Structure of the Earth

• Earth’s Structure

  
• Evidence collected over many years suggests Earth is made up of four main layers:

  • Inner core
  • Outer core
  • Mantle
  • Crust
• INNER CORE

  • This is a solid sphere is iron and nickel - hottest part of earth and very dense.
• OUTER CORE

  • This is a layer of liquid iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core (up to 6000°C).
• MANTLE

  • This is a layer of viscous (thick liquid) liquid rock (magma) - molten rock, convection currents.
• CRUST

  • This is a rocky outer layer, thinnest layer made of rock - part of Earth we live on.
• • The layer formed by the crust and the rigid upper layer of the mantle = lithosphere
• • The lithosphere is broken up into multiple plates - can be described as seven major plates and fifteen minor plates - plates make up the lithosphere are in constant motion, move very slowly at a rate of only a few centimetres a year = theory of plate tectonics