Earth's Layers Vocab

Front

Current in Earth's mantle that transfers heat and drives plate tectonics

Back

Convection Currents

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Front

Sphere of solid nickel and iron at Earth's center, surrounded by liquid outer core.

Back

Inner Core

Front

Outer layer of Earth's core; surrounds inner core, made of liquid nickel and iron.

Back

Outer Core

Front

Solid layer of Earth between crust and core; dense silicates.

Back

Mantle

Front

Thin, solid outer layer of Earth; continental (land) or oceanic (ocean floors)

Back

Crust

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Front

Thin layer of dense, iron-rich basaltic rock on ocean floor

Back

Oceanic Crust

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Front

Thick, less-dense rock forming Earth's continents

Back

Continental Crust

Front

Solid layer with plasticity in the upper mantle below the lithosphere; lithospheric plates float and move on this layer.

Back

Asthenosphere

Front

Cool, rigid outer layer of Earth, including crust and upper mantle; divided into plates.

Back

Lithosphere

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-1

Front

Characteristic of asthenosphere material; solid yet able to flow.

Back

Plasticity