CHAPTER – 2
COMPOSITION OF OUR PLANET
Exercises
A. Fill in the blanks-
1. Rocks and minerals.
2. Silica and aluminium.
3. Silica and magnesium.
4. Temperature and pressure.
5. Core.
6. Magnetic.
7. Inorganic.
8. Latin word.
9. Lava.
10. Sedimentary.
B. Write True or False.
1. True.
2. False. Explanation - the key components of the earth’s crust are rock and minerals.
3. False. Explanation – the earth’s layer that is also referred to as ‘nife’ is actually the other name
for core or Barysphere.
4. True.
5. True.
C. Match the columns.
SN. Column A Column B (correct match)
1. Nickel and Iron e. nife
2. Bauxite a. aluminium
3. Sima b. oceanic crust
4. Outer core c. semi solid rocks
5. Asthenos d. ‘to flow’
D. Answer the following questions in brief.
1. Define the following terms –
a. SIAL – The continental crust is the upper crust called sial which is made up of silica and
aluminium.
b. SIMA – the oceanic crust is the lower crust called sima which is made up of silica and
magnesium.
c. Ores – rocks containing a particular metallic mineral in large quantities are called ores.
d. Sedimentary rocks – sedimentary rocks are types of rock that are formed by the
accumulation or deposition of mineral or organic particles at earth’s surface followed by
cementation.
e. Rock cycle – Due to heating, melting, erosion, deposition and chemical action, one group of
rocks leads to the formation of another group. The formation and development of these
types of rocks in a cyclic process known as the rock cycle.
2. What keeps the rocks in the inner core in a solid state?
Ans. The pressure of the overlaying layers keeps the rocks in a solid state.
4. What is mineralogy? Give examples of it.
Ans. The study of minerals is known as mineralogy.
Quartz, feldspar, mica, etc., are some of the common rock-forming minerals.
E. Answer the following questions in detail –
1. How are igneous rocks formed? Why they are also called primary rocks?
Ans. Igneous rocks are formed by the cooling and solidification of hot lava and magma beneath the
Earth’s interior.
Since they were the first to be formed, they are also referred to as primary rocks.
2. What are the various types of igneous rocks based on their origin?
Ans. On the basis of origin, igneous rocks may be classified as follows-
Lava is the molten material which reaches the Earth’s surface through volcanic vents or
fissures. It forms extrusive or volcanic rocks by cooling and solidifying.
The molten material or magma may cool and solidify below the Earth’s surface to form
intrusive or plutonic rocks.
3. How are sedimentary rocks formed? How are they classified on the basis of their formation?
Ans. Rock fragments are carried by running water, wind and moving ice, and are deposited in
depressions under water. Over a period of time, these deposited materials or sediments are
continuously accumulated in layers, get compressed and hardened with the aid of cementing
materials to form sedimentary rocks.
Based on their formation, sedimentary rocks are generally classified into three types-
The largest of the sediment particles such as sand and pebbles get deposited initially
while the finer sediments such as clay and silt get deposited later. Sedimentary rocks
thus present a layered or stratified structure and are also known as stratified rocks.
Sedimentary rocks are also formed from the deposition of chemicals including salts
through evaporation.
In many cases, the skeletal remains of sea organisms and decayed plants are trapped in
the sediments and deposited on the seafloor. Over the years, these remains become
organically formed sedimentary rocks.
4. Differentiate between igneous rocks and sedimentary
rocks.Ans.
Igneous Rock Sedimentary Rock
1. These are formed due to the cooling and 1. These rocks are formed due to
solidification of magma and lava. continuous deposition and compaction of
weathered pieces of rocks transported to
various places by wind, glaciers, rivers,
etc.
2. These are hard, homogenous and heavy 2. These are brittle, layered and light in
rocks. weight.
3. They lack fossils. 3. They show the presence of fossils.
4. Examples- Basalt, granite, etc. 4. Example – basalt, limestone, etc.
5. How are metamorphic rocks formed? Why are they layered?
Ans. When existing igneous and sedimentary rocks change their chemical and physical form due to
intense heat and pressure, they are called metamorphic rocks.
Due to the effect of heat and pressure, they are often banded or layered.
6. What is the cyclical relationship that exists between the three rock groups?
Ans. Metamorphic rocks may be broken down into sediments due to natural forces later forming
sedimentary rocks and even buried again to form magma. Thus, a cyclical relationship exists between
the three rock groups.
F. Home Assignment-
D3. What are rocks and how are they formed?
Ans. Rocks are natural masses of minerals found on the crust of the Earth.
They consist of one or more minerals and include the hard as well as compact rocks such
as granite, diamond and loose particles like clay, mud sand, etc.
E7. What are the different uses of rocks?
Ans. The different uses of rocks are-
1. Rocks are used as building material, eg. Granite, sandstone and marble.
2. Minerals like natural gas, coal and petroleum or fossil fuels are sources of power.
3. Rocks have also made agriculture possible as soil is formed by the decomposition or
degradation of rocks.
4. Chemicals found in rocks are sometimes used as fertilizers also.
5. Rocks contain fossils which tell us about life in past.
G. Extra Questions.
1. Name the branch of geography that deals with the origin and structure of rocks.
Ans. The branch of geography that deals with the origin and structure of rocks is called petrology.
2. Define lithosphere.
Ans. Lithosphere is the solid crust or hard top layer of the earth, composed of rocks and minerals. Its
average thickness varies between 8 km to 50 km. The two distinct layers which the crust comprises
are the continental crust or sial and oceanic crust or sima.
3. How is the Earth divided?
Ans: The Earth is divided into three concentric layers – crust, mantle and core.
4. Explain mantle.
Ans: The mantle or the mesosphere is a term used for the second layer of the Earth. It lies beneath
the crust and extends up to the core of the earth. Its average thickness is 2,900 km. The mantle is
made up of rocks which are far denser than those constituting the crust.
5. Give two examples of sedimentary rocks.
Ans: Limestone and coal.
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