1. Earth’s Structure

3. 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.

4. 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

6. 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

8. 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

10. How do the Apple and Egg Compare

12. The plates of the Lithosphere The crust and upper mantle make up the rigid layer of Earth called the lithosphere. The semi- molten 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.

13. 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.

14. Bill Nye Earth’s Structure http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr_fS0O KDGohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tr_fS0O KDGo http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5m3- 4vhT04&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X5m3- 4vhT04&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_PE1d EdyQ4&feature=relatedhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_PE1d EdyQ4&feature=related