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Comparing the Layers of Earth. S6E5.a. Earth’s layers are compared by:. Temperature Density (the thickness or depth of the layer) Composition What each layer is made of or how it is described. Which is the outermost layer?. THE CRUST Temperature: Temp of the air outside to 1600 ° F
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Comparing the Layers of Earth S6E5.a.
Earth’s layers are compared by: • Temperature • Density • (the thickness or depth of the layer) • Composition • What each layer is made of or how it is described
Which is the outermost layer? THE CRUST Temperature: Temp of the air outside to 1600 °F Density: 5km – 70km thick
The Crust: What’s it made of? • 2 types of crust: • Oceanic – mostly basalt rocks The thinnest crust • Continental – mostly granite rocks The thicker crust
What do you find on Earth’s crust? • Rocks • Mountains • Soil • Water • What else???
Where the Crust ends and the Mantle begins is an area called the MOHO Discontinuity. 1909: Andrija Mohorovicic discovers the moho discontinuity, which is the boundary between Earth’s crust and mantle.
Next is the Mantle… • Mantle Temperature range: From 1600 °F to 6700 °F • Density of the WHOLE Mantle = 2867 km! • Let’s break it apart!
The Mantle • Made of 3 distinct areas: • Lithosphere • Asthenosphere • Lower Mantle
Mantle’s Lithosphere • Density = approx 100 km • Composition: • Rigid layer • Rocky like Crust • “Lithos” means “Stone” • Unique? Made up by part of the Crust!
Mantle’s Asthenosphere • Density = 300 km • Composition: • Plastic-like • Solid, but softer • “Asthenes” means “weak” • Unique? Makes the plates move! Because it’s slowly flowing.
Lower Mantle • Density = 2467 km • Composition: • Solid Unique? Semi-rigid
Where the Mantle ends and the Outer Core begins is an area called the GUTENBERG DISCONTINUITY Gutenberg Discontinuity
Outer Core • Temperature = 6700 °F to 7800 °F • Density = 2266 km • Composition: • Liquid, Molten Metal (Fe & Ni)
What makes the Outer Core unique? • Creates Earth’s magnetic field • High temps from the formation of the planet keep the Iron (Fe) & Nickel (Ni) liquid
Inner Core • Temperature = 7800 °F to 13000 °F HOTTEST LAYER!!! • Density = 1216 km • Composition: • Dense, solid metal ball of Fe & Ni!
What’s unique about the Inner Core? • Extreme pressure squeezes the atoms of the Fe & Ni so much, they cannot spread out! • Stays solid!