Earth's Layers and Seismic Waves

Layers of the Earth

Science 23-24
MS-ESS2-1

Word Cloud

Use one or two words and tell me what you think of when you hear "Layers of the Earth"

Two main ways scientists understand the inside of Earth:

- Rock Samples
- Drilled up from 7 miles deep
- Volcanos carry rock from 60 miles deep

- Seismic Waves
Scientists use earthquake data to understand what makes up the inside of the Earth

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How do we know?

There are 4 main layers of the Earth. Each of these has different compositions, thicknesses, and properties.

The 4 main layers are:

- Crust
- Mantle
- Outer Core
- Inner Core

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The Layers

Multiple Choice

How do scientists know what's inside the Earth?

• Rock Samples and Earthquakes

• We've sent equipment to the center of the Earth

• A massive x-ray machine

• Time travel back to watch the Earth form

Multiple Choice

Which of these is NOT a layer of the Earth?

• Crust

• Mantle

• Core

• Skin

The crust of the Earth is a layer of solid rock that includes both dry land and the ocean floor. It is the thinnest of the layers

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- Only 5-80 km thick
- Two types of Crust:
- Oceanic
- Continental

Crust

Dropdown

The Earth's crust is the

Select answer

of all the layers.

• Mostly Basalt - dark, dense rock

• Much heavier than Continental Crust

​​Oceanic Crust

• Mostly similar to Granite - light, coarse rock

• Forms the Continents

• Lighter than Oceanic Crust

Continental Crust

Hotspot

Where in this picture would we find Continental Crust?

Select all that are correct.

- Directly below the Crust.

- Nearly 3,000 km thick

- Temp goes up the deeper you go - range from: 1,600°C to 2,900°C

- Material is still solid but very bendable - think tinfoil

- Where convection currents happen

Mantle

Multiple Choice

Which layer has convection currents?

• Continental Crust

• Oceanic Crust

• Mantle

• Moon

Labelling

Label the layers.

Drag labels to their correct position on the image

Oceanic Crust

Continental Crust

Mantle

• Molten metal (nickel and iron) surrounding the inner core.

• 2,200 km thick

• 4,500°C - 5,500°C

Outer Core

• Solid metal (nickel and iron) under extreme pressure

• 1,220 km radius

• 5,000°C - 5,500°C

​​Inner Core

Open Ended

The Inner core is solid and the Outer core is liquid, even though they are about the same temperature. Why is the Inner core solid?

Reorder

Put the layers of the Earth in order from outside to inside.

• Crust

• Mantle

• Outer Core

• Inner Core

1

2

3

4

• 1
• 2
• 3
• 4