ACTIVITY NO. 4: BUILD ME UP, BUTTERCUP!

I. Complete the table below by filling in respective characteristics of each indicated feature of the different
layers of the Earth.

FEATURE INNER CORE OUTER CORE MANTLE CRUST

Continental Crust:
Light granitic rocks
made up of mostly
Composition Solid Iron Molten Nickel and Ferro-Magnesium aluminum silicates
Iron Silicate rocks
Oceanic crust:
Dense basaltic rocks
made up of magnesium
silicates

Temperature 6000°C 3700°C to 4300°C 900°C to 1000°C to 200°C to 400°C

3700°C

Thickness 1220 km 2270 km 2900 km 5 to 70 km

II. QUESTION ANALYSIS

1. Why is the Earth’s structure made up of different layers?

Density plays a role in the formation of these layers. Some theories suggest that during the formation
of the Earth, the denser, heavier materials or parts sank to the middle while the less dense, lighter
materials floated or stayed more towards the surface. The difference in density caused the formation
of the distinct layers that we have now. Each of these layers plays a significant role. Without them, the
Earth wouldn’t work or behave the same way it does now. These layers exist in order to perform their
own specific roles within the processes of the Earth’s interior.

2. What do you think will the middle of the Earth look like if we could dig all the way of it?

I visualize it to look like a blazing inferno, like a hell inside the Earth. It would be very bright, probably
even too bright for our own eyes to survive staring at it. I also think that its color would be white or a
very bright-toned yellow since that’s what most images I’ve seen of it suggest. It would also look solid.
I can also see it to look somewhat like the sun. More than anything, it would be a very interesting
sight to see although it is impossible.
III. CONCLUSION

Each layer of the Earth’s interior varies in features. Its composition, temperature, and thickness are all
different from one another, as seen in the table above. The composition of each layer gives us an
idea on how the layers are located to where they are now, this is due to the density of the material
which causes it to sink or float. The heavier the material, the deeper it goes into the Earth’s interior.
This is also seen similarly to the layers’ temperature. As deeper as it goes, the higher the temperature
increases. These layers too vary in thickness as well; the mantle being the thickest while the crust is
the thinnest. Despite the efforts of the modern technological advancement that we have today, it still
seems deliberately impossible to see the inner core with our own human eyes. Just as others have
stated, humans have seen or explored more of the universe than the inside our own home planet.