NAME:_________________________

LAYERS OF THE EARTH

LAYER DIAGRAM DESCRIPTION IMPORTANT FACTS(At least 2 facts)

Crust Outer most solid shell of Earth Composed of solid, brittle igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rock.

Contains 2 types – continental crust and oceanic crust

Coldest layer of the Earth Broken up into pieces called PLATES

Mantle Thick layer of solid rock between crust and core. Divided into 2 sections, upper and lower

Makes up 2/3 of Earth’s mass Makes up 84% Earth’s volume Mixture of iron, magnesium, silicon,

oxygen Lower mantle extends from 660 km to

2,700 km below surface Temps range from 500 to 900 degrees

C at upper boundary to over 4,000 degrees C at boundary with core.

Outer Core Responsible for Earth’s magnetic field – this keeps Earth from losing its atmosphere to the solar wind

Liquid iron and nickel with some sulfur and oxygen

Temperature reaches 4,400 degrees C 2,266 km thick 2,890 km beneath Earth’s surface

Inner Core Very center of the Earth.Under such intense pressure it vibrates as a solid.

Radius 1,300 km/800 miles 9,000 degrees F temperature All solid metal 4,000 miles under the crust

NAME:_________________________

LAYERS OF THE EARTHCONCLUSION:Compare the four major layers of the Earth to any object. Explain how the layers are similar to the object you chose. Think creatively!