Crust

Mantle

Outer Core

Inner Core

Earth’s Interior Defined

• Inner Core about 1500 miles in diameter

- densest

- solid – due to pressure

- temperatures range from 7000-8000 C

- 12600-14400 F

• Outer Core about 1400 miles in diameter

- surrounds inner core

- less pressure makes it liquid

- temp. ranges from 8000-11000 F

Mantle

• Earth’s thickest layer• About 2000 miles

thick• Less dense than the

core• Very top is cool and

rigid• Below top is hot and

softer…moves like a thick paste.

Crust• Thin layer of cool rock• Fragile like an eggshell• Two types

- continental – up to 43 miles thick in places- oceanic – about 4 miles thick

• Thinnest under the oceans & thicker under mountain ranges.

• All life on Earth lives on the crust

Lithosphere

• Lithosphere – earth’s crust and very top of mantle

• Means “stone” or “rock”

• Most rigid • Sits on top of

asthenosphere

Is Earth more like…

A hard-boiled egg?

Is Earth more like…

A kiwi fruit?

Is Earth more like…

A Milky Way

Bar?

Is Earth more like…

An apple?