1. Layers of the Earth

2. What Are The Earth’s Layers ? Inner Core Outer Core Mantle Crust

3. Characteristics of The Inner Core Solid ball due to high pressure (most dense layer) 1540 miles across 3700°C = VERY HOT! Iron and nickel Intense pressure keeps it from liquefying

4. Characteristic of The Outer Core Dense liquid molten rock 1400 miles thick Mainly iron and nickel Some silicon Between mantle and inner core Gives Earth its magnetic field

5. Characteristics of The Mantle Parts are semi- molten (silly putty) 1800 miles thick Mantle rock is more dense than crustal rock Flows in sluggish currents Between crust and outer core

6. The Crust Earth’s outer rocky surface 4 miles thick under oceans Up to 40 miles thick under mountain ranges Consists of mostly “light” rocks (granite – below continents) (basalt – below oceans) Oceans cover 71% of the crust (oceanic crust is very dense) Continental crust is less dense

7. Oceanic and Continental Crust Note: the directions of movement

8. Tectonic Plates Earth’s crust is broken into about 19 pieces These plates move on top of the asthenosphere

9. Earth’s Layers Are Earth’s layers similar to a hard boiled egg?

10. How Are Earth’s Layers Similar To a Hard Boiled Egg? The Yolk =core, inner & outer core Egg white =mantle The Shell =crust

11. Other Physical Structures of the Earth’s Layers Lithosphere- includes the crust and the upper most portion of the asthenosphere. This area glides over the rest of the upper mantle. Zone of earthquakes/volcanoes. Asthenosphere- top layer of the upper mantle which consists of highly viscous rock that flows slowly (like hot asphalt)