EARTH’S COMPOSITION
Proportions of the Earth’s Elements Element Percent by Weight Iron 34.6 Oxygen 29.5 Silicon 15.2 Magnesium 12.7 Other 8.0
Elements of the Earth’s Crust Element Percent by Weight Oxygen 46.6 Silicon 27.7 Aluminum 8.1 Iron 5.0 Calcium 3.6 Sodium 2.8 Potassium 2.6 Magnesium 2.1 All Others 1.5
Earth’s Layers Defined Based on 2 Criteria Composition (3 Layers) Crust Moho: Boundary between the Crust and Mantle Mantle Core Structure (5 Layers) Lithosphere – Composition: Upper Mantle & Crust Asthenosphere – Composition: Mantle Mesosphere – Composition: Mantle Outer Core - Core Inner Core - Core
COMPOSITIONAL DIFFERENCES
Composition (What it is made of) Crust Mantle Core
The Crust Outer layer 5-100 km thick Silica Rich 2 types of crust Oceanic (very dense, made of basalt) Continental (less dense, made of granite)
Oceanic and Continental Crust
The Mantle Middle layer Magnesium Rich Very thick layer
The Core Made mostly of iron 1/3 of the earth’s mass Very hot
Earth’s Layers How are the earth’s layers similar to an egg? Shell=crust Egg white=mantle Yolk=core
STRUCTURAL DIFFERENCES
Physical Structure of the Earth (5 Layers) Lithosphere- rigid outer layer (crust) Asthenosphere- solid rock that flows slowly (like hot asphalt) Mesosphere- middle layer Outer Core- liquid layer Inner Core- solid, very dense
Tectonic Plates Earth’s crust is broken into about 19 pieces These plates move on top of the asthenosphere
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