The The Earth’sEarth’s LayersLayers

Inner Core(5,000 degrees C)

750 mileradius

Outer Core(2,200 degrees C)

1,430 miles

Mantle(870 degrees C)

1,800 miles

Crust(cool)

(10-25 miles thick)

Inside Our EarthNext Slide

The inner core is made of solid nickel and iron and is magnetic

The outer core ismade of hot liquid nickel and iron.

The crust is hard and brittleIt is made of rock: mostly basalt (oceanic) and Granite (continental)

The mantle is hot partmelted and part solidIron, silicon and magnesium. Also a rock called periodite

Composition of the Earth’s Layers

Next Slide

The mantle is divided into three parts:

The asthenosphere (or upper mantle) is solid even though it is at very hot temperatures of about 1600 C due to the high pressures from above. However, at this temperature, minerals are almost ready to melt and they become ductile and can be pushed and deformed like silly putty (plastic) in response to the warmth of the Earth. The flowing asthenosphere carries the lithosphere of the Earth, including the continents, on its back.

man

tle

crust

the lithosphere includes the crust and the uppermost mantle, which constitute the hard and rigid outer layer of the Earth.

The Lower mantle makes up half of the volume of the Earth’s interior. Althought the lower mantle is MUCH hotter than the upper mantle, it does not flow as easily because of the increased pressure. Variances of temperature in the mantle cause convection currents which move the lithospheric plates.

asthesnosphere

lower mantle

Next Slide

The core has two parts• The core of the Earth is VERY HOT• The inner core is solid because the

extreme pressure does not allow the particles enough space to liquefy

• The Earth’s core is magnetic

• Earth's inner core is rotating faster than the planet itself.

• The Earth's solid iron inner core, which, is estimated to be roughly the size of the moon. It rotates because it is surrounded by a much larger liquid outer core, and together the two form a giant electrical motor.

Outer core (liquid Iron)

Inner core (solid Iron)

Next Slide