Earth Science Sept.14 th , 2010 Mrs. Harris
May 10, 2015
Earth Science
Sept.14th, 2010
Mrs. Harris
Today’s objectives…
• Journey to the center of the Earth!
– Looking at Earth’s interior structure– Compositional view & Structural view
• Take a guess at how many miles it is to the center of the Earth.
• Take a guess at how many miles it is to the center of the Earth.
• 20,856,000 feet (5,280 feet per mile)
• Take a guess at how many miles it is to the center of the Earth.
• 20,856,000 feet (5,280 feet per mile)
• 3,950- 3,963 miles (closer at the poles)
Compositional Layers (what it is made of)
• Crust• Mantle• Core
The Crust
• Outer layer• 5-100 km thick
– 3-62 miles
• 2 types of crust– Oceanic (very dense,
made of basalt)– Continental (less dense,
made of granite)
• What type of rock is the oceanic crust?
Oceanic and Continental Crust
The Mantle
• Middle layer• Very thick layer
• Moves by convection– (think lava lamp)
The Core
• Made mostly of iron
• Liquid outer, solid inner
• 1/3 of the earth’s mass
• Very hot
Earth’s Layers
• How are the earth’s layers similar to an egg?
• Shell• Egg white• Yolk
Structural Layers (mechanical)
• Lithosphere- rigid outer layer – Crust and upper mantle (rigid part)
Structural Layers
• Asthenosphere- solid rock that flows slowly (like hot asphalt) – Plastic-like part of the mantle– The convection part
Structural Layers
• Mesosphere- middle layer (solid)
Structural Layers• Core
– Outer core is dense, liquid iron and other metals– Inner core is dense, solid iron
2-1 Self check VERY handy
Next Class…
• Earth’s spheres and energy budget• Cycling of matter