Earth's Layers Flashcards
What are the different kinds of Earth’s layers?
Crust, Mantle (lithosphere, asthenosphere), Outer Core, Inner Core.
What is the thinnest layer of Earth?
The Crust
In the Crust, there are two solid crusts; what are they?
Continental, and Oceanic
Which solid crust is thinner and which one is less dense?
The continental crust is less dense and thicker.
What is the thickest layer of Earth?
The Mantle
The Mantle is made of two layers. What are they?
The Lithosphere/asthenosphere and the lower layer of solid material.
Which section of the Mantle are the tectonic plates made of?
The Lithosphere.
Which section of the Mantle do Convection Currents occur?
The asthenosphere.
What is a Convection Current?
The force that moves tectonic plates.
What is the Outer Core responsible for?
Earth’s Magnetic field.
Is the outer Core made up of liquid or solid material?
Liquid.
What elements is the outer core made of?
Iron and nickel.
Is the inner core made of solid or liquid material?
solid
What does the inner core provide?
It provides heat energy that drives the convection currents in the mantle.
What gives us information about Earth’s layers?
Earth’s seismic waves and rock samples.
What is the cycle of Convection currents?
- The hot material rises up from below until it bumps into the the solid crust above it.
- The material then gets forced to the sides, dragging the crust along with it.
- Eventually, the material cools down and sinks back into the mantle to be reheated.
- Then the whole process repeats!
What are some characteristics of the lithosphere?
- hard/rocky
- part with the crust
- made with igneous, metamorphic, and sedimentary rocks
- floats on the mantle
What are some characteristics of the asthenesphere?
-acts like plastic (silly putty)
- movement from convection currents occur
Where are the youngest rocks of Earth found?
At mid-ocean ridges, and volcanoes.
Where are the oldest rocks of Earth found?
On the continents far away from spreading centers (mid-ocean ridges)
What are the 2 things that cause convection currents?
- differences in density
- differences in tempreture.
