Layers of Earth interactive assignment

Crust

Outermost and thinnest layer

2 types-continental and oceanic

Least dense layer of Earth

Compositional layer

Crust continues..

Less than 1% of Earth's mass

0-1,000 degrees Celsius

5-100 km thick

Lithosphere(another word for crust)

Continental crust

Thicker and less dense than oceanic crust

100 km thick

We live on this

Oceanic crust

More dense-sinks and subducts underneath continental crust

Made up of more iron, calcium, and magnesium

Not as thick as continental crust(5 km)

Oceanic crust pictures

Made of iron, magnesium, and calcium

Mantle

Much thicker than crust

67% of Earth's mass(most massive layer)

2900 km thick

1,000-3,700 degrees Celsius

Located below crust

Compositional layer

More mantle

Underwater volcanoes allow magma to rise through the crust from the mantle

No one ever visited mantle(crust too thick)

3 parts of mantle=LAM

These are the 3 parts of the mantle in this order from upper mantle to lower mantle

L=Lithosphere(also part of crust)

A=Asthenosphere(middle part)

M=Mesosphere(lower part)

Lithosphere

Upper part of mantle and lower part of crust

15-300 km thick

Physical layer of Earth

Lithosphere features..

Divided into pieces called tectonic plates

Like a giant jigsaw puzzle with the plates being the pieces of it...

Asthenosphere(middle of mantle)

250 km thick(below lithosphere)

Tectonic plates found in Lithosphere move on top of the Asthenosphere.

All tectonic plates have names.

Asthenosphere features..

Solid rock that flows slowly

Plastic layer(bendable) on which pieces of the lithosphere move..

Asthenosphere fun features..

Plastic layer

Solid rock that flows slowly

Tectonic plates move slow-few cm per year

Amazing asthenosphere

Think of a bowl of punch with tectonic plates as ice cubes. Plates(ice cubes) float on top of

asthenosphere(bowl of punch)

Plates cover surface of asthenosphere, touch one another, and move around..They move slow!

Mesosphere(lower part of mantle)

2,550 km thick

Below the asthenosphere

Strong, lower part of mantle

Biggest part of mantle

Remember for the mantle

L=Lithosphere(top of mantle, lower part of crust)

A=Asthenosphere=(middle)

M=Mesosphere(lower part)

**These are all physical layers**

The core(2 parts)

Made of nickel and iron

The core(compositional layer)

Over 3,400 km thick(radius-sphere)

3,700-7,000 degress Celsius

Below mantle

33% of Earth's mass

Densest layer

The outer core

Liquid

Made of iron and nickel

Not as dense as inner core

2,200 km thick(radius)

Physical layer part

The inner core

Solid

Made of iron and nickel

Densest layer of the Earth..heavier elements pulled towards the center of Earth by gravity.

About 1,230 km thick(radius)

Physical layer part

How do we know about the layers?

Scientists look at seismic waves(earthquake waves)

Seismic waves travel at different speeds though solid and liquids. Through solids they travel faster

than through liquids

What causes the plates to move?

Convection currents...Inside the Earth, hot rock expands and rises and cold rock at the surface

sinks..This circular motion of warm air rising and cold air sinking is one of the causes of the tectonic

plate movement.

Did you know..

Granite rock makes up most of the continental crust because it is less dense

Did you know..

That basalt rock makes up most of the oceanic crust because it more dense.