The Earth's InteriorThe Earth's interior can be divided up to three main layers. They are the crust, mantle, and the core, and they are based on the materials that make up each layer. Temperature and pressure in Earth's interior increase with depth. The materials that make up the layer will change as the depth change.
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Crust• Rocky outer layer
• Made out of silicates • Continental and Oceanic crust |
Mantle• A thick layer of hot but solid rock
• 2850km (beneath the crust to the top of the core) • Rich in iron and magnesium • Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, Mesosphere |
Core• A larger sphere of metal that occupies Earth’s center
• Mostly of iron, some nickel and lighter elements • 3.6 million times the pressure at surface/5,500°C • Outer and Inner core |
Continental/
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Continental crust is the rock that makes up the continents. It consists mainly of less-dense rocks, such as granite. It is about 40km in thickness.
Oceanic crust makes up the oceanic floor. It mostly consist of dense rocks like basalt. It is about 7km in thickness. |
Lithosphere, Asthenosphere, Mesosphere |
Lithosphere is a layer of relatively cool, rigid rock that includes the uppermost part of the mantle as well as Earth’s crust.
Asthenosphere is a layer of softer, weaker rock that can flow slowly, the way taffy does. Mesosphere is a stronger lower part of the mantle, beneath the asthenosphere. Stiffer rock extends all to upper surface of Earth's core. |
Outer, Inner Core |
In the outer core, high temperature keep the metal liquid. In addition, the rotation of the Earth produce an electric current, which is the magnetic field
Inner core is very high in pressure so it keeps iron solid. |