitated symposium to explore data and results Students examine seismic evidence to determine that the Earth must have a layered internal structure and to estimate the size of Earth's core. Using an inquiry approach, students are divided into two teams (theoreticians and seismologists) to test the simplest hypothesis for what is inside of Earth; that the Earth is homogeneous throughout. Theoreticians use a paper and pencil, scale model of a homogeneous Earth combined with an average seismic wave velocity to make predictions about when seismic waves should arrive at various points around Earth (predicted). Meanwhile, seismologists interpret seismic data from a recent earthquake to determine when seismic waves actually arrive at various points around Earth (observations). After comparing and discussing the fit of the predicted data with the observed data, students use a second scale model to further interpret these results. Ultimately, students measure the diameter of Earth's outer core based on their data and can compare it to widely accepted measurements. Before undertaking this activity, students should know what earthquakes are, understand the basics of seismic waves and their prorogation, and be able to explain how seismograms are created. NEW! Students can also complete this activity using our new Online Student Exploration! Objectives: Students will be able to: - Demonstrate that Earth can’t be homogenous by comparing a seismic record section to predicted arrivals from a homogeneous Earth model. Explain how the internal structure of Earth (concentric layers of different density and composition) is inferred through the analysis of seismic data. Explain the role models play in the scientific process, especially when used in combination with observational data.   Explain how models are refined through the collection of additional data Discuss how working in a team to make data-gathering and procedural decisions provides an efficient means for completing tasks, provides peer support to check work and to develop conceptual understanding. Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 1/8 Video NovicePart 1/8 Introduction and Opening - In this video,  we introduce the activity as structured inquiry. Next, we review the learning outcomes for the activity so learners know where the lesson is headed. Finally, we open the instruction and access ...Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 2/8 Video NovicePart 2/8 The Role of Observed Data  - In this video, we introduce the role the seismologists will play in the investigation and how seismic data from a real earthquake will contribute to our exploration of Earth's interior.   ...Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 3/8 Video NovicePart 3/8 Interpreting Seismic Data - In this video we introduce a record section, or a plot of multiple seismograms from the same earthquake. Using a record section from a recent earthquake we demonstrate how to pick the first seismic arrivals on the...Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 4/8 Video NovicePart 4/8 Developing a Model - In this video we introduce the role that the theoretician will play in the investigation. Specifically, we explore how to set up a scale model of Earth that will be used to generate predictions about when seismic waves s...Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 5/8 Video NovicePart 5/8 Comparing Observed Data to the Model - In this video we explore how closely the observed arrivals of seismic waves from seismograms compares to the arrivals predicted from the model we have developed. ...Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 6/8 Video NovicePart 6/8 Interpreting Results - In this video we introduce a second, smaller scale model of Earth to help us make sense of our results. Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 7/8 Video NovicePart 7/8 Interpreting Results Continued - In this video we continue interpreting our results by adding more and more data to the scale model. Through this process we reveal Earth's core and can use the scale model to estimate the radius of Earth's co...Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 8/8 Video NovicePart 8/8 Wrapping It Up - In this video we summarize the activity and why we think it's a great addition to any Earth Science classroom. Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 1/8 Part 1/8 Introduction and Opening - In this video,  we introduce the activity as structured inquiry. Next, we review the learning outcomes for the activity so learners know where the lesson is headed. Finally, we open the instruction and access learners' prior knowledge of Earth's interior. The focus is not only what the learner knows, but the evidence they have for what they know. This will serve as the hypothesis they will test in the activity.  Video Novice Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 2/8 Part 2/8 The Role of Observed Data  - In this video, we introduce the role the seismologists will play in the investigation and how seismic data from a real earthquake will contribute to our exploration of Earth's interior.    Video Novice Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 3/8 Part 3/8 Interpreting Seismic Data - In this video we introduce a record section, or a plot of multiple seismograms from the same earthquake. Using a record section from a recent earthquake we demonstrate how to pick the first seismic arrivals on the seismograms.  Video Novice Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 4/8 Part 4/8 Developing a Model - In this video we introduce the role that the theoretician will play in the investigation. Specifically, we explore how to set up a scale model of Earth that will be used to generate predictions about when seismic waves should arrive at various points around Earth.    Video Novice Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 5/8 Part 5/8 Comparing Observed Data to the Model - In this video we explore how closely the observed arrivals of seismic waves from seismograms compares to the arrivals predicted from the model we have developed.  Video Novice Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 6/8 Part 6/8 Interpreting Results - In this video we introduce a second, smaller scale model of Earth to help us make sense of our results.  Video Novice Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 7/8 Part 7/8 Interpreting Results Continued - In this video we continue interpreting our results by adding more and more data to the scale model. Through this process we reveal Earth's core and can use the scale model to estimate the radius of Earth's core within a small % error.  Video Novice Determining Earth's Layered Interior—Tutorial 8/8 Part 8/8 Wrapping It Up - In this video we summarize the activity and why we think it's a great addition to any Earth Science classroom. Video Novice Related Fact-Sheets Exploring the Earth Using Seismology Earthquakes create seismic waves that travel through the Earth. By analyzing these seismic waves, seismologists can explore the Earth's deep interior. This fact sheet uses data from the 1994 magnitude 6.9 earthquake near Northridge, California to illustrate both this process and Earth's interior structure. NOTE: Out of Stock; self-printing only. Fact-Sheet Novice Related Animations Seismic Shadow Zone: Basic Introduction Seismic shadow zones have taught us much about the inside of the earth. This shows how P waves travel through solids and liquids, but S waves are stopped by the liquid outer core. Animation Novice Seismic Shadow Zones vs Light Shadows The wave properties of light are used as an analogy to help us understand seismic-wave behavior. Animation Novice Seismic Shadow Zones: P wave The shadow zone is the area of the earth from angular distances of 104 to 140 degrees from a given earthquake that does not receive any direct P waves. The different phases show how the initial P wave changes when encountering boundaries in the Earth. Animation Novice Layers of the Earth The Earth has 3 main layers based on chemical composition: crust, mantle, and core. Other layers are defined by physical characteristics due to pressure and temperature changes. This animation tells how the layers were discovered, what the layers are, and a bit about how the crust differs from the tectonic (lithospheric) plates, a distinction confused by many. Animation Novice Travel-time Curves: How they are created A travel time curve is a graph of the time that it takes for seismic waves to travel from the epicenter of an earthquake to the hundreds of seismograph stations around the world. The arrival times of P, S, and surface waves are shown to be predictable. This animates an IRIS poster linked with the animation. Animation Novice Related Videos Earth Vs. the Egg: Measuring Earth's Layers Conceptual model of the relative thicknesses of the Lithosphere relative to the diameter of the Earth uses a hard-boiled egg to gain understanding about the scale of the lithospheric plates. Video Novice Related Software-Web-Apps Seismic Waves Viewer Seismic Waves is a browser-based tool to visualize the propagation of seismic waves from historic earthquakes through Earth’s interior and around its surface. Easy-to-use controls speed-up, slow-down, or reverse the wave propagation. By carefully examining these seismic wave fronts and their propagation, the Seismic Waves tool illustrates how earthquakes can provide evidence that allows us to infer Earth’s interior structure. Software-Web-App Novice Global Seismogram Viewer Easily view seismograms from stations around the world for large earthquakes. Plots can be used for a variety of activities including to determine the diameter of Earth’s outer core as part of a classroom exercise. Software-Web-App Novice Determining and Measuring Earth's Layered Interior - Online Student Exploration New Version! Major Update!  In this learning app, students compare observed seismic data to predictions they make from a model, to determine that the Earth must have a layered internal structure and to estimate the size of Earth's core. Software-Web-App Novice Related Posters Exploring the Earth Using Seismology Seismic waves from earthquakes ricochet throughout Earth's interior and are recorded at geophysical observatories around the world. The paths of some of those seismic waves and the ground motion that they caused are used by seismologists to illuminate Earth's deep interior. Poster Intermediate