What makes up the layers of the earth?
The Earth has layers that have specific conditions and compositions.
Composition-the parts that something is made of
Density-the degree of compactness, quantity per unit volume
Composition-the parts that something is made of
Density-the degree of compactness, quantity per unit volume
- Density increases with pressure
- Heaviest layer will be at the bottom
crust
Position
- Outermost layer - varies the most in thickness
- Thinnest under the ocean
- Thickest under the continents
- Crust and top of mantle are called the Lithosphere
- Least dense layer overall
- Oceanic Crust-Basalt (more dense)
- Continental Crust-Granite
- Solid Rock
- Mostly Silicon and Oxygen
mantle
Position
- Middle layer
- Thickest of the layers
- Top portion called the Asthenosphere
- Increases with depth because of increasing pressure
- Hot, softened rock (molten material)
- Contains Iron and Magnesium
core
Position
- Inner layer
- Consists of two parts-Outer Core and Inner Core
- Heaviest material
- Most dense layer
- Mostly Iron and Nickel
- Outer Core-Slow flowing liquid
- Inner Core-Solid