Earth's layers

By Mindy Swanson

Earth's layers

​Watch It!!

​Answer the questions on the following slides after watching the video:

1. How far have humans been able to drill into the Earth?

2. ​What scientific principle causes the layers of the Earth?

3. ​Which two elements are found in the inner core?

4. ​What parts of Earth are solid and what parts are liquid?

Open Ended

How far have Humans been able to drill into the Earth?

Open Ended

​What scientific principle causes the layers of the Earth?

Open Ended

​​Which two elements are found in the inner core?

Open Ended

​​What parts of Earth are solid and what parts are liquid?

Below the ground you stand on, there are thousands of miles of Earth which consist of rock, soil, rivers of water, volcanic lava, and solid iron, among other materials. There are also many layers of the Earth. These layers consist of the crust, the mantle, and the core (inner and outer core).

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​Miners are people who dig holes for a living and use specialized equipment to dig deep into the Earth. The Crust is the Earth's outer layer (what we stand on) and is made up of the oceanic crust and the continental crust. The curst is the thinnest of all the layers.

​Read it!! (part 1)

Read through the passage on this slide and the next, then answer the questions on the following slides.

Below the Earth's crust is the mantle. The Upper layer of the mantle is semi-molten and can flow, which allows the crustal plates to move. The heat causing the rocks to rise and fall is called convection. The mantle is also the largest layer.

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​Earth's core is about the size of the planet Pluto. The core is the center of the Earth and is divided into two parts - the inner core and the outer core. The core is very hot, measuring about 10,800 degrees Fahrenheit!

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The outer core is in a molten state and is found between the inner core and the mantle. The inner core is a solid ball of metal made up of nickel and iron.

How do scientists know how hot the Earth's core is? They can't see it. They can't dig down deep enough to use a thermometer to measure the temperature.

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​Despite the fact it's right under our feet, Earth's core is anaccessible. Scientists have produced ways to study the Earth's layers.

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To learn what lies beneath the Earth's surface, geologists use seismic waves. Earthquakes and other tectonic plate movements create seismic waves.

​Read it!! (part 2)

Read through the passage on this slide and the previous, then answer the questions on the following slides.

By measuring these seismic waves, scientists can learn a lot about the composition of Earth's layers. The layers are made up of different materials that vary in thickness. Researchers can analyze how seismic waves bounce off the boundaries between various layers and determine the composition.

Multiple Choice

The Earth's core is about the size of...

• Jupiter

• The moon

• Pluto

• A baby human

Multiple Choice

The thinnest layer of Earth is the...

• Mantle

• Outer core

• Inner core

• Crust

Multiple Choice

Convection happens in the...

• Mantle

• Outer core

• Inner core

• Crust

Multiple Choice

We know the composition of Earth's interior mainly by...

• Studying seismic waves

• Digging deep mines

• Looking at other planets

• Guessing

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Multiple Choice

Use the website from the slide 13 to answer:

What did geologists study in the early 1900's to learn more about the earth's layers?

• Seismic waves

• Diamonds

• Supernovas

• Bread

Open Ended

Use the website from the slide 13 to answer:

Click on the crust. What are some characteristics of the Earth's crust?

Multiple Choice

Use the website from the slide 13 to answer:

Which region of the mantle is more dense?

• Lithosphere

• Asthenosphere

• Oceanic crust

• Continental crust

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