1. Earth’s Interior C hapter 1 Section 1

2. Guide for Reading What does a Geologist do? What are the characteristics of Earth’s crust, mantle, and core?

3. The Science of Geology Geology is the study of planet Earth. Geologists are scientists who study the processes that create Earth’s features and search for clues about Earth’s history.

4. Surface Changes Forces are constantly changing the surface of the Earth Earth looks different today than it did millions of years ago.

5. Constructive forces shape the surface by building up mountains and landmasses Constructive forces = Build up

6. Destructive forces slowly wear away the Earth’s features. Destructive forces = tear down

7. So what is inside the Earth’s interior?

8. Evil Spirits?

9. Cheese?

10. The ugly dude in Lord of the Rings?

11. These people?

12. Fact! The deepest mine in the world is only 2.4 miles deep. The center of the Earth is over 3728 miles deep!

13. So if we can’t get to the center of the Earth, how do we know what’s there?

14. Indirect Evidence!!!!!

15. Scientists use seismic waves to infer what the interior of earth is composed of. Seismic waves are energy waves that travel through Earth’s interior during earthquakes

17. A Journey to the Center of the Earth

18. Temperature and pressure increase as you move into Earth’s interior.

19. Earth has three major layers 1. The Lithosphere 2. The Mantle 3. The Core

20. The Lithosphere The Lithosphere is the layer of the Earth that includes the Crust and the Upper Mantle

21. Lithosphere = Crust + Upper Mantle! By the way, there are two types of crust, continental crust and oceanic crust. Continental crust is mostly made of the rock Granite. It is not very dense but very thick! Oceanic crust is mostly made of the rock Basalt. It is thin but very dense! The Upper Mantle is just hot solid rock

23. The Mantle The Asthenosphere is the softer part of the Mantle. The rocks here are melted and can slowly stretch and flow. Under this layer the mantle becomes solid.

24. Core The Outer Core is liquid metal (iron and nickel). The Inner Core is solid metal (iron and nickel).