1. The Earth’s Layers Layers

2. Students will … illustrate the structural layers of Earth, including the inner core, outer core, mantle, crust, asthenosphere, and lithosphere. [6.10A]

3.  Each layer of the Earth has its own unique properties.  There are three distinct layers – the crust, mantle, and core – which can then be subdivided into more layers.  Each layer is made up of specific elements.

4.  Crust  Mantle  Core

6.  Outermost layer  Thinnest layer and much cooler than others  2 types of crust 1.Oceanic (very dense, made of basalt) 2.Continental (less dense, made of granite)

7. Thinnest beneath ocean and thickest beneath mountain ranges

8.  Layer beneath crust  Middle layer  Very thick layer  Made up of more iron and magnesium so is very dense  Convection currents occur in the mantle

9. LithosphereAsthenosphere  Consists of the crust and the upper part of the mantle  Solid and rocky  Broken into large pieces called tectonic plates  Earthquakes can occur in the lithosphere  Made up of elements Oxygen and Silicon  Beneath the lithosphere  Partially molten  The rock is pliable or plastic-like  Rock here bends, stretches, and flows  The tectonic plates float on this layer

10.  Earth’s crust is broken into about a dozen major plates and several minor plates  These plates constantly move on top of the Asthenosphere

11.  Made up of the elements iron and nickel  1/3 of the Earth’s mass  The core is larger than Mars!  The core is very hot and dense

12. Outer Core Inner Core  The outer core is a liquid  The material of the outer core is considered molten as it is extremely hot  Less dense than the inner core  Made up of Iron and Nickel  The inner core is the most dense  It is solid even though the temperature is very hot due to the extreme pressure  The inner core is composed mostly of Iron

13.  How are the Earth’s layers similar to an egg?  Shell=crust  Egg white=mantle  Yolk=core

14.  Crust and Lithosphere- rigid outer layer  Mantle and Asthenosphere- solid rock that flows slowly (like hot asphalt)  Outer Core- liquid layer  Inner Core- solid, very dense

15.  http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/pltec/#cr ust http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/pltec/#cr ust  http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/dynamic. html http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/dynamic. html