Layers of the Earth

Layers of the Earth

Watch the movie trailer for Journey to the
Center of the Earth. Identify characteristics
that you think are true and those you think

are not true. Be prepared to share.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r

Qx2wLyagk4

Essential Question:

How are layers of the Earth
different from one another?

Standard:
S6E5a. Compare and contrast the Earth’s
crust, mantle, and core including
temperature, density, and composition.

The Earth is made up of 3

main layers:

Crust

Mantle

Core

Think of the layers of the

Earth like the layers of a cake.

Use the Layers of the Earth

Foldable to take notes

Crust

Ocean
Land

• Thinnest layer of the Earth that ranges from only 2

miles in some areas of the ocean floor to 75 miles deep
under mountains

• Made up of large amounts of silicon and aluminum
• Two types of crust: oceanic crust and continental crust
• Composed of plates on which the continents and

oceans rest

Ocean

Land
Crust

The Earth’s crust is like the skin of an
apple. Turn to an elbow partner and
discuss why this statement is true.

Next, come up with another example.

Mantle

Upper Mantle

Lower Mantle

Middle
Mantle

Convection

Currents

• Solid but capable of flow (like hot asphalt or

fudge)

• Thickest layer of the Earth (making up 70% of

the Earth’s mass)

• The hot material (magma) in the mantle rises

to the top of the mantle, cools, then sinks,
reheats, and rises again. These convection
currents cause changes in the Earth’s surface

Upper Mantle

Convection

Currents

Middle
Mantle

Lower Mantle
Mantle

Core

Inner
Core

Outer
Core

Outer
Core

• Molten (liquid) metal that is about 4,700°C

(8,500°F)

• Located about 1,800 miles beneath the

crust and is about 1,400 miles thick

• Composed of the melted metals nickel and

iron

Inner
Core

• Solid sphere composed mostly of iron
• It is believed to be as hot as 6,650°C (12,000°F)
• Heat in the core is probably generated by the

radioactive decay of uranium and other elements

• It is solid because of the pressure from the outer

core, mantle, and crust compressing it
tremendously

The Earth is like a peach or a boiled egg.
Turn to a seat partner and discuss these

analogies. Come up with another
analogy and be prepared to share.

Inner Core

Solid

Outer Core

Liquid

Mantle

Crust

Lithosphere – Crust and
Upper Layer of the Mantle

Layer of the Mantle
(asthenosphere) that
consists of hot rock of

tar-like consistency,
which slowly moves

The lithosphere (crust and upper

mantle) is divided into separate plates
which move very slowly in response to

the “convecting” part of the mantle.

What do these two images tell
us about the layers of the Earth?

Temperature

increases as depth increases

Look at the information in the graph and

table below. What’s the relationship
between depth and density/pressure?

Density and Pressure

increase as depth increases

Add this statement to the
arrow going down on your

foldable.

Temperature,
Density and

Pressure increases
as depth increases

Which layer of the Earth has the

greatest temperature, pressure, and

density?

Core

The earth is layered with
a lithosphere (crust and
uppermost mantle),
convecting mantle, and
a dense metallic core.

Summary

http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamice

arth/structure.html

Pressure, temperature,
and density increases
as depth increases.

Summarizing

Strategy