Comparing the Layers of Earth

The Crust

Temperature can range up to 1600F

Thickness 5-70 km

Composition 2 types of crust made from brittle rock:

Oceanic mostly basalt (thinnest crust)
Continental mostly granite (thicker crust)

Distinctive Characteristics On the crust you will

find rocks, mountains, soil, water,life, etc.

Density 3 g/cm3
 The Mantle

Temperature 1600F - 6700F

Thickness 2867 km
Composition Magma (molten rock) consist of 3 parts:
Lithosphere Rigid layer similar to the crust, rocky.
Asthenosphere Soft and can bend like plastic.
Mesosphere (lower mantle) soild.
Distinctive Characteristics Upper mantle is made up
by part of the crust (the moving plates), the
asthenosphere makes the plates move due to slow
flowing magma and the lower mantle is semi-rigid.

Density 5 g/cm3
 The Outer Core

Temperature 6700 F 7800 F

Thickness 2,266 km

Composition Liquid molten (melted) metal made of

iron (Fe) and Nickel (Ni).

Distinctive Characteristics High temperature inside

Earth from the formation of the planet keeps the iron
and nickel liquid. It helps to create earths magnetic
field.

Density 10 g/cm3
 The Inner Core

Temperature - 7800 F - 13000 F Hottest layer

Thickness 1,216 km

Composition Dense solid metal ball made of iron (Fe)

and Nickel (Ni).

Distinctive Characteristics Extreme pressure

squeezes the atomes of the iron and nickel so much
they cannot spread out & become liquid, keeping the
inner core solid.

Density 15 g/cm3
 A distinct physical break or a sharp
difference of characteristics between
parts.
What is discontinuity?

The Moho discontinuity (Mohorovii

What are the 2 discontinuity) is the boundary
types of between the Earths crust and the
discontinuity? mantle.

The Gutenberg discontinuity is what

separates the mantle from the core.
 CRUST AND MANTLE CRUST AND INNER CORE
Made from rock (brittle and Both solid
molten)

Comparing layers
OUTER & INNER CORE OUTER CORE & MANTLE
Contain iron and nickel Both are liquid
 1. Name the earths layers from the hottest to the coldest.
2. Name the earths layers from the least dense to the most dense
3. Which layer is completely liquid?
4. Which layer contains molten rock?
5. Which layer is the thinnest?
6. Which layer is the thickest?
Check for 7. Why is the inner core solid?
Understanding 8. What are the parts of the mantle?
9. What are the types of curst?
10.What happens to the pressure, density and temperature as you
move from the crust to the inner core?