Layers of Earth Flashcards
a rigid layer that can break under stress.
lithosphere
the major and minor blocks of the lithosphere.
tectonic plates
tend to move fluid or gas particles from one place to another.
convection currents
how thick is the asthenosphere?
what is in the asthenosphere?
and where is the asthenosphere?
-180 km
-contains hot, molten rocks or magma.
-below the lithosphere
who is Edmund Halley?
-an English astronomer and a mathematician who theorize that earth is hallow (unfilled space) and that there are inner concentric layers below the crust that float in gas.
the outermost part layer of the earth where life exists.
crust
how thick is the crust?
5-70 km
which crust makes up the continent?
how thick is this crust?
what is it made of?
-continental crust
-40 km to 70 km
-light granitic rocks made up of mostly aluminum silicates.
which crust underlies the ocean floor?
how thick is this crust?
what is it made of?
-oceanic crust
-5 km
-it is composed of dense basaltic rocks made up of magnesium silicates.
how thick is the mantle?
2900 km
mantle’s description?
what is it made of?
top layer’s temperature?
as it goes deeper, what will be the temperature now?
-80% of earth and carries most of its mass.
-composed of ferro-magnesium silicate rocks.
-900°C
-1000°C to 3700°C
core’s 2 distinct layer
liquid outer core & solid inner core
outer core’s description?
temperature?
what is it made of?
-the layer of earth that is only liquid.
-3700°C to 4300°C
-is made out of molten nickel and iron.
inner core’s description?
temperature?
what is it made of?
-extremely hot
-6000°C
-mostly solid iron.
how thick is the outer core?
2270 km
how thick is the inner core?
1220 km
Mohorovičić discontinuity
between the crust and the upper mantle.
Gutenberg discontinuity
between lower mantle and the outer core
Lehmann discontinuity
between the liquid outer core and the solid inner core
Andrija Mohorovičić achieved
-the crust was made of less dense material and that mantle consisted of a much denser material.
Andrija Mohorovičić about earthquake waves
-he observed that some types of waves pass through the interior of earth but bend or deflect upon hitting certain depths.
Andrija Mohorovičić about seismic waves near the surface
-it moved slower than those that passed through the interior of earth.
-earthquake waves move more slowly through the crust.
(note: scientific fact that all kinds of waves travel faster and in a straight path through solid objects)
