Download Slide 1

Aim: How is Earth’s interior Structured?
Do Now:
Why do you think
Earth has layers?
What material do you
think make up those
layers?
I. Layers of the Earth
Earth’s interior consists of layers each
defined by specific
composition and density.
A) Crust
- thin outer rocky layer
- Oceanic Crust – made of basalt
bedrock (more dense)
- Continental Crust – Granite Bedrock
(less dense)
B) Mantle
- thickest layer consisting plastic fluid-like
material
**Mantle
composition
determined from
meteorites.
C) Core
- deepest layers of the Earth.
- composed of iron and nickel.
- Outer Core – liquid iron and nickel
- Inner Core – solid iron and nickel
II. Physical Properties
A) Lithosphere – consists of the crust and
uppermost mantle.
- Forms a cool, rigid shell made of rock.
B) Asthenosphere –
- a soft, weak layer beneath the lithosphere.
- rocks are close to their melting points in
this layer. (plastic-fluid like material)
III. Discovering New Layers
Moho - (Mohorovicic Discontinuity)
- separates the crust from the underlying
mantle within the lithosphere.
Page 10 - ESRT
Closure:
• Please complete the worksheet on
Layers of the Earth.