Internal Structure of the Earth

Objective:

• Students will learn the internal structure of the earth in order to compare the different layers

Warm-Up:

• What can you tell me about the internal structure of the earth?

(think about temperature, composition, state of matter)

Structure of the Earth

The Earth is made up of 3 main layers:

– Core– Mantle– Crust Inner core

Outer core

Mantle

Crust

The Crust• This is where we LIVE!

• There are two types of Crust:

The Crust• This is where we LIVE!

There are two types of Crust:

Continental crust:

Forms the continents

Mostly very old material

Thickness: Thick (10-70km)

Buoyant (less dense than oceanic crust) Floats on the mantle

The Crust• This is where we LIVE!

Oceanic Crust:

Forms the ocean floor

Composed of relatively young material (no more than 200 mil yrs old)

Thickness: Thin (~7 km)

Very Dense (sinks under continental crust)

The Mantle • A layer of almost solid rock with 2 sub-layers!

The Mantle: Lithosphere• All of the crust and uppermost part of the

mantle. oForms the platesoFloats on the Asthenosphere

The Mantle: Asthenosphere• Part of the upper mantle. Located directly

below the lithosphere. – Partially melted, plastic like– Has the ability to flow

Internal Structure: States of matter

CrustGranite/andesite

& Basalt 0-45 km

Mantle Peridotite45-2,900km

Internal Structure: Composition• Continental Crust-• Oceanic Crust-

Basalt/ Iron and Magnesium

• Mantle-Iron Magnesium

• Outer Core-Nickel & Iron

• Inner Core- Nickel & Iron

Foldable: Goal for

today

Inner Core Composition --Nickel& IronThickness-1220kmState of matterSoild

2855km

Closure

• If you were traveling from the center of the earth outwards, what order would you pass through each layer?– Mantle, Outer core, Inner core, Crust– Inner Core, Outer Core, Mantle, Crust– Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core– Crust, Mantle, Inner Core, Outer Core

4B RAM HOUR

• MAKE UP WORK

• TEST CORRECTIONS

• IF YOU OWE ME a TEST or QUIZ