Download Earth`s Structure - SD43 Teacher Sites

Earth’s Structure
The Crust
• Earth’s surface is covered by a thin layer
of soil. If you dig down trough the soil, you
will find rock. Earth’s outer layer of rock is
called crust. The crust extends under the
ocean and is between less then 5Km thick
to 50Km thick. This is not very thick when
you compare it to the center of the Earth
(approx 6441Km). The crust is approx.
10ºC.
The Mantle
• The mantle is divided into two parts, the upper
mantle and lower mantle.
• Most of the upper mantle is solid rock. It is
approx 1000ºC.
• The lower mantle is 2500ºC. Scientists believe
to be plastic like. They compare it to taffy and
caramel.
• The boundary separating the crust from the
mantle is Moho.
• The mantle extends to a depth of approx
2900Km
Outer Core
• The outer core is made from liquid iron
and nickel, sulfur and oxygen. It is
considered to be super heated liquid
molten lava.
• It extends approx 4800Km into Earth
• It is approx 4000ºC
Inner Core
• This extends another approx 1500Km into
Earth.
• It is believed that the inner core is made
from mostly solid iron as well as nickel,
silicon and carbon.
• It is approx 5000 - 5700ºC
How do the Apple and Egg
Compare
The plates of the Lithosphere
• The crust and upper mantle make up the rigid
layer of Earth called the lithosphere. The semimolten zone of the mantle just below the
lithosphere is called the asthenosphere.
• The lithosphere is made from about 12 larger
pieces called plates. The plates fit together like
pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The plates can move
based on convection currents.
Convection Current
• A convection Current is a movement produced
by the rising of a warm material and the sinking
of a cool material. The rock in the
asthenosphere is melted by the intense heat of
the inner corer. Convection currents in the
molted rock transfer heat to the lithosphere.
Therefore the hotter rock rises and the cooler
rock sinks. The plates of the lithosphere are
moved as the melted rock flows. The movement
of plates results in the formation of Volcanoes,
Earthquakes and Mountains.
Bill Nye Earth’s Structure
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr_fS0O
KDGo
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5m34vhT04&feature=related
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_PE1d
EdyQ4&feature=related