12/7/10
SCIENCE
LAYERS OF THE EARTH
1. CRUST – Hard shell of the Earth. (also called the lithosphere)
 The thinnest, but densest part is under the oceans (oceanic crust)
 The thickest, but least dense part is under the continents (continental crust)
 Temp ↑ 86◦ F for every mile
 Made of SOLID ROCK
2. MANTLE – largest layer by volume
 Made of SOLID ROCK that can flow under extreme heat and pressure
 Upper mantle is called the asthenosphere- a semi-solid substance which the crust
floats on
 Temps. up to 5,500◦ F
3. CORE –
a. OUTER CORE
 LIQUID iron and nickel
 Up to 9,000◦ F
 Movement creates Earth’s electromagnetic field
b. INNER CORE
 SOLID iron and nickel
 + 10,000 ◦ F
 Stays solid due to the pressure exerted from the outer layers
The CRUST floats on the MANTLE because of PLASTICITY; the ability of a solid to
flow like a liquid.
12/7/10
SCIENCE
LAYERS OF THE EARTH
1. CRUST – Hard shell of the Earth. (also called the lithosphere)
 The thinnest, but densest part is under the oceans (oceanic crust)
 The thickest, but least dense part is under the continents (continental crust)
 Temp ↑ 86◦ F for every mile
 Made of SOLID ROCK
2. MANTLE – largest layer by volume
 Made of SOLID ROCK that can flow under extreme heat and pressure
 Upper mantle is called the asthenosphere- a semi-solid substance which the crust
floats on
 Temps. up to 5,500◦ F
3. CORE –
a. OUTER CORE
 LIQUID iron and nickel
 Up to 9,000◦ F
 Movement creates Earth’s electromagnetic field
b. INNER CORE
 SOLID iron and nickel
 + 10,000 ◦ F
 Stays solid due to the pressure exerted from the outer layers
The CRUST floats on the MANTLE because of PLASTICITY; the ability of a solid to
flow like a liquid.