Earth's Layers Flashcards
What is the Earth’s crust?
outermost layer
includes rocks, mountains, soil & water
5-40km thick
870°C
Continental vs Oceanic crust:
continental - dry land (granite)
oceanic - ocean (basalt)
What is the mantle?
layer of hot rock
semi-solid
2900km thick
What is the lithosphere?
rigid
almost like crust
100km thick
floats on top of asthenosphere
What is the asthenosphere?
plastic like
material can flow slowly on it like hot tar
has both solid and liquid qualities
What is the core?
made up of inner and outer core
50,000°C
makes 1/3 of Earth’s mass
made up of iron & nickel
What is the outer core?
fluid
layer of molten material
covers inner core
2200km thick
What is the inner core?
dense solid ball of metal
due to intense pressure, iron & nickel are unable to become liquid
2500km thick