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Earth Science 2

The document summarizes the internal structure of the Earth in three main layers. The crust is the outermost layer and varies in thickness between 5-20 miles. Below the crust is the mantle, which makes up 80% of the Earth's volume and is semi-molten, allowing convection currents. Within the mantle is the liquid outer core that generates the Earth's magnetic field and the solid inner core made of iron and nickel.

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17 views

Earth Science 2

The document summarizes the internal structure of the Earth in three main layers. The crust is the outermost layer and varies in thickness between 5-20 miles. Below the crust is the mantle, which makes up 80% of the Earth's volume and is semi-molten, allowing convection currents. Within the mantle is the liquid outer core that generates the Earth's magnetic field and the solid inner core made of iron and nickel.

Uploaded by

serxndipity
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH

Earth Science 10 - First Quarter

CRUST ● made up of silicon, iron, oxygen,


magnesium
● outermost layer
● temperature and pressure
● thinnest layer
increases with depth
● extend from the surface to about
● where convection takes place
32 km below; underneath its
● where volcanic materials come
thickness is 72 km
from
● gets deeper as it gets older
● lower part contains more iron
● 5 miles thick under the ocean than the upper part
and averaging 20 miles under ● pressure makes mantle flow
the continents ● this flow is called “mantle
Types of Crust convection,” the convection
currents are responsible for
Oceanic Crust (Sima) plate movement
● 7-10 km thick; 8 km average
● made of basalt (dense rock)
Characteristics of Mantle
● young (under 200 million yrs)
● parts are semi-molten
● thinner than continental crust
● 1,800 miles thick
● dense and heavy (will sink)
● always created or destroyed ● mantle rock is denser than
Continental Crust (Sial) crustal rock
● old ● flows in sluggish current
● light (less dense) ● between crust and outer core
● thick (up to 150 km under
mountains; 35 - 40 km thick) LITHOSPHERE
● permanent, does not sink ● relatively cool outermost rigid
● made up of silicon, oxygen, shell formed by the crust and
aluminum, potassium, sodium upper mantle
calcium ● made up of solid rock
● made of granite rocks
ASTHENOSPHERE
Theory of Isostasy ● part of the upper mantle located
● state of balance below the crust
● state of gravitational ● made of hot molten material
equilibrium between earth's ● temperature: 30-800°C
crust and mantle such that ● temperature is enough to
the crust "floats" at an facilitate melting & make it
elevation that depends on its capable to flow
thickness and density ● semi-liquid zone in the upper
mantle
● the plates of lithosphere tend to
MANTLE float or flow here
● thickest part
● 80% of earth’s volume (makes up
most of earth’s total volume)
● 68% of earth’s mass
INTERNAL STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH
Earth Science 10 - First Quarter

OUTER CORE INNER CORE


● dense liquid molten rock ● made of solid iron and nickel
● made of iron, nickel, and small ● extreme temperature could have
amount of silicon melted it but pressure freezing
● between mantle and inner core keeps it solid
● gives earth its magnetic field ● radius: 1,300 km
● 2,900 km below earth’s surface ● temperature: 5,000°C
● thickness: 1,400 miles (2,250 km) ● 3,200 to 3,960 miles below the
● radius: 1,540 miles surface
● temperature: 3,700°C

ADDITIONAL NOTES
● crust vary in thickness
● earthquake waves can tell us the
properties of earth’s interior

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