Earth's Layers #3

Front

Rocky or rigid outer part of Earth consisting of the brittle crust and the top part of the upper mantle

Back

Lithosphere

Front

What causes the very slow creeping motion of Earth’s solid silicate mantle?

Back

Convection Currents

Front

Solid, outer layer and is made of both the oceanic and continental crust.

Back

Crust

Front

Hot fluid or semi-fluid material below or within the earth's crust from which lava and other igneous rock is formed on cooling.

Back

Magma

Front

The thick part of the earth's crust that forms the large landmasses. It is generally older and more complex than the oceanic crust.

Back

Continental Crust

Front

The very center of the Earth, and the hottest part of the planet.

Back

Inner Core

Front

A fluid layer about 2,400 km (1,500 mi) thick and composed of mostly iron and nickel that lies above Earth's solid inner core and below its mantle. Its outer boundary lies 2,890 km (1,800 mi) beneath Earth's surface.

Back

Outer Core

Front

The mostly-solid bulk of Earth’s interior. It lies between Earth’s dense, super-heated core and its thin outer layer, the crust.

Back

Mantle

Front

The outermost layer of Earth’s lithosphere that is found under the oceans.

Back

Oceanic Crust

Front

The part of Earth's mantle lying beneath the lithosphere and believed to be much hotter and more fluid than the lithosphere.

Back

Asthenosphere