1. NAME:_________________________
LAYERS OF THE EARTH
LAYER DIAGRAM DESCRIPTION IMPORTANT FACTS
(At least 2 facts)
Crust Outer most solid shell of Earth Composed of solid, brittle igneous,
metamorphic and sedimentary rock.
Contains 2 types – continental crust
and oceanic crust
Coldest layer of the Earth
Broken up into pieces called PLATES
Mantle Thick layer of solid rock between crust Makes up 2/3 of Earth’s mass
and core. Divided into 2 sections, upper Makes up 84% Earth’s volume
and lower Mixture of iron, magnesium, silicon,
oxygen
Lower mantle extends from 660 km to
2,700 km below surface
Temps range from 500 to 900 degrees
C at upper boundary to over 4,000
degrees C at boundary with core.
Outer Core Responsible for Earth’s magnetic field
– this keeps Earth from losing its
atmosphere to the solar wind
Liquid iron and nickel with some sulfur
and oxygen
Temperature reaches 4,400 degrees C
2,266 km thick
2,890 km beneath Earth’s surface
Inner Core Very center of the Earth. Radius 1,300 km/800 miles
Under such intense pressure it vibrates as 9,000 degrees F temperature
a solid. All solid metal
4,000 miles under the crust

2. NAME:_________________________
LAYERS OF THE EARTH
CONCLUSION:
Compare the four major layers of the Earth to any object. Explain how the layers are similar to the object you chose. Think creatively!