Earth’s Layers

Geology Unit
 es
ec tiv
b j
g O
ni n
ar
Le • I can describe the properties of
Earth’s three layers.
• I can compare and contrast
Earth’s three layers.
• I can explain convection
currents and how they work.
DEFINE…
• Crust
• Continental Crust
• Oceanic Crust
• Mantle
• Lithosphere
• Asthenosphere
• Outer Core
• Inner Core
• Density
• Volume
• Convection Currents
 Introduction to
Earth’s Layers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9j1xGaxYzY
 • The Crust

• The
Mantle

• The Core
Three Layers
• The surface of Earth.
• The thinnest layer.
• Made of solid rock.
• Contains all the
mountains, rocks,
water, soil and land
features.
• Contains the
lithosphere, oceanic
crust and continental
crust. 5 – 25 miles
The Crust thick
• Made from the Crust and Upper Mantle.
• “Litho” means “stone” in Greek.
• This is the layer in which we live because it contains the
oceanic and continental crust.

Lithosphere
Crust

Lithosphere
Oceanic versus 5 – 25 miles thick
Continental Crust
• Oceanic Crust:
• Below the ocean
• Consists of basalt
• Very dense

• Continental Crust:
• Forms and contains the
large landmasses
• Consists of granite 3 - 5 miles thick
• Less dense
The Mantle • Divided into two parts:
• Upper mantle
• Lower mantle.
• Most of the mantle is
solid rock.
• The lower mantle rock
is softer.
• It makes up 85% of the
Earth’s mass.
• Temperatures can
reach up to 870 C.
1,800 miles thick
Asthenosphere
• Zone in the
Upper Mantle.
• Lithosphere floats
on top of it.
• Consists of hot,
plastic rock.
• “Asthens” means
“weak” in Greek.
Crust

Lithosphere

Asthenosphere
 Transfer of Heat
• Radiation – The transfer of energy through space,
such as the transfer of heat from the Sun.
• Conduction – The transfer of heat within a material
or between two materials that are touching.
• Convection – The transfer of heat by the movement
of currents within a fluid.
• REMEMBER:
• Volume is THE AMOUNT
OF SPACE AN OBJECT
TAKES UP. If a liquid is
heated to a gas, it will take
up more space than
before.
 Convection Currents
• Density = Mass
Volume
• What are Convection Currents???
The process of liquid heating and cooling in between the mantle and
outer core of the Earth.
• When a liquid is heated, the particles spread apart. This is due to the
fact that their energy is being converted into kinetic energy (the energy
of movement). Once these molecules spread out, their volume
increases causing their density to decrease. Therefore, the hot liquid
floats to the top and the cooler water, which has decreased in volume
and increased in density, sinks to the bottom.
• This process occurs, repeatedly, in the mantle due to the heat from the
core and mantle.
Convection Currents
Takes place
between the
Mantle and the
Outer Core.

Since the density of the

liquid decreased, it
floated up, towards the
surface.
The Core Outer Core

• The Core is Divided into

two parts:
• Outer Core
• Inner Core

Inner Core
Outer vs. Inner Core
• Outer Core – only liquid layer!
• Made up of liquid iron and nickel.
• This layer creates the Earth’s magnetic
field.
• Temperatures can reach up to 2,200
C.
• Inner Core
• The center of Earth.
• Made up of scorching-hot iron and
nickel. This layer stays solid though due
to intense pressure.
• This layer may also contain oxygen,
sulfur and silicon.
• Temperatures range between 9,000 C
and 13,000 C.
Evidence
How do Scientists know about the interior of the
Earth?

Two forms of evidence:

• Direct evidence from rock samples
• Indirect evidence from seismic waves
Review… 5

4
Can you name the
different layers of the 3

Earth??

2
Number a piece of
paper 1 -5 and write
the name of each
1
layer.
Review… 5

1. Inner Core
2. Outer Core
3. Lower Mantle 2

4. Upper Mantle
5. Crust
1