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Here is a helpful video explaining the different layers.
SPHERES of the EARTH
Geosphere: The rocky parts of the planet. Everything between the inner core and the crust.
Hydrosphere: All of the water on the Earth. Includes oceans, rivers, glaciers, clouds, animals.
Biosphere: All of the life on the Earth. This sphere overlaps with all of the others because things live on land, in the water, and things such as birds and bugs can fly through the air.
Atmosphere: The layer of gases surrounding the Earth.
LAYERS of the GEOSPHERE
Core: Primarily made of Nickel and Iron.
Inner Core: Solid
Outer Core: Molten, flows.
Mantle: Primarily made of Silicates (Silicone and Oxygen)
Mesosphere: Solid
Asthenosphere: Plastic like silly putty. Can be deformed and move slowly.
Lithosphere: Solid
Crust: Primarily made of Silicates (Silicone and Oxygen)
EVIDENCE
How do we know what we know about the layers?
- Seismic Waves: Primary Waves can travel through the core. When they move through the core they change directions. Secondary Waves cannot travel through the core.
- Meteorites: These give evidence of what type of material the Earth formed from and are often high in Nickel and Iron.
- Lab Studies (Crystals under pressure)
- Volcanoes
FORMATION of the EARTH
When the Earth first formed it was so hot that it was completely molten, meaning liquid. The heavier elements such as iron and nickel sank towards the core while the lighter elements like silicon floated towards the top. As the Earth cooled the heavier elements were near the core while the lighter elements were nearer the crust, just like we see today.
Here is a link to the PowerPoint we viewed in class.
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