Inside the EarthInside the Earth

Layers that Make Up the Earth

Composition (What it is made of)

• Crust

• Mantle

• Core

The Crust

• Outer layer• 5-100 km thick• Temp.- Surface temp

to bottom 1600 F• 2 types of crust

– Oceanic (very dense, made of basalt)

– Continental (less dense, made of granite)

Oceanic and Continental Crust

The Mantle

• Middle layer• Very thick layer• Temp.- top 1600 F

to bottom 4000 F

The Core• Made mostly of iron

as well as nickel• 1/3 of the earth’s mass• Outer core temp.

top 4000 F tobottom 9000 F

• Inner core temp.above 9000 F

• Inner solid due to intense pressure

Earth’s Layers

• How are the earth’s layers similar to an egg?

• Shell=crust• Egg white=mantle• Yolk=core

Physical Structure of the Earth(5 Layers)

• Lithosphere- rigid outer layer (crust)

• Asthenosphere- solid rock that flows slowly (like hot asphalt)

• Mesosphere- middle layer

• Outer Core- liquid layer

• Inner Core- solid, very dense

Tectonic Plates• Earth’s crust is broken into about 19

pieces

• These plates move on top of the asthenosphere