Question

the table shows the thickness, top density, and bottom density of the different layers of the earth.
which statement is supported by the information in the table?
○ as depth increases, the density of the layers increases.
○ as depth increases, the density of the layers decreases.
○ as depth increases, the thickness of the layers increases.
○ as depth increases, the thickness of the layers decreases.

	thickness (km)	density (g/cm³)	types of rock found
crust	30	2.2	2.9	silicic rocks
upper mantle	720	3.4	4.4	peridotite
lower mantle	2,171	4.4	5.6	magnesium and silicon oxides
outer core	2,259	9.9	12.2	iron+oxygen

Explanation:

1. Analyze density trend with depth:

• Crust (shallowest): top density = 2.2 $\text{g/cm}^3$, bottom = 2.9 $\text{g/cm}^3$
• Upper mantle: top density = 3.4 $\text{g/cm}^3$, bottom = 4.4 $\text{g/cm}^3$
• Lower mantle: top density = 4.4 $\text{g/cm}^3$, bottom = 5.6 $\text{g/cm}^3$
• Outer core (deepest): top density = 9.9 $\text{g/cm}^3$, bottom = 12.2 $\text{g/cm}^3$

Each subsequent deeper layer has a higher top and bottom density than the layer above, so density increases with depth.

1. Analyze thickness trend with depth:

• Crust thickness = 30 km
• Upper mantle thickness = 720 km
• Lower mantle thickness = 2,171 km
• Outer core thickness = 2,259 km

Thickness increases with depth, so the statements about decreasing thickness are incorrect.

Answer:

As depth increases, the density of the layers increases.