Grade 7 Science Reviewer: Layers of the
Earth and Related Topics
I. Layers of the Earth
• Crust: Thin, outermost layer.
o Continental Crust: Thicker, made of granite, forms continents.
o Oceanic Crust: Thinner, denser, made of basalt, forms ocean floors.
• Mantle: Middle layer made of semi-solid rock.
o Upper Mantle: Includes the asthenosphere (partially molten) and lithosphere
(rigid).
o Lower Mantle: Solid, hot rock under high pressure.
• Core: Innermost layer.
o Outer Core: Liquid iron and nickel, creates Earth's magnetic field.
o Inner Core: Solid iron and nickel, extremely hot and dense.
II. Tectonic Plates
• Tectonic Plates: Huge slabs of Earth's lithosphere that float on the mantle.
• Types of Plate Boundaries:
o Divergent Boundary: Plates move apart (e.g., Mid-Atlantic Ridge).
o Convergent Boundary: Plates move toward each other (e.g., Himalayas).
o Transform Boundary: Plates slide past each other (e.g., San Andreas Fault).
III. Faults, Earthquakes, and Related Terms
• Fault: A crack in Earth's crust where movement occurs.
• Epicenter: Point on Earth's surface directly above the focus.
• Focus (Hypocenter): Location inside the Earth where the earthquake starts.
• Earthquake Causes: Movement of tectonic plates, volcanic eruptions, man-made
explosions, and collapses.
IV. Types of Earthquakes
• Tectonic Earthquake: Caused by tectonic plate movements.
• Volcanic Earthquake: Caused by volcanic activity.
• Explosion Earthquake: Caused by nuclear tests or large explosions.
• Collapse Earthquake: Caused by collapse of underground caves or mines.
V. Types of Faults
• Normal Fault: The hanging wall moves down.
• Reverse Fault: The hanging wall moves up.
• Strike-Slip Fault: Plates move sideways past each other.
VI. Philippine Fault Zone
• A major fault system in the Philippines responsible for many earthquakes.
• Active Fault: Still moves and can cause earthquakes.
• Inactive Fault: No longer moving, less likely to cause earthquakes.
VII. Earthquake Anatomy
• Fault Plane: The surface where the fault slips.
• Fault Line: Line on the surface tracing the fault.
• Fault Scarp: Steep slope formed by movement along a fault.
• Focus (Hypocenter): Starting point of earthquake underground.
• Epicenter: Surface point above the focus.
VIII. Seismology
• Seismology: Study of earthquakes.
• Seismologist: Scientist who studies earthquakes.
• Seismometer: Instrument that detects ground motion.
• Seismograph: Machine that records earthquake waves.
• Seismogram: The paper or digital record of earthquake waves.
• Filippo Cecchi: Invented the first true seismograph in 1875.
• Global Seismographic Network (GSN): Worldwide network of seismograph stations.
IX. Earthquake Measurements
• Magnitude: Amount of energy released.
• Intensity: Strength of shaking felt on the surface.
• Richter Scale: Measures the magnitude of an earthquake.
X. Seismic Waves
• Kinds of Seismic Waves:
o Body Waves: Travel through Earth's interior.
▪ P-Waves (Primary Waves): Fastest, move in push-pull motion.
▪ S-Waves (Secondary Waves): Slower, move side-to-side.
o Surface Waves: Travel along Earth's surface.
▪ Love Waves: Move ground side-to-side.
▪ Rayleigh Waves: Roll the ground like ocean waves.
XI. Other Effects of Earthquakes
• Ground Shaking: The shaking felt during an earthquake.
• Tsunamis: Giant ocean waves caused by underwater earthquakes.
• Landslides: Movement of rocks and soil down a slope due to shaking.
XII. Types of Earthquake Focus
• Shallow-Focus Earthquake: 0-70 km deep, causes more damage.
• Intermediate-Focus Earthquake: 70-300 km deep.
• Deep-Focus Earthquake: 300-700 km deep.
Quick Tips:
• Remember "Convergent = Colliding", "Divergent = Dividing", "Transform =
Sliding".
• Magnitude = how much energy; Intensity = how strong it feels.
• P-waves arrive first, S-waves come second.
