Define the structure of the earth in 100 to 120 words.
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Structure of the Earth
The Earth is made up of 4 different layers. They each have unique characteristics as described below. The diagram shows where each layer is located.
Crust
The crust is the thinnest layer of the Earth and is the layer we live on. It is made up of a variety of rocks and can reach up to 70km thick in places. The crust itself is divided into large chunks called tectonic plates. There are around 7 large and 12 small plates, which ‘float’ on top of the mantle beneath them. The plates themselves are made up of 2 different types of crust, continental crustunder the land and oceanic crust under the sea. Continental crust is thick (25-70km) and light because it is made of rocks with a low density. Oceanic crust isthin (6-11km) and heavy because it is made of rocks (mostly volcanic rocks) that have a high density. The oceanic crust covers 2/3 of the Earth’s surface.
Mantle
The mantle is the thickest layer of the Earth at 2,900km thick. It makes up nearly 80% of the volume of the Earth. The mantle itself is divided into 2 layers, the upper and lower mantles and the heat within these layers drives convection currents. The upper mantle is semisolid rock called magma that flows slowly due to convection currents. It is less than 1,000°C in temperature. The lower mantle is kept solid due to pressure and is between 1,000-3,500°C. If you had to describe the mantle as a whole, it is classed as a liquid.
Outer Core
The outer core is made of liquid iron and nickel and is between 3,500-4,000°C. As the liquid metal swirls around, it induces a current that generates the Earth’s magnetic field. Heat from the core powers the convection currents in the mantle. It is 2,900km thick.
Inner Core
The inner core is the hottest part of the Earth reaching temperatures between 4,000-4,700°C, which are as hot as the surface of the sun. It is made of solidiron and nickel that are under so much pressure they cannot melt. It is 1,200km thick and heavy radioactive elements within the core generate the intense heat.
The Earth is made up of 4 different layers. They each have unique characteristics as described below. The diagram shows where each layer is located.
Crust
The crust is the thinnest layer of the Earth and is the layer we live on. It is made up of a variety of rocks and can reach up to 70km thick in places. The crust itself is divided into large chunks called tectonic plates. There are around 7 large and 12 small plates, which ‘float’ on top of the mantle beneath them. The plates themselves are made up of 2 different types of crust, continental crustunder the land and oceanic crust under the sea. Continental crust is thick (25-70km) and light because it is made of rocks with a low density. Oceanic crust isthin (6-11km) and heavy because it is made of rocks (mostly volcanic rocks) that have a high density. The oceanic crust covers 2/3 of the Earth’s surface.
Mantle
The mantle is the thickest layer of the Earth at 2,900km thick. It makes up nearly 80% of the volume of the Earth. The mantle itself is divided into 2 layers, the upper and lower mantles and the heat within these layers drives convection currents. The upper mantle is semisolid rock called magma that flows slowly due to convection currents. It is less than 1,000°C in temperature. The lower mantle is kept solid due to pressure and is between 1,000-3,500°C. If you had to describe the mantle as a whole, it is classed as a liquid.
Outer Core
The outer core is made of liquid iron and nickel and is between 3,500-4,000°C. As the liquid metal swirls around, it induces a current that generates the Earth’s magnetic field. Heat from the core powers the convection currents in the mantle. It is 2,900km thick.
Inner Core
The inner core is the hottest part of the Earth reaching temperatures between 4,000-4,700°C, which are as hot as the surface of the sun. It is made of solidiron and nickel that are under so much pressure they cannot melt. It is 1,200km thick and heavy radioactive elements within the core generate the intense heat.
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The earth is made up of several concentric layers with one inside another.The structure
of earth's interior has broadly three layers-crust,mantle and core.
Crust :
1.It is a uppermost layer over the earth’s surface.
2.It is the thinnest of all the layers.
3.It is about 35 km thick on the continental masses and only 5 km thick on the oceans.
4.The continental mass mainly constituents of silica and alumina minerals. It is thus called sial whereas oceanic crust mainly consist of silica and magnesium.It is therefore called sima.
Mantle :
1.Just beneath the crust lies the mantle.
2.It extends up to a depth of 2900 km. below the crust.
3.It also consist of silica and magnesium.
Core :
1.The innermost layer of the earth is called the core.
2.It has a radius of about 3500 km.
3.It is mainly made up of nickel and iron and therefore it is called nife.
4.Due to very high temperature and pressure, it exist in solid state.
Crust :
1.It is a uppermost layer over the earth’s surface.
2.It is the thinnest of all the layers.
3.It is about 35 km thick on the continental masses and only 5 km thick on the oceans.
4.The continental mass mainly constituents of silica and alumina minerals. It is thus called sial whereas oceanic crust mainly consist of silica and magnesium.It is therefore called sima.
Mantle :
1.Just beneath the crust lies the mantle.
2.It extends up to a depth of 2900 km. below the crust.
3.It also consist of silica and magnesium.
Core :
1.The innermost layer of the earth is called the core.
2.It has a radius of about 3500 km.
3.It is mainly made up of nickel and iron and therefore it is called nife.
4.Due to very high temperature and pressure, it exist in solid state.
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