Layers of the Earth

Front

What is the outer core of the Earth?

Back

The outer core is a layer of the Earth composed primarily of liquid metal, mainly iron and nickel, located beneath the mantle and above the inner core.

Front

What layer of the Earth do we live on?

Back

We live on the crust, which is the outermost layer of the Earth.

Front

What are convection currents?

Back

Convection currents are movements within the mantle of the Earth caused by the heat from the core, which helps to drive plate tectonics.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3

Front

What is the mantle?

Back

The mantle is the layer of the Earth located between the crust and the outer core, composed of semi-solid rock that flows slowly.

Front

What is the inner core?

Back

The inner core is the solid, innermost layer of the Earth, composed mainly of iron and nickel, and is extremely hot.

Front

What is the crust?

Back

The crust is the thin, solid outer layer of the Earth where we live, consisting of continental and oceanic crust.

Front

What is the difference between the inner core and outer core?

Back

The inner core is solid and composed of iron and nickel, while the outer core is liquid and also composed mainly of iron and nickel.

Front

How thick is the Earth's crust?

Back

The Earth's crust varies in thickness, averaging about 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) thick under continents and about 5-10 kilometers (3-6 miles) thick under oceans.

Front

What is the temperature of the inner core?

Back

The temperature of the inner core can reach up to 5,700 degrees Celsius (10,300 degrees Fahrenheit).

Tags

NGSS.HS-ESS2-3

Front

What role does the mantle play in plate tectonics?

Back

The mantle's convection currents help to move the tectonic plates on the Earth's surface.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS2-3