Department of Education

Earth Science
Grade 11
Endogenic Processes: Earth's Internal
Heat/Magma Formation
Second Quarter – Week 2

Lyric S. Bantiles
Writer

Vienne M. Pascual
Dr. Darylle G.Hilapo
Validators

Dr. Louie M. Valdez

Armida S. Oblinada
Quality Assurance Team

Schools Division Office – Muntinlupa City

Student Center for Life Skills Bldg., Centennial Ave., Brgy. Tunasan, Muntinlupa City
(02) 8805-9935 / (02) 8805-9940
 This learning area is designed to provide a general background for the
understanding of the Earth on a planetary scale. It presents the history of the Earth
through geologic time. It discusses the Earth’s structure and composition, the
processes that occur beneath and on the Earth’s surface, as well as issues, concerns,
and problems pertaining to Earth’s resources.

Earth Science
Endogenic Processes
Content Standard
The learners demonstrate an understanding of the geologic processes that
occur within the Earth
Performance Standard
The learners will be able to make a simple map showing places where
erosion and landslides may pose risks in the community.
Learning Competencies
Explain why the Earth’s interior is hot (S11ES-IIb-c-23), and
Describe what happens after magma is formed (S11ES-IIc-25).
Specific Learning Outcomes
At the end of the lesson, the learners will be able to:
• recognize the sources and significance of the Earth's internal heat;
 explain the requirements for magma generation.

Directions: Read the questions carefully and choose the letter of

the best answer among all the given choices.

1. The Earth's Mantle is made up of?

A. A solid layer of Iron and Nickel
B. A molten (liquid) layer of of Iron and Nickel
C. A solid layer of Granite and Basalt
D. A solid/plastic layer of Peridotite that moves over time through the
processes of convection

2. What kind of currents cause heat transfer in the Earth?

A. Convection B. Conduction C. Radiation D. Ocean

3. How is the crust DIFFERENT from the other layers of the Earth?
A. It is hotter. B. It is under pressure.
C. It is thinner. D. It is mostly liquid.

4. How does the density of the Earth’s core compare to the other layers of the
Earth?
A. The core is the densest layer.
B. The core is the least dense layer.
C. The core is only less dense than the crust.
D. The core is only less dense than the mantle.

2
5. Which layer of Earth is solid and why?
A. The inner core is solid because of movement of the outer core.
B. The inner core is solid because of the freezing temperatures
C.The inner core is solid because of the extreme pressure from the other
layers.
D. The outer core is solid because of the extreme pressure from the other
layers

6. Which layer of Earth is the warmest?

A. crust B. mantle C. outer core D. inner core

7. Which layer of the earth contains granite and basalt in the GREATEST
abundance?
A. crust B. mantle C. outer core D. inner core

8. Which BEST describes the physical properties of the Earth’s core?

A. a solid lower part and a liquid upper part
B. contains volcanic, sedimentary and granitic rocks
C. water and organic substances
D. semi-molten

9. The Earth's mantle is DIFFERENT from the outer core because the mantle is
__________.
A. next to the inner core.
B. farther from the crust.
C. closer to the center of the Earth.
D. closer to the surface of the Earth.

10. Which layer is plastic and has the consistency of silly putty allowing
movement?
A. asthenosphere B. lithosphere C. mesosphere D. crust

Structure of the Earth: Compositional vs. Mechanical Layers

The structure of the Earth consists of various spherical shells or layers that
can be categorized in two manners: either by their chemical compositions or
mechanical properties. Hence, compositional layers and mechanical layers are the
two types of layers.

The following are brief overviews of the compositional layers of the

Earth.
• Crust: The crust is the outermost chemical layer that ranges from 5 to 70
kilometers. It is further categorized into thinner parts called the oceanic crust, and
the thicker parts called the continental crust. The oceanic crust underlies the oceanic
basins composed mostly of igneous rocks made from iron magnesium silicate.

3
• Mantle: The mantle is the thickest layer that extends to a depth of around 2890
kilometers. It is also divided into the upper mantle and lower mantle, both composed
of silicate rocks rich in iron and magnesium. Note that the mantle is solid. However,
at the upper mantle, high temperatures make the silicate material considerably
ductile, thus allowing it to flow.
• Core: The core consists of denser materials composed primarily of iron and nickel.
Note that it is divided between the outer core, which is about 2400 kilometers thick,
and the inner core, which has a radius of 1220 kilometers. The outer core is liquid,
while the inner core is primarily a solid ball with a temperature similar to the surface
of the Sun.

Five mechanical layers of the Earth:

• Lithosphere: The lithosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth that consists of
the entire crust and the top-most portion of the mantle. Furthermore, they are
divided into pieces called tectonic plates. The movements of these plates are
responsible for mountain-building, oceanic trench formation, earthquakes, and
volcanic eruption.
• Asthenosphere: The asthenosphere includes the soft layer of the mantle on which
the lithosphere moves. Remember that it is made of solid silicate materials, but the
high temperature allows it to flow on very long timescales. The lithosphere-
asthenosphere boundary is where geophysicists mark the difference in ductility
between the two layers.
• Outer Core: The outer core extends from the bottom of the mesosphere or the lower
mantle and surrounds the inner core. Composed of iron and nickel, the extreme
temperature allows these metals to remain in their liquid phases. It is the only layer
of the Earth that is a true liquid. Furthermore, its movement is responsible for
generating the magnetic field.
• Inner Core: The inner core is also made of iron and some nickel. However, unlike
the outer core, it is a solid ball. The solidity is due to the intense pressure from the
upper layers. Hence, although it is as hot as the surface of the Sun, there is
speculation that the inner core is slowly growing as the liquid outer core at the
boundary with the inner core cools and solidifies due to the gradual interior cooling.

A. Earth’s Internal Heat

Specifically, the heat generated during the Earth’s formation came from the
following sources: accretion energy, adiabatic compression, core formation
energy and decay of short-lived radio-isotopes.

1. Accretion of the Early Earth

As the gas making up the solar nebula beyond the Sun cooled with
time, mineral grains are thought to have condensed and aggregated to form the
earliest meteoritic material. In addition, as is suggested by the finding of anomalous
concentrations of isotopes in a few meteorites, solid material from outside the solar

4
system, apparently existing prior to the formation of the Sun, was occasionally
incorporated into these developing small bodies.
2. Adiabatic compression is a process in which no heat is gained or lost from the
air and the internal energy of the air is increased. In this process, pressure increases
quicker than the volume diminishes due to increase in the air temperature. During
the process, energy is transferred only as work.
3. Core formation. The core formed during accretion, as metal from impactors sank
through a magma ocean to the center of the Earth. Liquid metal in contact with liquid
silicate equilibrated at high pressures and temperatures, resulting in the core and
mantle compositions that we see in the Earth today.
4. A radionuclide (radioactive nuclide, radioisotope or radioactive isotope) is an atom
that has excess nuclear energy, making it unstable. This excess energy can be used
in one of three ways: emitted from the nucleus as gamma radiation; transferred to
one of its electrons to release it as a conversion electron; or used to create and emit
a new particle (alpha particle or beta particle) from the nucleus. During those
processes, the radionuclide is said to undergo radioactive decay. These emissions are
considered ionizing radiation because they are powerful enough to liberate an
electron from another atom. The radioactive decay can produce a stable nuclide or
will sometimes produce a new unstable radionuclide which may undergo further
decay. Radioactive decay is a random process at the level of single atoms: it is
impossible to predict when one atom will decay.

Radioactive heat (the heat generated by long-term radioactive decay): main

sources are the four long-lived isotopes (large half- life), namely K40, Th232, U235.

Geothermal gradient or geotherm: the

temperature increases with depth into Earth
(the non-linear temperature/depth curve)
(Fig. 1).

Non-linear: the increase in one variable

(e.g. depth) is not proportional to the
increase in the other variable
(e.g. temperature)

 Temperature gradient in the crust:

~25°C/km

 Some areas exhibit a much higher

gradient as a result of a greater concentration of heat at relatively shallow
depths. These areas (areas of anomalously high temperature gradient) are
exploited for geothermal energy.

 If temperature was simply a linear function of depth (linear relationship), we

should expect that at depths below 100 km (the average thickness of the
lithosphere), temperature could reach as much as 2500°C. Partial melting of
rocks can occur at this temperature yet we know that, except for the outer
core, the rest of the Earth is essentially solid. Most of the rocks beneath the
surface of the Earth is solid due to the fact that the geothermal gradient drops
sharply a short distance into the earth and that increasing confining pressure
with depth counteracts the effect of increasing temperature.

 Temperature gradient at the mantle: between 0.5°C/km to 1°C/km.

5
The estimated internal temperature of the Earth
Based on the geotherm curve above, it can be deduced that the mantle is
considerably hotter than the crust, and the core is much hotter than the mantle.
- Core-mantle boundary: 3,700°C

- Inner-core – outer-core boundary:

5,000°C±500°C
- Earth’s center: 6,400°C±600°C
How the Earth's internal heat is
redistributed?
 Simultaneous conduction, convection
and radiation
- Convection occurs at the mantle but not
between the core and mantle or even between
the asthenosphere and lithosphere (except at sea-floor spreading zones). The only
heat transfer mechanism in these transition zones is through conduction.

Activity 1:
Demonstration of Convection Current
Instruction
Heat water in the beaker until it boils. Pour coffee or tea into it

Discussion
1. Enumerating the mechanisms that occur when boiling the water.
a. There is a heat source at the bottom of
the water.
b. The heat is rising to the top from the
bottom.
c. The surface water becomes hot, and it
radiates its heat into the air and then
cools.
d. The cooler water sinks into the space
vacated by the ascending warmer water.
The cooler water starts to warm again
while the one that rises starts to cool.
e. The process goes on, forming a top to
bottom circulation of water
2. Observe what happens to the coffee
or tea, especially the top portion.
Explain what happens.
a. The top portion has a relatively
lighter color relative to the lower portion and represents the top of a
convection cell.
b. Condensing water vapor marks the top of rising columns of warm water.
c. Dark line separating them marks the location of sinking cooler water.

6
B. Magma Formation
Conditions required for the formation of magma:
Crust and mantle are almost entirely solid indicating that magma only forms
in special places where pre-existing solid rocks undergo melting.
A. Melting due to decrease in pressure (decompression melting): The decrease
in pressure affecting a hot mantle rock at a constant temperature permits melting
forming magma. This process of hot mantle rock rising to shallower depths in the
Earth occurs in mantle plumes, beneath rifts and beneath mid-ocean ridges.
B. Melting as a result of the addition of volatiles—compounds that have low
boiling points (flux melting): When volatiles mix with hot, dry rock, the volatile
decreases the rock’s melting point and they help break the chemical bonds in the
rock to allow melting.
C. Melting resulting from heat transfer from rising magma (heat transfer
melting): A rising magma from the mantle brings heat with it and transfer heat to
their surrounding rocks at shallower depths which may melt.

Places where Magma can Form

a. Mid-oceanic ridges: the rising

magma in mantle convection cell
brings heat to the surface,
transferring heat to the overlying
rocks. The transfer of heat due to
convection is accompanied by a
decrease in pressure or
"decompression" associated with
the spreading of the lithospheric
plates. These two works in tandem promoting the partial melting of rocks along the
spreading center.
b. Mantle plumes (hot spots): Similar to mid-oceanic ridges, the transfer of heat
and decompression result to magma generation. The source of heat for mantle
plumes is much deeper.
c. Subduction zones: Oceanic crustal rocks are formed along spreading centers,
typically beneath several kilometers of seawater. The presence of water during
generation results to the formation of hydrous minerals. As the oceanic slab is down-
thrusted along subduction zones, the change in temperature and pressure
conditions brings about mineral instability (e.g. hydrous minerals) and the release of
water to the surrounding hot rocks. The introduction of water effectively lowers the
melting temperature of rocks and therefore causes partial melting or magma
generation.

7
 Activity 2:
Chocolate Mantle Convection (adapted from the videoHot Chocolate Mantle
Convection Demonstration. Source: https://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdWYBAOqHrk).
Objective: To illustrate how heat works in the mantle.
Instruction:
1. Put water in the pan.
2. Sprinkle it with chocolate powder until the top is thickly covered with dry
powder.
3. Slowly put it on the pan holder. Light one of the candles and place it under the
center of the pan.
4. When it starts to boil, light the other two candles and put them in opposite sides
of the pan. Observe what happens.
Discussion:
1. How is heat transferred in the activity? State evidence.
2. Describe what happens to the powder when the water starts to boil. Explain why
this occurs.
3. Describe what happened after boiling is achieved in the other two candles.
Explain why this occurs.
4. How does this activity relate to the formation of magma?

We can consider three main sources for energy driving Earth

processes. These are the following:
1) Remnant energy (such as heat or kinetic energy left over from earlier in the
history of the Earth and solar system)
2) Solar energy (received from the sun in the form of light, other electromagnetic
energy, or particles)
3) Radioactive energy (from the decay of radioactive isotopes in the Earth's interior
which releases energy)

Examples of how each of these affects the Earth include the following:
1) The tides (affecting Earth's oceans and atmosphere, and even the lithosphere)
tap energy from the motion of the Moon, Earth, and Sun. Thus, these would fall
under "remnant energy" in the simple classification above.
Energy moves in the following ways:

1. Radiation: Every object is "glowing", emitting energy by electromagnetic

radiation. Sometimes this radiation is visible (light), sometimes it is not visible
(radiation in parts of the spectrum we can't see, such as radio waves, microwaves,
infrared radiation, ultraviolet, x-rays, or gamma rays). This energy can go through
space until it encounters a material that absorbs it. Electromagnetic spectrum
Conduction: Energy can cause atoms and molecules to move or vibrate differently
in a particular material. This energy can move from one material to another when
those materials are in contact with each other.

8
Convection and Advection: Energy present in a particular mass of material can
move with that mass if the mass itself moves. Convection refers to up-and-down
movement of masses, usually because of differences in density, advection refers to
the lateral movement of mass, such as wind or ocean currents.

2) The primary source of energy for weather and storms is the Sun, which
heats the Earth's surface unevenly, resulting in winds and storms, which attempt
to even-out the distribution of heat.
3) The primary source of energy for volcanism is radioactive decay in the
Earth's interior, which provides heat that becomes locally concentrated enough to
produce partial melting of Earth's rock.

Draw a schematic cross section of the earth, showing the different layers of
the earth. Include and label (when necessary) the following in the illustration:
1. different tectonic settings where magma is generated
2. type of melting that is usually associated with the settings identified in # 1
3. heat transfer mechanisms and the direction of heat transfer (thru arrows)

Directions. Fill in the blank with the correct word/s or phrase/s to complete the
sentence. Choose the letter of the correct answer.
1. _________________________ is a measurement of heat.
A. Temperature C. Only warmth
B. Only cold D. Warmth or cold

2. In what types of matter does convection occur?

A. Liquids only C. Gases and Liquids
B. Gases only D. Gases, Liquids, and Solids

3. During convection, hot substances _____________________ while cooler

substances ________________.
A. sink; rise C. rise; remain stationary
B. rise; sink D. sink; remain stationary

4. Heat moves from __________________ to __________________ places.

A. hot; hotter C. colder; cold

B. hotter; colder D. colder; hotter

5. A _____ is a crack in Earth's crust along which there has been movement.
A. Chasm C. Fault
B. Fracture D. Crevice

6. In a convection cycle, what causes plastic-like material to sink?

A. It gains heat from the outer core

9
 B. It loses heat to the outer core
C. It gains heat from the crust
D. It loses heat to the crust

7. Within which of these layers does convection occur?

A. Inner core and outer core C. inner core and crust
B. mantle and crust D. outer core and mantle

8. In which layer does the temperature vary the MOST

A. Crust B. Mantle C. Outer core D. inner core

9. ___________________moves from hotter places to colder places.

A. Rock B. Convection C. Temperature D. Heat

10. _____ in Earth's _____ is the up and down movements of plastic-like material
within that layer.
A. Convection; crust C. Conduction; mantle
B. Convection; mantle D. Conduction; crust

References
(1) Carlson, D. H., Plummer, C. C., Hammersley L., Physical Geology Earth
Revealed 9thed, 2011, pp46-47.

(2) Kirkland, K., Earth Sciences Notable Research and Discoveries, 2010, pp 18-21.

(3) Marshak, S., Essentials of Geology, 4th ed., 2013, pp99-100.

(4) Tarbuck, E. J. et al Earth An Introduction to Physical Geology, 2014, p134-136.
(5) http://www.ucl.ac.uk/EarthSci/people/lidunka/GEOL2014/Geophysics8%20-
%20Thermal%20evolution/Heat.htm (Accessed 3Dec2015).
(6) http://www.tulane.edu/~sanelson/eens211/earths_interior.htm(Accessed: 3 Dec
2015).

(7) http://www.geol.umd.edu/~jmerck/geol100/lectures/10.html (Accessed 3Dec

2015).
(8) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdWYBAOqHrk (Accessed 07 Dec 2015).

Answer Key

B 10. A 10.

D 9. D 9.

A 8. A 8.

D 7. A 7.

D 6. D 6.

C 5. C 5.

B 4 A 4.

B 3. C 3.

A 2. A 2.

A 1. D
10 1.

Post test Pretest