Chap 7, Sec 1 (Inside the Earth) Objectives: Identify the layers of the Earth by their chemical (elements) composition. Identify the layers of the Earth by their physical properties. Describe a tectonic plate.
What do we already know about Earth's Structure? Chapter 7 What do we already know about Earth's Structure?
Physical Tech Terms: Earth’s crust – layer of rock forms Earth’s outer skin contains rocks, mountains, soil, and water can range in thickness from 5-100 km thick the thinnest layer of the Earth.
separated from the crust by the Mohorovicic discontinuity mantle – separated from the crust by the Mohorovicic discontinuity composed of silicon, oxygen, magnesium, iron, and calcium acts as an amorphous solid (solid and liquid tendencies). It’s the thickest!
lithosphere - the crust + the rigid upper mantle. asthenosphere – located about 100 km to 250 km deep underground that exhibits plastic properties.
How do we know this?
Journey to the Center of the Earth In 1864 a novel was written on this topic by French author Jules Verne. At the time, scientists knew nothing about the Earth’s interior. Was it hollow? Was it solid? Hot or cold? How could you travel through the Earth? You would need a vehicle that could travel through solid rock, adjust your body to extreme pressures, and resist heat as hot as 5,000 degrees C.
Finding Indirect Evidence One of the most difficult questions that geologists try to answer is, What’s inside the Earth? Seismic Waves measure the distance and route of travel through the earth’s crust. These are also used for measurement of earthquake strength and predictions. Discovery of the Earth's Core
The Earth’s core contains two parts that make up about 1/3 of Earth’s mass, both which are made of iron and nickel. outer core – layer of molten, liquid, metal (despite the amount of pressure it is under) 2,260 km thick.
inner core – dense ball of solid metal 1,200 km thick temperature which is slightly hotter than the surface of the sun (7,200 °C) It’s the hottest AND densest!
MIT Layers of the Earth video
Independent Reinforcement 1) Silent Read p. 190-196 2) Complete the guided reading worksheet with it. 20 minutes. Layers of the Earth Rap