Earth’s LayersPresented by Kesler Science

1. What are the main characteristics of the Earth’s layers?

2. How can the Earth’s layers be illustrated?

Essential Questions:

Earth's Layers

Earth’s Crust• The outer layer of the Earth

• Similar to the skin on an apple (thinnest layer)

• Made up of both continental (land)and oceanic crust(under the ocean)

• 5-50 km thick

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Earth's Layers

Oceanic Crust•A thin layer of crust that overlies the ocean basins

•More dense than continental crust

•Mostly basalt rock

• Thinner that continental crust. (5-10km)

• Younger (newer) than continental crust

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Earth's Layers

Continental Crust• Layer of rock which forms the continents

• Less dense than oceanic crust

•Mostly granite

• Thicker that oceanic crust

•Older than oceanic crust

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Earth's Layers

Mantle• Largest layer of the Earth

• Under the crust about 2,890km

• Composed of silicate rocks rich in magnesium and iron

• Intense heat causes the rocks to rise and then cool and sink.

• The process is called convection, which causes the crust to move.

• Average temperature 3000o

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Earth's Layers

Lithosphere• Solid outer section of the Earth, which includes the crust(rocky layer)

•Also, includes the cool, dense, rigid upper part of the Mantle

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Earth's Layers

Asthenosphere

• Solid part of the upper mantle

• Weaker, less rigid (plasticity -like silly putty)

• Lithosphere moves over the plastic-like asthenosphere

• These plates crash into each other.

• Here the oceanic crust is subducting under the continental crust which creates volcanoes.

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Earth’s Layers

• Mesosphere

• The strong lower part of the mantle.

• Molten rock in the mesosphere flows more slowly than molten rock in the asthenosphere.

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Earth's Layers

Outer Core• Liquid layer (magma) 2,300 km

thick, second largest

• Composed of liquid iron and nickel

• Lies between inner core and mantle

• Because the magma moves around the inner core, Earth’s magnetic field is created.

• Average temperature 4000o -5000o

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Earth's Layers

Inner Core• A solid ball of metal

• 1,250 km thick

• Made of solid nickel and iron

• So hot it melts everything in the outer core

• Spins at a speed faster than the Earth rotates

• Densest layer of the Earth

• Average temperature 5000o -6000o

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Quick Action – Earth's Layers

Take a break. Get up and dance

Time for a break

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Earth's Layers

What are seismic waves?

•Waves of energy caused by earthquakes and other rock movement

•Travel through some layers of the Earth

•Recorded with seismographs

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Earth's Layers

• Seismic waves are used to determine which layers of the Earth are solid or liquid.

• Some seismic waves cannot pass through certain layers giving us a clue to the layers composition.

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Check for Understanding

Can you…

1. List the characteristics of each of the Earth’s layers?

2. Illustrate the Earth’s layers?

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Quick Action – INB Template

Earth's Layers INB Template

1. Cut out the Template.

2. Complete the Venn Diagram.

3. Paste it in your notebook.

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