Planet Earth:

An Owner’s Manual
Earth’s Interior - Structure
and Composition

Unlike the Moon, the Earth is a

dynamic, constantly changing planet.
How do we know this?
• Lack of surface impact craters.
• Global volcanic activity.
• Global seismic activity.
• High mountains in spite of vigorous erosion
cause by surface water and atmosphere.

What’s going on inside the planet to

generate and maintain all of this
activity?

Questions for Discussion

Is the composition What is the
of the deep interior Earth’s internal
of the Earth different energy source?
than the exterior?
LR RR

How do we What is the

investigate the Earth’s external
properties of the energy source?
deep Earth?
LF RF
The density of the crust of the Earth does
not match the density of the whole planet.
• Continents
• Granite
• Quartz
d = 2.7 gm/cm3

• Ocean Basins
• Basalt d = 6.0 gm/cm3

d = 3.0 gm/cm3

The Earth must be layered.

Dinner + Douter
Dwhole =
2
2 layers: Dinner + 3
Vouter = Vinner 6=
2
€
What is the approximate
density of the Earth’s
hypothetical inner layer?
€

We know the Earth is layered and

composed of dense material on the
inside - how do we learn more?
Composition of meteorites (broken up
remnants of other rocky planets)

Samples of the deep Earth brought to the

surface by volcanism and plate tectonic
collisions
“X-raying” of the deep Earth using
earthquake waves (seismology).
 Cape York meteorite - a 30-ton iron
meteorite that crashed into Greenland
10,000 years ago.

Iron meteorites are remnants of the

cores of planets that broke up early
in the history of the Solar System.

Kimberlite is a
volcanic rock
derived from the
deep interior of
the Earth that
contains xenoliths
of mantle rock.

Mantle Xenolith

Kimberlite pipes are mined for

the diamonds found in their
mantle xenoliths.

Udachnaya pipe in the Daldyn-Alakit kimberlite

field in Sakha Republic, Russia
Seismic waves: generated by
earthquakes or explosions.

Fault: fracture in rock along which

there is movement.

Normal Fault

Fault: fracture in rock along which

there is movement.

Strike Slip Fault

 Left lateral fault - strike slip

Buildup of strain along an active fault

fault
Friction prevents movement at fault.

Buildup of strain along an active fault

fault
Buildup of strain along an active fault

fault

Buildup of strain along an active fault

fault

Buildup of strain along an active fault

fault
 Rupture along the fault releasing strain energy

fault

Earthquake
vibrations

Seismic waves: generated by

earthquakes or explosions.
P waves arrive first
S waves second
Surface waves last

Seismic Waves

(6 km/sec)

Similar to sound waves -

can travel through liquids
 Seismic Waves

s wave (3.5 km/sec)

Cannot travel through liquids

Seismic
evidence for
depth of
the Earth’s
core and
abrupt
change in
density.

Seismic
evidence
for the
existence
of a liquid
outer core.

S
 Internal
Structure of
the Earth

Lithosphere

Asthenosphere
 Internal Heat -Nuclear Fission
•Radioactiveelements present in the Earth were
acquired during its formation 4.6 billion years
ago.
•Uranium, Potassium, Rubidium, Thorium decay
into smaller, stable elements such as Lead.
•Releaseshigh energy particles that collide with
and heat up other atoms.
•Internal heat source is a radioactive battery -
slowly running down.
•Some still remains from the kinetic energy
acquired during the formation of the Earth.

Both pressure and temperature

increase steadily from the
surface down to the Earth’s
center.
 aesthenosphere
mantle core Pressure changes the
outer inner
melting temperature of
both rock and iron.

At higher pressures a
higher temperature is
required to melt rock
rock iron and iron.

The melting point of

both rock and iron
increases with depth.

The physical state

aesthenosphere

(solid / partially solid / mantle core

outer inner
liquid)
of the different layers of the
Earth depends on which is
higher - the melting
temperature or the actual
temperature.
rock iron

p.sol. solid liquid

A=M A<M A>M

aesthenosphere

What will happen to the mantle core

outer inner
size of the inner core and
the asthenosphere of the
Earth as the interior
continues to cool over
time?

rock iron
 aesthenosphere
mantle core
What will happen to the outer inner
core and the asthenosphere
of the Earth as the interior
continues to cool over
time?

The core and the rock iron

asthenosphere will both
become completely solid.