3.1 The earth's layers and plates

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Natural Disasters

3.1 The earth's layers and plates

Learning objectives

At the end of this lesson, you will be able to

• Describe how the earth is built up of different layers
  
• Explain what tectonic plates are and why they move 

Layers of the earth

Mantle: thickest layer of the earth, solid but also moveable.

Crust: layer we live on, solid and very thin. Made of rocks.
 

Layers of the earth

Inner core: solid made out of nickel and iron. Very warm (4000 and 6000 degrees C.)

Outer core: liquid also made out of nickel and iron. Cooler around 3000 - 4500 degrees C.
 

Plate tectonics

The earth consists of tectonic plates, these plates moves in a process we call plate tectonics or continental drift.

These movements cause earthquakes.
Some plates are small (e.g. Carribbean Plate) others are huge (e.g. Eurasian plate).

Basalt

Granite

We have two types of tectonic plates:

Oceanic plates:

Found under oceans, thin (up to 10 kilometres) but heavier. Made of basalt.

Continental plates:
Found under continents, thick (up to 75 kilometres) but lighter. 
Made of granite.

Plate tectonics is nothing new.

   

The earth's history is filled with plate movements, 300 million years ago all the plates formed one huge supercontinent called Pangea.

What type of crust is thicker?

1. Continental Crust
2. Oceanic crust

What is the layer called directly beneath the earths crust?

1. Mantle
2. Outer core
3. Inner Core
4. Atmosphere

The core of the earth isn't molten, but actually a solid ball

1. True
2. False