Structure of the Earth

Structure of the Earth

​Objective:

• ​Determine the age of Earth

• ​Identify the 4 Layers of the Earth

• ​Explain the theory of Continental Drift

Open Ended

What do you think the Earth is made up of?

When we go outside, we see grass and dirt, but do you think there is more to the Earth?

Multiple Choice

How old do you think the Earth is?

• a few thousand of years old

• billions of years old

• hundreds of thousand of years old

• millions of years old

• tens of thousands of years old

As you watch the video think about:

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​How do scientist determine the age of the earth?

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​Where were some of the oldest rocks found on Earth?

Multiple Select

How did scientists determine the age of the Earth? (Choose all correct answers) 

• by guessing

• by making estimations based on evidence

• by analyzing rocks from outer space

• by analyzing rocks from different parts of the Earth

Multiple Select

Where were some of the oldest rocks found on Earth?

• in Australia

• in Canada

• in Einstein's back garden

​Layers of the Earth

​Crust- is the outermost solid shell of the earth, accounting for less than 1% of Earth's volume

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​Mantle-  is the mostly-solid bulk of Earth's interior. (MAGMA)

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​Outer core-third layer of the earth, is responsible for Earth's magnetic field.

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​Inner core- is the innermost geologic layer of the planet Earth.

​CRUST

• the shell of a hard-boiled egg​

• ​thin, cold and brittle

• ​made of light elements (silica, aluminum and oxygen)

• ​broken into big pieces, like a gigantic jigsaw puzzle (TECTONIC PLATES)

MANTLE, earth's thickest layer

• 1,865 miles thick

• Made mostly of iron, magnesium and silicon,

• it is dense, hot and semi-solid (think caramel candy)

• ​1,100 and 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit

• ​Diamonds are tiny pieces of the mantle we can actually touch.

OUTER CORE

• ​made from iron and nickel, just in liquid form

• 3,220 to 1,790 miles below the surface

• ​VERY HOT-8,132° and 9,932° Fahrenheit

INNER CORE

• 4,000 to 3,220 miles beneath Earth’s surface.

• Extremely dense, it’s made mostly of iron and nickel

• INTENSELY HOT - 9,800° Fahrenheit

• ​almost as hot as the surface of the sun

Multiple Choice

Which is the coolest part of the planet?

• inner core

• outer core

• mantle

• crust

Multiple Choice

Which of these layers is the largest?

• lithosphere

• asthenosphere

• outer core

• mantle

Multiple Choice

Which is the hottest part of the Earth?

• The core

• The mantle

• The crust

• The Asthenosphere

Multiple Choice

Which two metals are thought to be found in the core?

• iron and steel

• iron and nickel

• gold and silver

• iron and copper

Open Ended

What is continental drift? Have you heard this term before? Have you heard the term PANGEA? 

​Watch the following Video about Continental Drift

Think about:

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​What is the theory of continental drift?

​

​What evidence did Wegener use?

​Pangea

​a supercontinent that assembled from earlier continental units approximately 335 million years ago, and began to break apart about 175 million years 

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​Continental Drift Theory:

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​the hypothesis that the Earth's continents have moved over geologic time relative to each other (3cm per year)

Multiple Choice

What does the theory of continental drift state?

• The continents were once joined in a super-continent and have moved over time

• Continents are stationary and do not move

• The Earth is broken into lithospheric plates that move due to convection currents

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

What evidence did Wegener use in his theory?

• Continents and fossils fitting together/matching-up like puzzle pieces 

• glacier scars and evidence from temperature

• mountain ranges and coal deposits line up across continents

• all of the above

Multiple Choice

Who is the person credited with developing the theory of continental drift?

• Harry Hess

• Galileo

• Alfred Wegener

• Newton

Multiple Choice

What is this a picture of?

• plate tectonics

• continental drift

• pangea

• glacier scaring

Open Ended

In your own words, what is the continental drift theory?