Planet Earth is one of the unique planets in the solar system due to the presence of abundant water resources to support life. It may seem that the Earth consists of a single layer of a large solid rock. However, this is not true. The Earth is actually made up of several parts and layers, some of which are in constant motion. The Earth is divided into several layers, including the core, the mantle, the lithosphere and the crust. Each of the layers has unique properties. Here is a brief overview of the main layers of the Earth.
he crust
The crust is the outer layer of the Earth. It is the thinnest layer on earth compared to other layers. Its thickness varies from 5 km in the ocean floor to around 70 km on the earth’s surface. The crust is divided into huge plates that float in the next layer of the earth (the mantle). The plates move constantly but at a slow pace. When the plates rub against each other, earthquakes occur but when they collide, the mountains form. The theory behind plate movements is often called plate tectonics. The earth’s crust is made up of several elements, including oxygen, aluminum, silicon, calcium, iron, sodium, magnesium and potassium.
The coat
The mantle is under the crust and measures approximately 2,890 kilometers deep. It is by far the thickest layers and represents 85% of the volume of the Earth. The layer can be divided into upper and lower coats. The great pressure exerted on the lower mantle makes it completely solid while the upper mantle, also called the asthenosphere, is liquid and flows in the form of a convection current. The mantle is mainly made up of silicate rocks rich in iron and magnesium. Due to the intense heat, the silicon rocks rise. The rocks then cool and descend to the heart. Heating, cooling and sinking of the rocks is believed to be responsible for the tectonic movement.
The Core
The Earth’s core is divided into internal and external nuclei. The two cores are mainly made of iron and nickel. The difference between the inner core and the outer core is that the mineral in the inner core is solid while the outer core is liquid. The inner core is as hot as the sun but, due to the pressure of the weight of the earth, it cannot melt. However, the outer core has less pressure on it, which leads to the melting of minerals. The liquid moves slowly and is responsible for the earth’s magnetic field. The North and South poles also exist due to the liquid outer core.