Which statements about Earth’s crust are true? Check all that apply.

Question

The crust includes soil, rock, and water.
There are three different kinds of crust.
The crust is thickest under the ocean.
The ocean crust is made of young rocks.
The ocean crust is denser than continental crust.

Answer 1

Let's evaluate each statement about Earth's crust:

1. The crust includes soil, rock, and water.

   • False. The crust consists of soil and rock, but does not include water. Water exists on the surface of the crust, but it is not considered a component of the crust itself.

2. There are three different kinds of crust.

   • True. There are three main types of crust: continental crust, oceanic crust, and some classifications also refer to transitional crust types.

3. The crust is thickest under the ocean.

   • False. The continental crust is typically thicker than oceanic crust. Oceanic crust is generally about 5-10 kilometers thick, while continental crust can be up to 70 kilometers thick in some areas.

4. The ocean crust is made of young rocks.

   • True. Oceanic crust is constantly being formed at mid-ocean ridges and is usually younger than continental crust, which can be billions of years old.

5. The ocean crust is denser than continental crust.

   • True. Oceanic crust is denser than continental crust, primarily because it is composed of basaltic rock, while continental crust is primarily composed of granitic rock.

In summary, the true statements are:

• There are three different kinds of crust.
• The ocean crust is made of young rocks.
• The ocean crust is denser than continental crust.