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Introduction to Planet Earth

Introduction to Planet Earth. Let’s dig a hole to China!. Earth Stats. The Earth 's mass is about 5.98 x 10 24 kg. Earth is the densest planet in our Solar System (mass/volume).

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Introduction to Planet Earth

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  1. Introduction to Planet Earth Let’s dig a hole to China!

  2. Earth Stats • The Earth's mass is about 5.98 x 1024 kg. • Earth is the densest planet in our Solar System (mass/volume). • Earth is made of several layers with different compositions and physical properties, like temperature, density, and the ability to flow.

  3. The Composition of the Earth

  4. The Composition of the Earth • Crust • Thinnest layer (5-100 km) • Two types of crust • Continental • Like granite • Average 30 km • Oceanic • Like basalt • (Basalt is denser than granite!) • Average 5-8 km

  5. The Composition of the Earth • Mantle • Extremely Thick! (2,900 km) • It is too far down to drill • How do we know what it is made of? • Scientists infer based on: • Pushed up rock • Ocean floor/molten rock • What is it like? • Like the mineral olivine • Large amounts of iron and magnesium www.soc.soton.ac.uk

  6. N S The Composition of the Earth • Core • Pretty darn big. (6,856 km) • (Slightly bigger than Mars!) • 33% mass of the Earth • Scientists think…. • Made mostly of iron • Some nickel, sulfur, oxygen • What is the evidence? • The particular way seismic waves travel • Earth’s Magnetic field

  7. Lithosphere Solid Asthenosphere Viscous Liquid The Structure of the Earth Outer Core Liquid Mesosphere Solid Inner Core Solid

  8. Lithosphere = ‘rock sphere’ Crust and upper rigid part of Mantle Asthenosphere = ‘weak sphere’ Lower part of Mantle

  9. How HOT is it? Surface of Sun! 5,500°C Sun Core 15,000,000°C

  10. Convection • Convection (heat) currents • carry heat from the hot inner mantle to the cooler outer mantle. • The mantle gets warmerwith depth • top of the mantle is ~ 1,600° F (870° C) • bottom of the mantle is ~4,000-6,700° F (2,200-3,700° C) • The mantle contains most of the mass of the Earth

  11. Let’s Make Models of the Earth! • Inner Core (yellow) diameter 2 cm (4) • Outer core (orange) diameter 6 cm (4) • Mesosphere (red) diameter 11cm (4) • Asthenosphere (brown) diameter 12cm (2) • Lithosphere (sand) • -after assembly roll edges of asthenosphere in glue and then sand (1.5mM thick)

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