Questions and Answers
What are the primary components of the continental crust and the oceanic crust?
The continental crust is primarily composed of silica and alumina (SIAL), while the oceanic crust is mainly composed of silica and magnesium (SIMA).
What is the approximate thickness of the Earth's crust?
Approximately 40 km.
What are the main differences between the upper mantle and the lower mantle?
The upper mantle is in a solid state and composed primarily of silicon compounds, while the lower mantle is in a semi-liquid state.
Which part of the Earth’s core is in a molten state, and which part is solid?
Signup and view all the answers
What elements are primarily found in the Earth's inner core?
Signup and view all the answers
Study Notes
Earth's Interior Structure
- The Earth is divided into three main layers: crust, mantle, and core.
Crust
- The outermost layer, crust, is approximately 40 km thick.
- Composed of two parts: continental crust (SIAL) and oceanic crust (SIMA).
- Continental crust is mostly made up of silica and alumina.
- Oceanic crust is mostly composed of silica and magnesium.
Mantle
- Located beneath the crust, the mantle extends up to 2900 km deep.
- Divided into two parts: upper mantle and lower mantle.
- Upper mantle is made up of silicon compounds and is in a solid state.
- Lower mantle is located beneath the upper mantle and is in a semi-liquid state.
Core
- The central part of the Earth, the core, spans from 2900 km to 6371 km deep.
- Comprised of two parts: outer core and inner core.
- Outer core is in a molten state.
- Inner core is solid, primarily composed of nickel (Ni) and iron (Fe), also known as NIPE.
Studying That Suits You
Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.
Description
Explore the Earth's internal layers, including the crust, mantle, and core. Learn about their composition and characteristics.
