Structure of the Earth Flashcards
What is the thinnest layer of the Earth?
The Crust
How thick is the crust?
5-70 km
What is the coldest layer?
The Crust
What is the crust broken into?
Tectonic Plates
What material is the crust made out of?
Mainly basalt under the oceans
Mainly granite under the continents
What is the thickest layer of the Earth?
The Mantle
How does the mantle move?
Convection Currents
How hot can the mantle get?
1000°C near the crust
3700°C near the core
What material is the mantle made out of?
Semi-molten rock (semi-liquid rock)
What material is the outer core made out of?
Semi-liquid iron
How hot can the outer core get?
Between 3700°C - 5000°C
How thick is the outer core?
2300 km
Where the is the world’s magnetic field formed?
The Outer Core (As it contains iron)
What is the inner most part of the Earth?
Inner Core
How thick is the inner core?
1250 km
What is the hottest part of the Earth?
The Inner Core
How hot can the inner core get?
More than 5000°C (5000°C+)
What material is the inner core made out of?
Iron and nickel
What layer of the Earth is very dense?
The Inner Core; under lots of pressure (4 times more pressure than at the crust)
In which layer is the rock solid?
Inner core; as a result of the pressure