1. Chapter 7
Plate Tectonics

2. 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.

4. Tech Terms:
crust –
layer of solid rock (Earth’s skin)
contains rocks, mountains, soil, and water
thickness ranges from km
thinnest layer of the Earth
LEAST dense layer

5. mantle –
separated from the crust by the Mohorovicic discontinuity
layer of amorphous solid (liquid AND solid properties)
contains silicon, oxygen, magnesium, iron, and calcium
thickest layer of the Earth

7. lithosphere - the crust + the rigid upper mantle.
asthenosphere – located about 100 km to 250 km deep underground that exhibits plastic properties.

8. 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.

9. 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!

10. Inside the layers of the Earth
Layers of the Earth Rap