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Layers of Earth
6.10A LAYERS OF THE EARTH
Term | Definition |
---|---|
INNER CORE | Sphere of solid nickel & iron at the center of Earth; surrounded by liquid outer core. |
OUTER CORE | Outer layer of Earth’s core; surrounds inner core; made of liquid nickel & iron. |
MANTLE | Solid layer of Earth between the crust & core; made of dense silicates. |
CRUST | Thin, solid outermost layer of Earth; made of less dense silicates; either continental (landmasses) or oceanic (ocean floors). |
LITHOSPHERE | Cool, rigid, outermost layer of Earth that consists of the crust & uppermost part of the mantle; broken into pieces or segments called plates; litho = rock. |
ASTHENOSPHERE | Solid layer with plasticity in upper mantle located just below the lithosphere; lithospheric plates “float” & move on this layer; astheno = weak. |
PLASTICITY | Characteristic of the material in the asthenosphere; existing in solid state yet having the ability to flow without being a liquid. |
EARTH'S LAYERS | Divisions of the composition of Earth determined by either chemical composition or by physical state of matter. |
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION | Types, quantities, & arrangements of elements that make up a substance. |
PHYSICAL PROPERTIES | Measurable characteristics that describe physical state of something, including mass, magnetism, temperature, density, shape, volume, & conductivity. |
TEMPERATURE | Measure of the amount of heat energy. |
STATES OF MATTER | Distinct forms of matter known in everyday experience: solid, liquid, and gas; also referred to as phases of matter. |
PRESSURE | Force exerted on matter through contact with other matter; affects melting & boiling points. |
DENSITY | Amount of matter in a given space or volume; relationship between mass & volume; less dense matter will form layers above more dense matter. |