Download Earth`s Layers Vocabulary

4th - Earth’s Layers Vocabulary
Crust – most outer layer – thinnest layer – made of soil and rock – broken into
pieces called “Tectonic Plates” – it continues underneath the ocean
Upper Mantle – 2nd major layer – soft rock – broken into 2 other layers:
 Lithosphere – located in upper mantle and joins the crust. This layer
floats on top of the Asthenosphere and is more rigid
than the Asthenosphere.
 Asthenosphere – located in upper mantle (means soft rock or without
strength) rubbery with a liquid texture where the
Lithosphere floats.
Lower Mantle – 3rd major layer – solid rock
Outer Core – 4th major layer – liquid metal – the liquid’s movement is what makes
the Earth’s magnetic field.
Inner Core – 5th major layer – solid metal due to great pressure – hottest layer (almost as hot as
the sun)
Tectonic Plates – the large sections of Earth’s crust which move around on the
Lithosphere. They can move: away from each other, past each other and into
each other. They move slowly about 1 inch per year. The movement of these
plates can cause: earthquakes, volcanoes to erupt and landslides. Plate
movement also forms landforms such as mountains.