Question

Earth’s lithosphere includes -----.
A) Inner layer of earth
B) Lowest region of earth
C) Ionisation of gases
D) Hard and rigid outer layer of the earth

Answer 1

Hint: The earth is formed up of four layers and the lithosphere is the outer layer. One can think about the composition of the lithosphere layer and compare it with the given options and select the correct choice.

Complete step by step answer:
1) First of all we will learn about the earth layers and what they are made up of i.e. constituents. The earth mainly consists of four layers such as crust, mantle, inner layer, and outer layer.
2) The earth’s lithosphere consists of the crust and the uppermost mantle which is the hard and rigid outer layer of the earth.
3) The lithosphere is present to the depth of about sixty miles which means a hundred kilometres towards the earth’s core.
4) The lithosphere layer is broken into many separate layers, rigid blocks, and tectonic plates. The slow movements deep within the mantle which is generated by the radioactive heating of the interior that causes the lateral movement of the plates.
5) This layer has made up many different types of sedimentary rocks, igneous rocks. This layer is much less dense and thick in nature. Hence, it is the uppermost layer of the earth.
Therefore, Earth’s lithosphere includes a hard and rigid outer layer of the earth which shows that option D is the correct choice of answer.


Note: The continents are situated on the top of the lithosphere layer. The lithosphere layer consists of tectonic plates that move due to radioactive heating of the interior of the earth. This movement happens at a rate of several inches per year and causes continental drift.