Inside the Earth

Why is geology important?

 Layers of the Earth
• If we could take a chunk out of the
Earth, we would see that it is made up
of different layers.
 Layers of the Earth
• Earth is made up of 3 main layers
– Crust
– Mantle
– Core

– Each layer has it’s own individual composition and

physical properties.
 Physical Properties and
Composition
• Composition= what it’s made of

• Physical properties= characteristic that is

unique and helps to identify the substance
(temp, size, shape, color)

• Example: Chocolate Chip Cookies

• Composition- flour, eggs, sugar, chocolate
chips, baking powder, butter
• Properties- round, rough, sweet, tan and black,
hot, lumpy,
 Layers of the Earth(p90)
• CRUST
– Physical Properties:
• outermost layer
• thinnest layer (5-70km thick)
• Surface temperature
• 1% of Earth’s mass
• where we live
• touches the atmosphere
– Composition:
• consists of loose rocks
& soil
Crust

• Very
thin
 2 Types of Crust
• Continental Crust:
dry land, granite
less dense
Oceanic Crust:
ocean floor,
Basalt, thinner
than cont. crust
but more dense
 Layers of the Earth
• MANTLE
– Physical Properties:
• thickest layer (2900km thick)
• 1600-4000 F
• 66% of earth’s mass
• flowing
– Composition:
• Molten rock
– Magma
 Layers of the Earth

• CORE
– Physical properties:
• HOT! 4000-8000 F
• Very dense
• High pressure
• 4000 miles from surface
• 33% of Earth’s mass
• About the same size as
Mars
– Composition:
• Iron and Nickel (metals)
 What have you noticed about
temperature and pressure?
• As you get deeper inside the Earth,
temperature Increases
• As you get deeper inside the Earth,
pressure Increases
 Layers of the Earth
• The 3 main layers
of the Earth can be
divided further by
the way they “act”
within the Earth
and by their
different physical
properties.
 Lithosphere
Crust and upper Mantle
• outermost layer –
includes crust and
upper mantle
• rigid
• divided into
pieces or
tectonic plates
• Rocks and soil
 Asthenosphere
Middle Mantle
• composed of solid
flowing rock
• layer on which pieces of
lithosphere move on top
(solid rock that flows)
– Think of
it like caramel
Mesosphere
Bottom Mantle
• strong, lower
part of the
mantle
• layer between
asthenosphere
and core
 The Core
Outer and Inner
• The core is divided into two parts
– Outer Core:
• Liquid iron and nickel that’s spinning
– Inner Core:
• Solid iron and nickel
• Solid because of all the pressure of the rest of the
Earth surrounding it.
 How do we know?
• Seismic waves
produced by
earthquakes
travel at
different
speeds through
solid rock
and liquids
Layers of the Earth