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Earth Layers
Question | Answer |
---|---|
Lithosphere | The outer part of the earth, consisting of the crust and upper mantle. |
Crust | The outer layer made of the lightest materials. |
Mantle | Composed of very hot, dense, flowing rock. (Magnesium Silicates, Iron, Calcium). The material in the mantle flows because of convection currents causing the brittle crust to move as it floats on top of the mantle. |
Outer Core | Liquid Iron and Nickel |
Inner Core | Solid Iron and Nickel (Dense). Pressure is so great that the heavy metals are in a solid state in spite of having the hottest temperatures. The spinning inner cores of solid and liquid iron creates a giant electromagnetic field around our planet. |
Convection currents | Are a circular current caused by the difference in temperatures from the bottom to the top of the mantle. It is because of these currents that the plates of the Earth have moved in the past and are moving today. |