Earth’s Structure - TeacherWeb：地球的结构teacherweb.ppt

Earth’s Structure The layers of Earth Earth is divided into 3 layers based on chemical composition. Core: Dense metallic center, made up of mainly metal iron. Mantle: Liquid middle layer made up of silicon, oxygen and magnesium. Crust: The solid outer layer made up of silicon, oxygen and aluminum. Continental and Oceanic Crust There are two types of crust: Continental: is thicker Oceanic: is thinner and heavier. Compared to the other layers, both types of crust are rocky, thin and fractured. The Physical Structure of Earth Earth is divided into five layers based on physical properties. Lithosphere Asthenosphere Mesosphere Outer core Inner core Lithosphere Lithosphere: cool rigid layer, made up of the crust and upper layer of the mantle. Lithosphere is divided into pieces called tectonic plates. Asthenosphere 2. Asthenosphere Below the lithosphere. Made up of slow flowing solid rock. The moving rock allows for tectonic plates to move. Physical Structure cont. 3. Mesosphere: Slow flowing layer beneath the Asthenosphere 4. Outer core: Layer of liquid Iron and Nickel. 5. Inner core: Solid iron and nickel, temperature is estimated to be between 4000oC to 5000oC Mapping Earth’s Interior How can we know so much about Earth’s interior if no one has ever drilled through the crust? Earthquakes produce seismic waves, and travel thru materials at different speeds. Scientists use these waves to determine the density of each of Earths layers Continental Drift In the 1900’s,Scientist Alfred Wagner, viewed the continents as puzzle pieces. Had a hypothesis that our continents used to be one large continent. He named his hypothesis the Continental Drift Theory. Evidence for Continental Drift Fossils of same plant can be found on continents that are far from each other. Location of mountain ranges with similar rocks show a pattern. The Breakup of Pangaea A single continent Pangaea (many thousands of years ago). Split into two continents – Laurasia and Gondwana (thousands o