Transcript Core
Chapter 7 Section 1
Inside the Earth-Pages 190-193
Layers of the Earth
Brown
Blue
Composition of the Earth
The Earth is divided into 3 layers:
Crust
Mantle
Core
The Crust and Mantle are made of less dense compound.
The Core is more dense that the crust and mantle.
CRUST
The outermost layer
5-100 km thick
Thinnest layer
2 types of crust
Continental- thick
Oceanic-thin
MANTLE
Mantle
2900 km thick
Between the crust and core
Thick
Contains most of Earth’s mass
Scientists study the mantle by looking at the
composition of magma.
Magma from volcanoes gives scientists clues
about the composition of the mantle.
CORE
Innermost layer
Made mostly of iron and nickel
Inner core solid
Outer core liquid
Core
Physical Properties of Earth
Earth divided into 5 physical layers:
1.
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
Mesosphere
Outer Core
Inner Core
2.
3.
4.
5.
Lithosphere
Outermost layer of Earth
Made of crust and upper mantle
Divided into pieces called tectonic plates.
The crust is divided into continental plates
which drift slowly (only a few centimeters
each year) atop the less rigid mantle. The
crust is thinner under the oceans (6-11 km
thick); this is where new crust is formed.
Continental crust is about 25-90 km thick. The
lithosphere is defined as the crust and the
upper mantle, a rigid layer about 100-200 km
thick. The Mohorovicic discontinuity is the
separation between the crust and the upper
mantle.
Asthenosphere
Layer below Lithosphere
Pieces of lithosphere (tectonic plates) move
along this layer.
Made of solid rock, soft layer of the mantle
The asthenosphere is solid even though it is at very
hot temperatures of about 1600 C due to the high
pressures from above. However, at this temperature,
minerals are almost ready to melt and they become
ductile and can be pushed and deformed like silly
putty in response to the warmth of the Earth. These
rocks actually flow, moving in response to the
stresses placed upon them by the churning motions
of the deep interior of the Earth. The flowing
asthenosphere carries the lithosphere of the Earth,
including the continents, on its back.
Mesosphere
Below the asthenosphere
Strong lower part of mantle
Extends to the Earth’s core
Outer Core
Liquid layer of Earth’s core
Surrounds inner core
Inner Core
Solid dense center
Quiz
1. Name the three main layers of the Earth.
2. Which layer is the most dense?
3. Which layer is the thinnest?
4. What are the two types of crust?
5. Which layer contains most of Earth’s mass?
6. What two layers make up the lithosphere?
7. The lithosphere is divided into pieces called:
8. Pieces of lithosphere move on top of this layer:
9. The Asthenosphere is said to be “plastic”. What does this mean?
10. Which layer, inner core or outer core, is liquid?
11. Which layer, the inner core or the outer core, is solid?
Answers
1.Crust, mantle and core
2. Core
3. Crust
4. Continental and oceanic
5. Mantle
6. Crust and upper mantle
7. Tectonic Plates
8. Asthenosphere
9. Because it is very hot and made of partially molten rock it bends and can be
pushed and deformed due to the pressure placed on it from deep within
the Earth.
10. Outer core
11. Inner core