Question 2 of 21

About 46.6 percent of the Earth's mass is made up of oxygen, while another 27.7 percent consists of this element.

... Approximately 27 percent of the Earth's mass consists of silicon, with the remainder made up of aluminum, iron, calcium and other trace elements.

Question 3 of 21

Fact or fiction: The core of the Earth consists of both an inner solid core and an outer liquid section.

... Fact: An outer core made from molten liquid surrounds an inner solid core. Both the inner and outer cores together form a mass about the size of the planet Mars.

Question 4 of 21

What keeps the inner core of the Earth, which consists primarily of solid iron, from melting?

... Despite a temperature of 9,000 to 13,000 degrees F (5,000 to 7,000 degrees C), the inner core of the Earth doesn't melt, thanks to the tremendous pressure it's under.

Question 5 of 21

Fact or fiction: Humans finally drilled into the Earth's outer core in 2010, which allowed scientists to learn a great deal about the interior of the Earth.

... The deepest humans have ever drilled into the Earth is about 8 miles (13 kilometers) -- far short of the core. Instead, scientists learn about the core by studying meteorites, or by examining seismic waves.

Question 6 of 21

Fact or fiction: The mantle of the Earth is made of lava.

... Contrary to popular belief, the mantle consists of rock, not lava.

Question 7 of 21

What is the Earth's core made of?

... The Earth's core consists of iron, plus small amounts of tin and sulfur.

Question 8 of 21

Fact or fiction: The Earth's core formed the way it did largely thanks to the density and weight of iron.

... Fact: About 4.5 billion years ago, the Earth consisted of a giant ball of magma. Over time, iron and other heavy elements settled to form the core, while lighter elements like oxygen and silicon rose to the surface to form the crust.

Question 9 of 21

Fact or fiction: Some of the gold on the surface of the Earth arrived on the planet via a meteor more than 3 billion years ago.

... Fact: Just as the dense iron settled into the Earth's core over time, so too did other heavy metals like gold. Much of the gold and other precious metals found on the surface of the Earth today arrived via meteors.

Question 10 of 21

What helps to generate Earth's magnetic field?

... The flow of liquid within the outer core produces an electric current, which helps to generate a magnetic field. The solid core of the Earth is so hot that it possesses few magnetic properties.

Question 11 of 21

What term describes the outer layer of the Earth, which includes both the crust and the upper mantle?

... The lithosphere of the Earth is made up of the outermost layers. This area consists of 12 separate plates that "float" around the Earth's mantle.

Question 12 of 21

What are the two most abundant elements in the Earth's atmosphere?

... The Earth's atmosphere extends about 93 miles (150 kilometers) from the surface of the planet. It consists almost entirely of nitrogen and oxygen.

Question 13 of 21

What do scientists call the combination of silicon and oxygen that makes up the majority of the Earth's crust?

... Silica, a mix of silicon and oxygen, makes up about 75 percent of the Earth's crust. Minerals made from silica are known as silicate minerals.

Question 14 of 21

Fact or fiction: Meteorites frequently bring new elements to the Earth.

... Fiction: There is no evidence that a meteorite has ever brought a new element to the Earth. Thanks to pressure and temperature variations in space, it is possible for meteorites to bring new minerals (not elements) to the Earth when they land.

Question 15 of 21

What are the only two elements that were not created during the formation or explosion of stars?

... All elements with the exception of hydrogen and helium were created during the formation of stars or the explosion of a supernova. These processes create unstable elements that change over time to form new and unknown elements.

Question 16 of 21

Fact or fiction: The moon is home to rare elements not found on Earth.

... Fiction: During explorations of the moon, astronauts brought back a mineral called tranquillityite that many believed did not exist on Earth. In 2012, scientists discovered samples of this mineral in Australia.

Question 17 of 21

Fact or fiction: Just as 70 percent of the Earth's surface is covered in water, scientists believe that around 70 percent of the Earth's interior is also made up of water.

... Fiction: Despite the relatively large quantity of water found on the Earth's crust, there is little evidence to suggest that water exists in any substantial quantity deep within the Earth.

Question 18 of 21

What do scientists call relatively scarce minerals such as lanthanum and thulium?

... Rare Earth metals are elements that are found in small concentrations, making them difficult to extract profitably. These metals are quite valuable because they are lightweight and highly conductive, making them a key component in many electronics.

Question 19 of 21

What percentage of the Earth's volume does the core represent?

... The Earth's core represents about 15 percent of its total volume, while the mantle and crust represent about 84 and 1 percent, respectively.

Question 20 of 21

Which of these elements is found in high concentrations within the Earth's mantle?

... The Earth's mantle is rich in magnesium and iron, and consists primarily of ferro-magnesium silicates.

Question 21 of 21

What term describes the thin layer of mantle that sits just below the lithosphere?

... The semi-solid athenosphere flows beneath the lithosphere.

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