Earth's Interior Flashcards
- A dense and thin crust layer that lies under the ocean basins
- Consists primarily of basalt rocks
Oceanic Crust
- Earth is divided into three distinct layers
- These layers are composed of the thin outside crust a fluid region in the middle wherein Earth’s mass is concentrated, and a solid inner core (with an outer core made up of molten metals).
Earth’s Interior
- Outermost layer of the earth
- It is the layer made up of the oceanic and continental crust
Crust
- A thicker and lighter (less dense)
- Made up of granite and andesite rocks
Continental Crust
Due to it’s less dense composition this crust always float over it or on top of it
Continental Crust floats over the oceanic crust
- Layer beneath the crust
- Contributing to 67% of the total mass of earth
- Made up of solid rock and lies between the core and the crust
Mantle
Process where the heat comes from the core and travels through the atoms by rapid collision with one another
Conduction
Process where caused by heat currents that allow materials near the core are heated and particles move fast
Convection
- Inner part of the earth
- Makes up of 31% Earth Composition
- First one to be formed during early years of earth
- Made up of Iron and Nickel Alloy
- Source of planet’s internal heat and the reason why we have a magnetic field
Core
Five Mechanical Layer In Order Highest to Lowest
Lithosphere
Asthenosphere
Mesophere
Outer Core
Inner Core
- Composed of the crust and the upper mantle
- It is solid, rigid and brittle, extending to about 100km in depth
Lithosphere
Lithosphere has the tendency to break under pressure and mechanical interaction which is responsible for?
Earthquake
- Responsible for the motion of tectonic plates
- Approximately 200 km in depth below the surface
Asthenosphere
- Lies a region of increased pressure where the flow ceases
- Beneath the asthenosphere
Mesophere
- External part of the core
- Region is liquid in form and is composed mainly of an iron nickel alloy
- Responsible for the magnetic field generation of the earth
Outer Core
- Beneath the outer core
- Made up of very dense and heavy iron and nickel materials
- Intense pressure and extremely high temperature do not affect it due to it’s composition
Inner Core