Download Layers of the Earth - study notes

The Earth is made up of 4 layers: Inner Core, Outer Core,
Mantle, & Crust.
 The outer layer is called the Crust. The Oceanic Crust is
thinner than the Continental Crust. The crust is made up of
rocks. The crust is the thinnest layer of the Earth.
 The Mantle is made up of rock. It is so hot that it flows. The
movement of the Mantle is why the plates move on the Crust.
The mantle is the thickest layer of the Earth.
 The Outer Core is made up of metal (nickel and iron). It is
liquid metal.
 The Inner Core is also made up of metal (nickel and iron). It
is so dense that it is a solid.
The crust is broken up into plates (like an eggshell breaks up
into pieces).
 Most of the earthquakes and volcanoes in the world occur
where two plates meet.
 The most active area of volcanoes and earthquakes is called
the Ring of Fire. It circles around the Pacific Ocean.
 The Atlantic Ocean is growing because the Mid Atlantic
Ridge continues to separate. Magma seeps up from below,
cools, and hardens to form new oceanic crust.
The Crust is made up of 3 types of rock: igneous, metamorphic,
and sedimentary.
 Igneous rock forms when magma cools. Most of the rock on
Earth is igneous rock.
 Sometimes high temperatures and pressure can change the
crystals in a rock. Rock that has been changed by temperature
or pressure under the earth is called metamorphic rock.
 The weather can break down rocks into small pieces. Then
the small pieces are pressed together to form new rock called
sedimentary rock. This happens from weathering:
temperature, wind, and water.