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Voc.LayersofEarth
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Lithosphere | the rigid, outermost layer of Earth that includes the upppermost mantle and crust. *Litho means "stone" in Latin |
| Crust | the brittle, rocky layer of Earth *Includes the continents (landmasses) and oceans (ocean bottoms) |
| Core | the dense, metallic center of Earth *includes the OUTER CORE - thought to be liquid (Fe) and (Ni). *Includes the INNER CORE - Thought to be made of solid (Fe). |
| Mantle | the thick middle layer in the solid part of Earth. *believed to lie between the crust and the core. *includes the asthenosphere and bottom of lithosphere. |
| Asthenosphere | the partially melted portion of the mantle below the lithosphere. *the lithospheric plates or "tectonic" plates are believed to "float" and move on this layer. |