Creating A Slice Of Pie
Problem
To create a piece of pie representing Earth’s layers. The scale of this model is 1 cm on
model represents 100 km on actual planet Earth.
Materials
 Paper – 11” x 28” piece of paper
Made by two 11” x 14” pieces of paper taped together on short ends.
 Tape
 Meter Stick
 Pencil
 Colored pencils, and/or crayons.
Procedure
Measuring & Cutting
1) Draw a centerline by drawing a very light line down the center of the paper, the
long way.
2) Mark a “pivot point” on your centerline, 3 cm from edge of paper.
Pivot Point
3) Using a pencil taped at 63. 7 cm on the meter stick place the zero end of your stick
on the pivot point, draw a surface arc line. You’re using your meter stick like a
compass.
63.7 cm
Surface arc
NOT DRAWN TO
SCALE
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Name:____________________________________________
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Creating A Slice Of Pie
4) At the arc end of your paper measure 6.7 cm from your centerline, make an
intersecting mark through arc on both sides of centerline.
6.7 cm
6.7 cm
Intersecting marks
5) Connect your “pivot point” to the intersection marks on surface arc line to get
“piece of pie” shape.
Always measuring downwards FROM THE SURFACE ARC to find the
boundaries between layers.
1) Measure down 0.35 cm from surface arc. Use pencil taped on
meter stick to draw new arc. Label the space between the surface
arc and this line: CRUST.
2) Measure down 1 cm from the surface arc. Draw new arc. Label the
space between the crust line and this line: LITHOSPHERE.
3) Measure down 6.7 cm from the surface arc. Draw new arc. Label
the space between lithosphere and this line: UPPER MANTLE.
4) Measure down 28.9 cm from the surface arc. Draw new arc. Label
the space between the upper mantle and this line: LOWER
MANTLE.
5) Measure down 51.7 cm from the surface arc. Draw new
arc. Label the space between the lower mantle and this line: OUTER
CORE. Label the last segment: INNER CORE
NOT DRAWN TO
SCALE
Edited 01.12.2014
Name:____________________________________________
2
Creating A Slice Of Pie
Labeling
Following this chart, shade each layer lightly with a colored pencil.
o The entire Lithosphere – brown
o Upper Mantle – red
o Lower Mantle – Orange
o Outer Core – Yellow
o Inner Core – White
o Label predominate materials found each layer.
o Label the density of each layer.
o Label temperature of each layer.
o Cut out the slice of pie.
Observations
1) What is the scale of the model? _________________________________________
2) On the circle to the right, identify where the radius of the circle is.
3) On the same circle to the right, identify where the diameter of the circle is.
4) What is the radius of Earth in kilometers? Explain how you figured out the radius.
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Name:____________________________________________
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Creating A Slice Of Pie
5) What is the diameter of Earth in kilometers? Explain how you figured out the diameter.
COPY:
SUBSTITUTE:
EVALUATE:
6) Therefore, what is the circumference of Earth? If C =
d
Show your work. HINT: When solving algebraic formulas: Fill in the variables you know and then
solve for the unknown variable.
COPY:
SUBSTITUTE:
EVALUATE:
7) What is the volume of the Earth? If Vsphere=4/3 πr3
Show your work. HINT: When solving algebraic formulas: Fill in the variables you know and then solve for
the unknown variable.
COPY:
SUBSTITUTE:
EVALUATE:
Edited 01.12.2014
Name:____________________________________________
4