Question

Distinguish between the Gutenberg Discontinuity and Mohorovicic Discontinuity.

Answer 1

Aspect	Gutenberg Discontinuity	Mohorovicic Discontinuity
Location	Between the mantle and the outer core at about 2,900 km depth.	Between the crust and the mantle, at about 5-10 km beneath oceans and 32-40 km beneath continents.
Nature of Boundary	Marks the boundary where P-waves slow down and S-waves disappear, indicating the outer core is liquid.	Marks the boundary where there is a change in composition and density, from silicate-rich rocks (crust) to denser mantle rocks.
Main Feature	Indicates the outer core is liquid.	Marks the transition from the crust (SIAL/SIMA) to the mantle (higher-density materials).
Seismic Wave Behavior	P-waves slow down significantly; S-waves do not pass through the outer core.	Both P-waves and S-waves travel through the crust and mantle, but their speed increases with depth.
Significance	Provides evidence for the liquid state of the outer core.	Helps determine the composition and structure of the Earth's outer layers.