8.e.5.A3 Earth’s Structure 1-20-17

Earth’s Structure There are 3 major parts of the Earth’s structure Core Mantle Crust

Core The core is made up of 2 sections Inner Core: SOLID metal (iron/nickel) Outer Core: LIQUID metal (iron/nickel) Made up of the heaviest and most dense material

Mantle Thickest layer of the Earth’s structure Made up of HOT semisolid rock Is broken into 2 layers Upper Mantle: Consists of the Asthenosphere and Lithosphere Lower Mantle The closer to the core you get the more dense the make up is because of the pressure build up

Convection Crust Mantle Core

Asthenosphere Part of the Upper Mantle Is a HOT semiliquid rock (magma) The magma is always moving

Lithosphere Directly above the Asthenosphere in the Upper Mantle and part of the crust of Earth’s Structure Made up of solid rock plates that slowly move because of convection “Carries” Earth’s crust

Crust Thinnest layer of Earth’s Structure It is the outer most layer Solid rock The least dense layer of all of Earth’s layers 2 types of crust Oceanic Crust: more dense (Basalt) Continental Crust: less dense ( Granite) Thinnest under the ocean Thickest under the continents

Atmosphere Invisible layer surrounding the Earth Made up of the gases we breath