Earth’s Interior

GeologyGeology

• The study of planet Earth.

• Study of…– The forces that make and shape

planet Earth.– The chemical and physical

characteristics of rock.– The processes that create Earth’s

features and search for clues about Earth’s history.

3 Layers of the Earth’s Interior3 Layers of the Earth’s Interior

• Crust

• Mantle

• Core

CrustCrust

• Layer of rock that forms Earth’s outer skin.

• 2 Types of Crust– Oceanic crust

• Crust beneath the ocean.• Made of basalt

– Dark, dense rock with a fine texture

– Continental crust• Crust that forms continents• Made of granite

– Rock that has larger crystals than basalt, not as dense

MantleMantle

• Layer of hot rock below the crust.

• Temperature and pressure in the mantle increase with depth.

• Lithosphere– Consists of the crust and

the uppermost part of mantle.

• Asthenosphere– Layer below the

lithosphere that is soft– Mantle below is solid

CoreCore

• Inner layer made of metals iron and nickel.

• 2 Layers– Outer core

• Layer of molten metal that surrounds the inner core.

– Inner core• Dense ball of solid

metal

Earth’s Magnetic FieldEarth’s Magnetic Field

• Currents in the liquid outer core force the solid inner core to spin at a slightly faster rate than the spinning of the whole Earth.

• Earth’s magnetic field– Caused by the core

movement– Causes the planet to act

like a giant bar magnet

Earth’s InteriorEarth’s Interior

Earthis divided into

Core

Crust

Mantle

is divided into

Outer core

Inner core

Summary QuestionsSummary Questions

• What are the layers that make up Earth? Write a sentence about each one.

• What happens in Earth’s interior to produce Earth’s magnetic field? Describe the layers of the interior where the magnetic field is produced.

• What are some of the differences and similarities between the mantle and the core? Explain.