Name: ____________________________________ Date: _________________ Class: _______
Scale Model of Earth’s Interior Lab
Thickness of Earth’s Layers
Crust: 5-40 km (average = 22.5 km)
Mantle: 2,900 km
Outer core: 2,250 km
Inner core: 1,200 km
1. The Earth’s layers are measured in kilometers. We want our model to be in centimeters. The
radius of the cake is 11 centimeters, and the radius of the Earth is 6372.5 kilometers. Write a
scale we can use to convert our units below.
2. Find the scale factor/unit rate so that we can convert the thickness of the Earth’s layers from
kilometers to centimeters. Hint: divide the number of centimeters by the number of kilometers
in the scale above (#1)
3. Multiply the scale factor/unit rate with the unit you want to convert. We want to convert the
thickness of each layer to centimeters. Show your work.

Crust = 22.5 km

Mantle = 2900 km

Outer Core = 2250 km

Inner Core = 1200 km
4. Cancel units. The unit that we want (centimeters) should remain if you set up everything
correctly. Complete the thickness for each layer in centimeters.




Crust = __________________ cm
Mantle = __________________ cm
Outer Core = __________________ cm
Inner Core = __________________ cm
5. Label each layer of the Earth and their thickness on our scale model.
Layer: __________________
Layer: __________________
Thickness: ______________
Thickness: ______________
Layer: __________________
Thickness: ______________
Layer: __________________
Thickness: ______________
Name: ____________________________________ Date: _________________ Class: _______
Mid-Winter Recess Project: Design and Build a Scale Model of Earth’s Interior
Directions: You will design and build a scale model of Earth’s Interior. Answer questions 1-5 to
convert units from kilometers to centimeters. This is the design/planning portion of the project.
Then use the converted measurements to start building your actual model. Remember:YOU
WILL NEED A RULER!
1. Pick an appropriate scale that converts kilometers (km) to centimeters (cm).
Examples:
 10 cm = 6372.5 km
 20 cm = 6372.5 km
**Note that the more km there are in 1 cm, the smaller your scale model will be**
2. Find the scale factor/unit rate so that you can convert the thickness of the Earth’s layers from
kilometers to centimeters. Hint: divide the number of centimeters by the number of kilometers
in the scale above (#1)
3. Multiply the scale factor/unit rate with the unit you want to convert. You want to convert the
thickness of each layer to centimeters. Show your work.

Crust = 22.5 km

Mantle = 2900 km

Outer Core = 2250 km

Inner Core = 1200 km
4. Cancel units. The unit that you want (centimeters) should remain if you set up everything
correctly. Complete the thickness for each layer in centimeters.




Crust = __________________ cm
Mantle = __________________ cm
Outer Core = __________________ cm
Inner Core = __________________ cm
5. Label each layer of the Earth and their thickness on our scale model.
Layer: __________________
Layer: __________________
Thickness: ______________
Thickness: ______________
Layer: __________________
Thickness: ______________
Layer: __________________
Thickness: ______________