The Earth’s Layers, Axis, Plate Tectonics

Earth’s Layers

• The Earth is made of 3 layers- crust, mantle, and core

• The circumference of the earth at the equator is 24,901.55 miles

• The earth through the poles the circumference is a bit shorter - 24,859.82 miles

• Equatorial bulge caused by Earth’s spin and sun/moon’s gravity

Layers of the Earth

Earth Stats

• 93 million miles from sun

• While we're hurtling through space at nearly 67,000 mph, we're also spinning around in circles at over 1000 mph!

• The Sun is a fusion nuclear reaction- it powers the whole system

• The Earth’s magnetosphere protects us from the sun’s deadly radiation

Earth’s axis

• Earth is divided into hemispheres- equator divides N & S, while Prime Meridian divides E&W.

• Earth’s Axis- 23.5° - causes seasons- the uneven distribution of heat causes ocean currents and the weather

Continental Drift

• Earth’s crust is broken up into plates which float around on magma and bump into each other.

• Plates move at a rate of between ½ to 4 inches annually

Continental Drift• Convergence- when 2 plates come together,

forming mountains• Subduction- when 1plate slides under the

other• Divergence- when magma rises to the

surface, creating new ocean floor- sea floor spreading

• Transform- when 2 plates slide against each other- fault line

• Continental rift- when a continent is pulled apart

Landforms

• Create a map of your own country. Choose 10 landforms to label on the map. Define them on the back and provide a real world example. Color the map. Good Luck!

• Archipelago, bay, canal, canyon, cape, channel, cliff, continental shelf, continental divide, delta, fork, river source, river mouth, glacier, gulf, harbor, highland, hill, island, isthmus, lake, mountain, ocean, peak, peninsula, plain, plateau, sound, strait, swamp, tributary, valley, volcano, fjord