EARTH UNIT- LESSON 9 THE LAYERS OF THE EARTH!

OBJECTIVES Students will have an understanding of the layers of the earth.

VOCABULARY crust: mantle: inner core: outer core:

EARTH LAYERS The Earth is divided into four main layers. 1.Inner Core 2.Outer Core 3.Mantle 4.Crust

THE CRUST The Earth’s crust is like the skin of an apple. It is very thin compared to the other three layers. The inside of the Earth contains a lot of pressure. After the Earth was made, it began to cool. The outer shell became a hard crust of rock. This crust is light in color and is made mostly of granite. Above the granite is sedimentary rock. The crust makes up 1% of the Earth.

THE MANTLE The Mantle is the second layer of the Earth. The mantle of the Earth is solid rock, but it’s not completely hard. Because of the intense heat, the mantle is moldable, like play dough. The mantle slowly moves. This movement causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The mantle is largest layer of the Earth. The mantle is 1,800 miles deep.

OUTER CORE The outer core is liquid. The liquid is made of iron and nickel. The core of the Earth is like a ball of very hot metals. 1,400 miles of thick liquid iron and nickel.

INNER CORE The inner core of the Earth has temperatures and pressures so great that the metals are squeezed together and are not able to move. Although the inner core is very hot, pressure from the weight of the rest of the Earth doesn't ’ t allow the material to melt. The inner core is made of solid iron that is as hot as the sun’s temperature. 1,400 miles of thick liquid iron and nickel.

LAYERS OF THE EARTH Click here to learn more about each layer structure.html structure.html Bill Nye Earth’s Crust episode

REVIEW 1) What are the four layers of the Earth? 2) The Earth ’ s crust is very ______? 3) The mantle is the largest layer of the Earth? True or False 4) Is the Outer Core a liquid or a solid?

ANSWERS! 1) Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, Inner Core 2) Thin 3) True 4) Liquid