essay about layers of the earth

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Layers of The Earth

Earth is the fifth largest planet in our solar system, and the only one proven to support life. It has multiple layers, with each having distinct characteristic features. If we could slice the planet to half, we would see it is composed of multiple layers, arranged one above the other.

Why Does the Earth have Different Layers and How Are They Formed

According to a general conception, during its formation, the earth underwent a period of differentiation, with the heaviest elements sinking to the center and the lighter ones rising to the surface, thus causing the earth to develop layers as it cooled.The resulting chemical composition can define the earth’s internal layering. Scientists discovered the different layers of the earth based on the study of seismic waves that are generated by earthquakes and explosions that travel through the earth and across its surface.

How Many Layers Does the Earth Have, and What Are They Called

The earth’s internal structure is made up of three major layers: the crust, the mantle, and the core, The mantle and the core are further subdivided to form five distinct layers in total. Each of the layers involving the main layers has its own set of characteristics that are described below along with their chemical compositions, and physical or mechanical properties. The names of these layers, in order of their presence from the top, are as follows:

2. Upper Mantle

3. lower mantle, 4. outer core, 5. inner core, all the earth’s layers, their structure and composition.

Temperature: 475 K (∼200°C) at the surface to 1300 K (∼1000°C)

Thickness: 25 miles (32 km) for continental crust and 3-5 miles (8 km) for oceanic crust

Density : ∼ 2830 kg/m 3 at the continental crust and ∼ 3000 kg/m 3 at the oceanic crust

It is the outermost and thinnest layer of our planet and is least dense among all other layers. Based on its thickness and location, the crust is of two types, the continental crust that consists of granite rocks and found near the mountain ranges, and the oceanic crust that consists of basalt and found under the oceans. The most abundant elements found in the earth’s crust include oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, and calcium. The temperature within the earth’s crust is high enough to melt rocks and form the lower layer called the upper mantle.

Temperature: 1200 K (∼ 932°C) at the upper boundary with the crust to 1900 K (∼1652 °C) at the boundary with the lower mantle

Thickness: 255 miles (410 km)

Density : ∼ 3400 kg/m 3

It is the largest and thickest layer of earth. The upper mantle, along with the crust, makes up the lithosphere of earth, which is physically distinct from the layers lying below due to its low temperature high thickness. Below the lithosphere is found a much hotter and malleable portion of the upper mantle called the asthenosphere layer that begins at the bottom of the lithosphere and extends up to 450 miles (700 km) deep inside.The composition of the upper mantle is not found to be in a steady-state but always in constant motion. The upper mantle moves large areas of crust, called tectonic plates, resulting in the formation of volcanoes, mountains, or earthquakes. Between the upper and lower mantle, there is the presence of the transition zone, which ranges in depth from 250 – 410 miles (410 – 660 km).

Temperature: 1900 K (∼ 1600°C) in the outer regions which can reach up to 4300 K (∼4000°C) at the bottom

Thickness: 1,400 miles (2,250 km)

Density : ∼ 4400 kg/m 3

It is found below the upper mantle from a depth of about 400 miles (650 km) down to 1,800 miles (2,900 km) and is thus incredibly large and takes up most of the earth’s volume. Being so deep inside the earth, the temperature and pressure of the lower mantle are extremely high. Here in the lower mantle, the convection currents allow heat from the interior of the earth to rise to the surface.

Temperature : 4,300 K (4,030°C) in the outer regions to 6,000 K (5,730°C) closest to the inner core

Thickness: 1,355 miles (2,180 km)

Density : 9,900 – 12,200 kg/m 3

Found below the mantle and having a composition similar to the inner core with 80% iron, along with nickel and some other lighter elements. The outer core has a very high density and thus always found to exist in the viscous-liquid state due to not having enough pressure to be compressed to a solid.

Temperature: 5,700 K (∼5,500°C)

Thickness: 760 miles (∼1,220 km)

Density : 12,600 – 13,000 kg/m 3

It is the center, and the hottest part of the earth. Similar to the outer core, the inner core is composed primarily of iron and nickel and has the highest density among all other layers. The inner core is made mostly metals such as gold, platinum, palladium, silver, and tungsten. Due to extremely high temperature and pressure, the metals present in the inner core change their structural conformation and are found to exist in solid state. Recent discoveries also suggest that the solid inner core itself is composed of two layers, separated by a transition zone of about 150 – 250 miles (250 – 400 km) thickness.

Ans. The lithosphere includes the brittle upper portion of the mantle, and the crust or outer layer of the earth’s surface.

Ans. The lithosphere is the mechanical layer of the earth that contains the seven major plates, which include the African, Antarctic, Eurasian, North American, South American, India-Australian, and the Pacific plates.

Ans. Asthenosphere is the earth’s only layer that is mechanically weak and thus can be easily deformed.

What are the Earth’s layers? – Phys.org
Explainer: Earth — layer by layer – Sciencenewsforstudents.org
What are the layers of the Earth? – Zmescience.com
The Composition and Structure of Earth – Courses.lumenlearning.com

Article was last reviewed on Thursday, February 2, 2023

5 responses to “Layers of The Earth”

Can someone explain to me how did the scientists come up with the conclusion about the thickness of each layer without going there or exploring it?

By measuring the time of travel of refracted and reflected seismic waves, scientists could infer the thickness of each layer of Earth.

This is really helpful

Very informational and helpful! I would definitely recommend.

this helped me a lot thanks guys

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Essay On Main Layers Of The Earth

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Education , Earth , Planet , Volcano , World , Athens , Song , Literature

Published: 02/13/2020

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Depth of the Earth is mysterious and far less accessible world than the space surrounding our planet. There is no device yet that could penetrate the depths of the planet. The deepest mine in the world has a depth of 4 km whilst the deepest borehole in the Kola Peninsula - 12 km. It's only 1/500 part of the radius of the Earth! However, people have learned to "drop in" to the depths of the Earth. The main method of studying them is seismic (from the Greek. "Seysmos" - an earthquake). From earthquakes or artificial explosions in the bowels of the earth spread fluctuations. The materials are different in composition and density, therefore, they propagate at different speeds. With the help of specific equipment it is possible to measure these velocities and decrypt information. It is a common fact that the composition of our planet is divided into several shells: the core, mantle and crust. Core is the central part of the globe. It is of very high pressure and temperature of 3000-4000 0C. The core consists of a very dense and heavy material, presumably iron. Core takes about 30% of the mass of the Earth, but only 15% of its volume. Internal hard part of the core appears to float in the outer layer of the liquid. Due to this movement the magnetic field occurs around the Earth. It protects life on Earth from harmful cosmic rays. The boundary of the mantle and the core has been determined on the basis that it does not go deeper than the transverse seismic waves. Since this phenomenon is observed only in fluids - it is assumed that at least the upper part of the core - flowable substance. At a depth of more than 5100 km. (Inner core), the substance presumably becomes hard. As for the composition and density of the core there are only theories. The basic assumption is that the core is composed of nickel-iron. The hypothesis has evolved from studying of meteorites’ iron which consists of Fe (90,85%) and Ni (8,5%). Another layer of the Earth is Mantle (from the Greek. "Mantle" - blanket coat). It is the largest of the inner shells of the Earth. It occupies (80%) of the volume and (nearly 70%) of the weight of our planet. The substance is a solid mantle, but less denser than the core. The pressure and temperature in the mantle increases with depth. In the upper part of the mantle is the layer where the material is partially melted and plastic. It is suggested that the composition of the mantle corresponds to the composition of basalts and dunites. Finally, the Earth's crust is the thinnest outer shell of our planet. The share of the earth's crust has less than 1% of the mass of the globe. In different places of the earth's crust numerous mines and boreholes are created. Millions of samples taken from them and from the Earth's surface, allowed to determine the composition and structure of the Earth's crust.

The Earth's crust is made up of rocks and rocks from minerals.

Overall, all three Earth’s layers are of great importance to be studied. They provide the scientists with the information that can lead to the answers that everyone is looking for: How old the Earth is and how was it created?

Earth's Layers. (n.d.). Earth's Layers. Retrieved August 25, 2013, from http://volcano.oregonstate.edu/vwdocs/vwlessons/lessons/Earths_layers/Earths_layers2.html

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