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Earth's Layers Notes

Earth is composed of three main layers - crust, mantle, and core. The crust is the outermost layer and varies in thickness between 5-60km. Below the crust is the mantle, which makes up over 84% of the Earth's volume and is divided into lithosphere, asthenosphere, and mesosphere layers. The innermost layer is the core, consisting of a liquid outer core and solid inner core. Heat and pressure increase further into the Earth, with the inner core being the hottest and most dense region at the planetary center.

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227 views23 pages

Earth's Layers Notes

Earth is composed of three main layers - crust, mantle, and core. The crust is the outermost layer and varies in thickness between 5-60km. Below the crust is the mantle, which makes up over 84% of the Earth's volume and is divided into lithosphere, asthenosphere, and mesosphere layers. The innermost layer is the core, consisting of a liquid outer core and solid inner core. Heat and pressure increase further into the Earth, with the inner core being the hottest and most dense region at the planetary center.

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mceldownea
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Earths Layers

Notes

Earth is divided into 3


basic layers:
1. Crust
2. Mantle
3. Core
These layers are then
subdivided into smaller layers.

The farther in you go.


1. The hotter it gets
2. The more
pressure there is.

CRUST:
Is the outermost layer on the earth.
(EGG SHELL)

Thickness varies. Under mountains


it can be as thick as 60 km and less
than 5 km under the ocean.
It is the least dense of all the layers.
(lightest layer)
It is made up of silicon and oxygen.

2 TYPES OF CRUST:
Oceanic crust is
very dense, made
of Basalt. (What
type of rock is
this?)

Continental crust
is less dense,
made of Granite.

BASALT

GRANITE

MANTLE:
Located below the crust. (Egg
White)

It is the largest layer (about 2900


km thick). Rock layers are
movable. (plastic)
Hot soften rocks made up of more
magnesium and iron.
Density increases with depth due
to increase in pressure.

Look at the sub-layers of the mantle

LITHOSPHERE:
This is the crunchy layer of the Earth and
flexible like a plastic comb.

Divided into pieces called tectonic plates.


It includes the crust and the very uppermost
part of the upper Mantle

Look at the sub-layers of the mantle

ASTHENOSPHERE:
This is the weak or soft part of the mantle.
Made of rock that flows slowly because of
convection currents and extreme heat.
Lithosphere floats on top of asthenosphere and
moves because of the convection currents.

Look at the sub-layers of the mantle

MESOSPHERE:
Strong, lowest part of mantle.
Almost fully solid because of pressure.

CORE: (Egg Yolk)


Located below the Mantle.
It is divided into 2 layers
Outer Core
Inner Core

Outer Core:
is liquid and is made up of mostly iron

(easily magnetized) and about 2250 km


thick.

The movement of materials in the


liquid O.C. is inferred to be the cause of
Earths magnetic field!

Even though there is so much


pressure it should be solid, it is liquid
from the high heat.

Inner Core:
Is the center of the Earth 1200
km thick.
Its solid iron and nickel. Most
dense layer (heaviest)
The increased pressure causes
the I.C. to be solid

Do we need
Earths Iron
core?

How do we know?
We

have never made it past the


crust to see whats inside our planet
because there is too much pressure,
heat, and we cannot drill through the
solid rock.
So how do we know?

How Do Scientists Study the


Earths Interior?
Scientists

use seismic waves by


studying how fast the waves
travel and what path they take.
This reveals how the planet is
put together.
Earthquakes produce these.

In Review:

1.What are the 3 main layers of the Earth?


Crust, Mantle, Core
2.Which layer is the least dense?

Crust
3.Which core layer is solid iron and nickel?
Inner core
4.What is the name given to the crunchy layer of
the crust and uppermost part of the mantle?
Lithosphere
5. The motion in this layer is the reason Earth has
a magnetic field.
Outer core

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