Earth's Structure: Layers, Composition, and Formation PDF

Earth is known to be the only planet in the universe that sustains life. While it may appear to be one huge solid rock, it is actually made up of various components, some of which are constantly shifting and moving. Earth's structure is made up of four different l...

Earth is known to be the only planet in the universe that sustains life. While it may appear to be one huge solid rock, it is actually made up of various components, some of which are constantly shifting and moving. Earth's structure is made up of four different layers. Each layer has its distinct characteristics and composition. BARYSPHERE This term isn’t commonly used in modern geology, but it sometimes refers to the deeper, denser parts of the Earth, particularly the core, which includes the inner and outer core. The core is primarily composed of iron and nickel and is responsible for Earth’s magnetic field. Lithoshpere This is the outermost layer of the Earth, including the crust and the upper part of the mantle. It’s solid and rigid, and it’s broken into tectonic plates that move around on the more fluid asthenosphere beneath it. Hydrosphere This encompasses all the water on Earth, including oceans, rivers, lakes, glaciers, and even groundwater. It plays a crucial role in weather patterns and climate. ATMOSHPERE This is the layer of gases surrounding the Earth. It includes layers like the troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, and thermosphere. The atmosphere is vital for life as it provides oxygen, protects us from the sun's harmful radiation, and helps regulate temperature. inner coreIt is the deepest layer of the Earth. It is made up of solid iron and nickel. Outer core It is beneath the mantle. It is composed of liquid iron and nickel. Mantle It is made of molten iron and minerals that will still flow under pressure. CRUSTThe Earth's outermost layer is known as the crust. It is where life exists. COMPOSITION OF THE EARTH Assume that this is the earth. The Barysphere is the middle part of the earth. It attracts heavy particles on top of it. It comes from the Greek word “bary” meaning heavy. The next layer is called Lithosphere. It comes from the Greek word “lithos'' meaning stones or rocks. This is the layer where life exists. This is the layer where we live.  Next to the lithosphere is the Hydrosphere. It comes from the Greek word hydro meaning water. The last layer is called the Atmosphere. It comes from the Greek word atmos which means air. This is the layer where we find air to breathe in. Let us imagine that the earth’s diameter is about 8000 miles. Lithosphere is 23 miles. Hydrosphere is 2 ½ miles. If we use this meter stick, the barysphere is this thick( the whole meter stick). Lithosphere is 2/16 of the meter stick. Hydrosphere is 1/16 of the meter stick. Atmosphere is almost invisible. Observe what will happen to this crumpled paper. It went down since a heavy object goes at the center of the earth. FURTHER DETAILS OF THE COMPOSITION OF THE EARTH Inside the barysphere things settled according to its weight. The heaviest went to the center of the earth and the lighter floated on top. The center is called the core. The lighter part around the core is the mantle. The crust is the lithosphere. We live in the lithosphere. In the mantle is more plastic not solid. While in the core, some say it is in the other semi-liquid state. Show Chart U1  As you move further down to the center of the earth the temperature increases to 135 degrees Fahrenheit. The mantle is about 1800 miles while the core is 3000 miles from one edge to the center. The crust varies but is believed to be the thinnest among the layers. (Show Chart U2) The crust is made up of two kinds of rocks, the granite and the basalt. The granite is composed of tiny crystals and is the lighter one. The basalt is the heavier one. The lighter rock floated on top. Granite got stuck on the basalt. The blocks of granite and basalt form the crust of the earth. However, the crust is not a whole shell covering the mantle but slabs called plates. They float on top of the mountain, sometimes rubbing and colliding against each other. Most of these movements are unnoticed, if noticed we feel earthquakes and even tsunamis.  Water carries sediments in the river. Example is the Grand Canyon. How are volcanoes formed? Because our mantle is plastic some plates rub, move or hit each other which turn to volcanoes. Crust is pushed up which causes the water basin to get higher. This is called crumbling. Volcanoes and mountains were formed through earthquakes. Volcanoes erupt when steam creates a lot of pressure and is released as lava.