1. The Earth’s Interior

2. What is the Earth made of?
What’s inside of it?

3. Inside the Earth The Earth is made up three major compositional layers
Each layer is defined by their physical properties and compositions
These layers are further divided into five mechanical layers

4. Inside the Earth Physical Properties
Temperature: how hot or cold something is
Density: the amount of mass (of the substance) in a given space
Ability to flow:

5. Composition
Composition: the make-up of something; the different mixtures of elements

6. So what’s inside the Earth?

7. Earth’s Three Compositional Layers
The Core
(composed of the outer core and inner core)
The Mantle
(composed of the athenosphere and mesosphere)
The Crust
(part of the lithosphere)

8. The Earth as an Avocado The Core The Mantle The Crust
(the avocado’s seed)
The Mantle
(the green meat of the avocado)
The Crust
(the avocado’s skin)

9. Earth’s Interior
iPad app: Planet Earth 3D
You may download it now.

10. The Crust Outermost layer of the Earth The part that we live on
Hence why we know the most about this layer
Thinnest layer of the Earth
5-100 km thick
Less than 1% of the Earth’s mass

11. The Crust TWO TYPES Continental crust: Composition similar to granite
Average thickness of 30 km
Oceanic crust:
Composition similar to basalt
Generally 5-8 km thick
More dense than continental crust

12. The Mantle The Layer of the Earth between the crust and the core
Extremely thick
2,900 km thick
Contains most the Earth’s mass (67%)
We haven’t seen what the mantle really looks like (too far down)
Inferences made about its composition and other characteristics based on observations made on the Earth’s surface
Sometimes mantle rock is pushed up to the surface (the crust) by tectonic forces, so we can analyze the rock directly

13. The Mantle
Molten rock from (underwater) volcanoes are “windows” into the Mantle
Composed of large amounts of iron and magnesium (mineral olivine)

14. The Core
Extends from the bottom of the mantle to the center of the Earth
35% of the Earth’s mass
6, 856 km in diameter
The planet Mars is smaller than the Earth’s core
Composed mostly of IRON ,
Some small amounts of nickel, sulfur and oxygen too

15. Earth’s Five Main Physical /Mechanical Layers

16. Earth’s Five Main Physical /Mechanical Layers
Outside  In:
1. Lithosphere
2. Athenosphere
3. Mesosphere
4. Outer core
5. Inner core

17. The Lithosphere Outermost, rigid layer of the Earth
Translates to “rock sphere”
Made up of:
THE CRUST
Rigid upper part of the mantle
Pieces of tectonic plates

18. The Asthenosphere “Weak sphere”
Soft layer of the mantle on which pieces of lithosphere move
Made of solid rock that flows very slowly

19. The Mesosphere Lies beneath the athenosphere
Strong lower part of the mantle
Extends from bottom of asthenosphere down to the core

20. Outer Core Liquid layer of the Earth’s core Lies beneath the mantle
Surrounds inner core

21. Inner Core Solid, dense center of the planet, Earth
Lies 6,378 km beneath the surface
At the very center of the Earth
Responsible for the Earth’s magnetic field