Aim: How can we describe the different layers of the Earth?

Do Now: How are Ogre’s like onions?

1. From the clip, identify the inner layers of the earth.

2. What is the outer core made of? How is it important?

3. Describe how the peach resembles the inner layers of the earth.

How are the inner layers of the earth like a peach!

Only about 7.5 miles into the earth’s crust which can

be up to 25 miles deep under the continents.

How far into the crust have we gone?

Activity I – Parts of Earth’s Interior•Each pair of students will

receive two envelopes: one containing reading

passages and the other containing statements that describe the different parts

of Earth’s interior. •Use the reading passages

to determine which statement represents the correct layer. Be sure to record your answers on

your worksheet.

The Crust (Lithosphere)

Layer Things to know What it is made of…

Crust - Lithosphere

Lithosphere

Thinnest of all layers – we live here Composed of the crust and rigid mantle

(upper most portion) Divided into lithospheric plates Continental Crust – granite rock - thick Oceanic Crust – basalt - thin

Oxygen and Silicon

The Mantle(Asthenosphere and Stiffer Mantle)

Layer Things to know What it is made of…

Mantle

Asthenosphere

(Plastic Mantle)

Molten rock, more fluid like (taffy) Convection currents - moves crustal plates

Iron, magnesium and silicon

Stiffer Mantle(Lower Mantle)

More rigid rock (less fluid)

The Core(Inner and Outer)

Layer Things to knowWhat it is made of…

Core – Inner and Outer

Outer Core

Liquid layer

Creates the earths magnetic field (constant motion due to earths rotation)

Iron and

nickel

(Composition that is similar to meteorites)

Inner Core

Solid layer

Summary

1. How do we differentiate between the inner and outer core?

2. How can we describe the different layers of the Earth?

3. Why is having a liquid iron core important to the Earth?

Earth’s Crust (Lithosphere) What is below Earth’s surface? Like a hard-boiled egg, Earth has three basic layers: the crust, the mantle, and the core. Each layer is separated due to the differences in their density. The shell of the egg represents the crust. The crust is the thin, outer layer of Earth that we live on. It is made of a rocky material and is abundant in oxygen and silicon. The crust forms the lithosphere. The lithosphere is composed of the crust and the rigid mantle (upper portion of the mantle). Like a cracked eggshell, the crust is divided into lithospheric plates of oceanic crust and continental crust. Beneath the oceans, the oceanic crust is from 5 to 10 km thick. Beneath the continents, the continental crust is from 32 to 70 km thick. The continental crust is mostly made of granitic rocks and the oceanic crust is mostly made of basaltic rocks. The thickest part of the crust is beneath the mountains.

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Earth’s Core (Inner and Outer) The inner-most region of the Earth is the core. Through observations of meteorites, scientists infer that the composition of the core is made mostly of iron and nickel. The core has two parts: outer core and the inner core. The outer core is liquid and is about 2,250 kilometers thick. The Earth’s magnetic field is inferred to be controlled by the liquid outer core due to its constant spinning motion, which is a result of the earth’s rotation. The inner core is solid with a radius of about 1,300 kilometers thick. This is the hotter layer with temperature beyond 6,000ºC.

Thinnest of all layers – we live here

Composed of the crust and rigid mantle

Divided into lithospheric plates

Continental Crust – granite rock - thick

Oceanic Crust – basalt - thin

Oxygen and Silicon

Molten rock, more fluid like (taffy)

Convection currents – moves crustal plates

More rigid rock (less fluid)

Iron, magnesium, and silicon

Liquid layer

Creates the Earth’s magnetic field (constant motion due to Earth’s rotation)

Solid Layer

Iron and Nickel