Download the COMPLETED version of "Dynamic Earth Guided Notes" (Earth`s

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Guided Notes – Dynamic Earth
Topic(s): Layers of the Earth
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Geosphere
- Definition: portion of the Earth system that includes the Earth's interior, rocks and
minerals, and landforms.
What lies beneath?
- Deepest Cave: Krubera Cave, Georgia  1,710 m (5,610 ft)
- Deepest Well: Kola Superdeep Borehole, Russia  12,262 meters (40,230 ft)
- Deepest Mine: TauTona Mine, South Africa  3.9 kilometers (12,672 ft)
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Name the layers of Earth’s interior
1. Crust
2. Lithosphere
3. Asthenosphere
4. Mantle
5. Outer Core
6. Inner Core
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Crust (5-70 km)
- Definition: The solid, brittle, rocky outer layer of Earth. This is the thinnest layer of
the Earth. Density ranges from 2.7-2.9 g/ml.
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Types of crust
- Continental Crust:
Crust on the continents (land)
About 4 times thicker than oceanic crust
Thickest under tall mountains
Density  2.7 g/ml
- Oceanic Crust:
Crust on the ocean floor
Much thinner than continental crust
Thickest under tall mountains
Density  2.9 g/ml
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Lithosphere (70-200 km)
- Definition: The rigid outermost later of Earth that includes the uppermost mantle and
crust. Density ranges from 2.7-2.9 g/ml.
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Asthenosphere (200-350 km)
- Definition: The partially melted (plastic) portion of the mantle below the lithosphere.
This means the rock partially melts and can flow slowly. Density is 3.9 g/ml.
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Convection
- Definition: Circular motion of magma inside the upper mantle (asthenosphere).
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Lava lamp demonstration
- As the wax moves away from the heat source, the wax cools and becomes denser.
(sinks).
- As the wax nears the heat source, the wax heats and becomes less dense. (rises).
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Mantle (350-2900 km)
- Definition: The thick middle layer in the solid part of Earth. Denser than the crust.
Density is about 5.0 g/ml.
- Temperatures: 1000 – 3700 C
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Outer core (2900-5150 km)
- Definition: The 2nd innermost later of the Earth. This layer is liquid in state.
- QUESTION: But how do scientists know it is liquid? How can it be liquid?
- ANSWER: Scientists know that the outer core is liquid based on seismic (earthquake)
wave readings. Seismic waves have been calculated to travel at different
speeds through different substances (i.e. solids versus liquids).

Inner core (5150-6371 km)
- Definition: The innermost layer of the Earth. This layer is solid and mostly iron with
some traces of nickel. Temperatures can reach 6,000 C. The density is 13.0
g/ml.
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PRACTICE!
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
F.
Asthenosphere (4)
Mantle (3)
Crust (6)
Inner Core (1)
Lithosphere (5)
Outer Core (2)
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Can LeBron and the Heat handle the Pressure?
- As you go deeper into the Earth, the temperature and pressure both increase.
TEMPERATURE VS. DEPTH
PRESSURE VS. DEPTH
REVIEW QUESTIONS
Review Question #1
1. The _________ is where one could find convection currents.
a. Lithosphere
b. Asthenosphere
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c. Inner Core
d. Outer Core
Review Question #2
2. Which of the following layers is most dense?
a. Continental Crust
b. Outer Core
c. Lithosphere
d. Oceanic Crust
Review Question #3
3. The _________ is the thickest layer of Earth’s interior.
a. Mantle
b. Crust
c. Inner Core
d. Huh?
Review Question #4
4. As you go deeper into the Earth, temperature and pressure __________.
a. Decrease
b. Increase
c. Increase, then slowly decrease
d. Generate 47 pepperoni pizzas and a Dr. Pepper
Review Question #5 (the same word is used for both blank lines)
5. Which of the following does NOT resemble the movement of convection currents?
a. Water boiling in a pot
b. Molten rock moving through the asthenosphere
c. Wax in a lava lamp
d. Heating a metal spoon
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