Earths layers Flashcards
3 main layers
the crust, the mantle and the core.
What is the crust?
The outermost layer is the crust. It’s the thinnest layer.The Earth’s crust is brittle and can break
made out of three rock types sediments metamorphic and igneous
What is the mantle?
The mantle is below the crust. It’s denser (semi-solid rock) and hotter than the crust. It is 3000km thick.
What is the core?
The core is at the centre of the Earth. Outer core is liquid iron and nickle, inner core is mostly solid iron.
What are the two types of layers.
LITHOSPHERE &
ASTHENOSPHERE
What is the Lithosphere?
`The crust and the upper mantle form the lithosphere.
What is the Asthenosphere?
Below the lithosphere is the asthenosphere. This layer is hot and semi-solid.
Two forms of crust.
Continental crust and oceanic crust
What is the continental crust?
The continental crust forms the continents.
What is the oceanic crust?
The oceanic crust lines the ocean floor
What is the continental crust made out of?
made out of granite rocks which are thicker, less dense and lighter than basalt.
70km thick.
What is the oceanic crust made out of?
made out of Basaltic rocks are much thinner and denser than the
granite rock. ~8km thick.
