3.1 The Earth’s Interior

To understand earthquakes and volcanic activity

To predict weather patterns

To discover new animal species

To improve transportation systems

Mount Everest

Mariana Trench

Kola Superdeep Borehole

Deepest Active Mine

A collision with an asteroid

A giant cloud of dust and gas collapsing in space

The explosion of a nearby star

The cooling of the sun

Crust and upper layer of the mantle

Mantle and outer core

Inner core and outer core

Crust and inner core

It is the largest layer of the Earth.

It is about 2900 km thick.

The middle mantle flows like asphalt under weight.

It is composed entirely of solid rock.

Heating from the inner core

Cooling from the crust

Very hot material rising and then cooling and sinking

Movement of tectonic plates

Oceanic crust is thinner and solid, while continental crust is thicker.

Oceanic crust is thicker and solid, while continental crust is thinner.

Oceanic crust is liquid, while continental crust is solid.

Oceanic crust is made of metals, while continental crust is made of rocks.

Inner Core

Outer Core

Mantle

Crust

Pressure increases

Density increases

Temperature increases

Thickness decreases

Core, mantle, crust

Lithosphere, asthenosphere, mesosphere

Outer core, inner core, mantle

Crust, mantle, outer core