LAYERS OF THE EARTH

Categorized by composition and physical properties

3 layersCrustMantleCore

LAYERS OF THE EARTH

Thinnest layer (5-100 km thick)

Layer we live on

2 types of crust:Continental- made up of a material similar to granite, less dense

Oceanic- made up of a material similar to basalt, more dense

THE CRUST

Thick compared to the crust (2,900 km)

Middle layer between the crust and the core

Contains most of the Earth’s mass (67%)

Made up of a material similar to the mineral olivine (lots of iron and magnesium)

THE MANTLE

Thought to be made of iron with some nickel, sulfur, and oxygen

From the bottom of the mantle to the center of the Earth

6,856 km in diameter

THE CORE

5 physical layersLithosphereAsthenosphereMesosphereOuter coreInner core

PHYSICAL LAYERS OF THE EARTH

Means “rock sphere”

Outermost, rigid layer of the Earth

Made of the crust and rigid upper part of the mantle

Makes up tectonic plates (pieces of the lithosphere)

LITHOSPHERE

Means “weak sphere”

Soft layer of the mantle on which pieces of the lithosphere move

Made of solid rock that flows very slowly at the same rate your fingernails grow

ASTHENOSPHERE

Means “middle sphere”

Lower part of the mantle from the bottom of the asthenosphere to the Earth’s core

MESOSPHERE

Outer core is a liquid layer

Inner core is the solid, dense center of our planet

OUTER AND INNER CORE

Let’s test the density of some objects

DENSITY

Density is how compact something is or how much stuff you can fit into a certain space

Things sink or float depending on density

If an object is less dense than water it will float. If an object is more dense than water it will sink.

DENSITY

Which is more dense? The container on the left or the container on the right?

DENSITY

Seismic waves from earthquakes can be used to determine the density and thickness of the inside of the Earth

Seismic waves will travel at different speeds depending on the density and strength of material seismic waves pass through. For example, a seismic wave will travel faster through solid rock than through a liquid

Seismologists measure the difference in arrival times of seismic waves to calculate the density and thickness of each physical layer of the Earth

DENSITY

A convection current is a current resulting from uneven heating of a liquid or gas

Examples:Heating up soupAir conditioning or heater in your carRadiatorConvection ovens

CONVECTION CURRENTS

Convection current demo

Tea bag rocket (1:15)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkkrXxJ4db8&feature=fvwrel

Hot chocolate convection current (4:17)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdWYBAOqHrk&feature=related

CONVECTION CURRENTS