CAPSULE 7

The Interior of
the Earth

Direction for Computer Assisted lesson

Direction for Computer Assisted lesson

Follow the Instruction given below:

Follow the Instruction given below:
This lesson is about the topic-THE INTERIOR OF THE EARTH
This lesson is about the topic-THE INTERIOR OF THE EARTH
This capsule contain suitable slides related to the concept.
This capsule contain suitable slides related to the concept.
Necessary Pictures are provided in each slide.
Necessary Pictures are provided in each slide.
Use mouse (single click) to move to the next slide.
Use mouse (single click) to move to the next slide.
Click on the textbox to get the response.
Click on the textbox to get the response.
Please note the direction given by the computer.
Please note the direction given by the computer.
Brain Teasers are provided for developing concepts
Brain Teasers are provided for developing concepts
Brain relaxers are provided for self checking with necessary
Brain relaxers are provided for self checking with necessary
explanation.
explanation.
After completing the lesson the learners can recapitulate the lesson
After completing the lesson the learners can recapitulate the lesson
through Test Your knowledge session.
through Test Your knowledge session.

Earth's interior is made up of a series of layers that

sit below the surface crust. In order of depth, these
layers include the solid, but flowing mantle, the
liquid outer core and the solid iron outer core,
which helps create Earth's protective magnetic
field. The layers can also be categorized into the
rigid outer lithosphere (which includes the crust
and top portion of the mantle and makes up Earth's
tectonic plates) and the athenosphere, the portion
of the mantle that is solid, but made up of hot,
weak, flowing

Pictures of Interior of the Earth

Fig.1

The average density of Earth is 5,515kg/m33. Since the average

density of surface material is only around 3,000kg/m33, we must
conclude that denser materials exist within Earth's core. Seismic
measurements show that the core is divided into two parts, a
"solid" inner core with a radius of ~1,220km and a liquid outer
core extending beyond it to a radius of ~3,400km. The densities
are between 9,900 and 12,200kg/m33 in the outer core and
12,60013,000kg/m33 in the inner core.

DEFINING THE TERM INTERIOR OF EARTH

D4

The inner core was discovered in 1936 by Inge Lehmann and is

generally believed to be composed primarily of iron and some nickel.
It is not necessarily a solid, but, because it is able to deflect seismic
waves, it must behave as a solid in some fashion. Experimental
evidence has at times been critical of crystal models of the core.
Other experimental studies show a discrepancy under high pressure:
diamond anvil (static) studies at core pressures yield melting
temperatures that are approximately 2000K below those from shock
laser (dynamic) studies. The laser studies create plasma, and the
results are suggestive that constraining inner core conditions will
depend on whether the inner core is a solid or is a plasma with the
density of a solid. This is an area of active research.

The liquid outer core surrounds the inner core and is believed
to be composed of iron mixed with nickel and trace amounts of
lighter elements

Brain Teaser 2.1

At the center of the Earth lies the super-dense core.

No

Refer Brain Relaxer

2.1

Yes

Click here

The interior structure of the Earth is layered in spherical shells, like an

onion. These layers can be defined by either their chemical or their
rheological properties. Earth has an outer silicate solid crust, a highly
viscous mantle, a liquid outer core that is much less viscous than the
mantle, and a solid inner core. Scientific understanding of the internal
structure of the Earth is based on observations of topography and
bathymetry, observations of rock in outcrop, samples brought to the
surface from greater depths by volcanoes or volcanic activity, analysis of
the seismic waves that pass through the Earth, measurements of the
gravitational and magnetic fields of the Earth, and experiments with
crystalline solids at pressures and temperatures characteristic of the
Earth's deep interior

Find out
the different pictures
of the interior of Earth
Here are some pictures of
interior of Earth. Observe the
picture and identify the inner
wonder of Earth

Here are some pictures of interior of Earth. Observe the picture

and identify the inner wonder of Earth
Fig.2

Into the Earth

Explanations

Crust

The story of plate tectonics really starts deep within the Earth,
so lets take a look inside first. Although the Earth appears to
be made up of solid rock to us surface-dwelling humans, it's
actually made up of three distinct layers: the crust, mantle,
and core. Each layer has its own unique properties and
chemical composition.

Mantle

The layer below the crust is the mantle. The mantle has more
iron and magnesium than the crust, making it more dense.
The uppermost part of the mantle is solid and, along with the
crust, forms the lithosphere. The rocky lithosphere is brittle
and can fracture. This is the zone where earthquakes occur.
It's the lithosphere that breaks into the thick, moving slabs of
rock that geologist's call tectonic plates.

Core

At the center of the Earth lies the super-dense core. With a

diameter of 3486 kilometers, the core is larger than the planet
Mars! The core of the Earth is made up of two distinct layers: a
liquid outer layer and a solid inner core. Unlike the Earth's
outer layers with rocky compositions, the core is made up of
metallic iron-nickel alloy. It's hard to imagine, but the core is
about 5 times as dense as the rock we walk on at the surface!

ENLARGING THE DEFINITION

D5

Earth's interior is made up of a series of layers that sit below the

surface crust. In order of depth, these layers include the solid, but
flowing mantle, the liquid outer core and the solid iron outer core,
which helps create Earth's protective magnetic field. The layers
can also be categorized into the rigid outer lithosphere (which
includes the crust and top portion of the mantle and makes up
Earth's tectonic plates) and the athenosphere, the portion of the
mantle that is solid, but made up of hot, weak, flowing rock.

Although the Earth appears to be made up of solid rock to us surfacedwelling humans, it's actually made up of three distinct layers: the crust,
mantle, and core. Each layer has its own unique properties and
chemical composition

 Brain Teaser 2.2

The interior structure of the Earth is layered in
spherical shells, like an onion

No

Refer Brain Relaxer

2.2

Yes

Click here

The liquid outer core surrounds the inner

core and is believed to be composed of iron
mixed with nickel and trace amounts of
lighter elements.

DEFINITION

D6

The inner core was discovered in 1936 by Inge Lehmann and

is generally believed to be composed primarily of iron and
some nickel. It is not necessarily a solid, but, because it is
able to deflect seismic waves, it must behave as a solid in
some fashion. Experimental evidence has at times been
critical of crystal models of the core. Other experimental
studies show a discrepancy under high pressure: diamond
anvil (static) studies at core pressures yield melting
temperatures that are approximately 2000K below those
from shock laser (dynamic) studies. The laser studies create
plasma, and the results are suggestive that constraining inner
core conditions will depend on whether the inner core is a
solid or is a plasma with the density of a solid.

CONCEPT
FORMATION

In early stages of Earth's formation about four and a half

billion (4.51099) years ago, melting would have caused
denser substances to sink toward the center in a process
called planetary differentiation (see also the iron
catastrophe), while less-dense materials would have
migrated to the crust. The core is thus believed to largely
be composed of iron (80%), along with nickel and one or
more light elements, whereas other dense elements, such
as lead and uranium, either are too rare to be significant
or tend to bind to lighter elements and thus remain in the
crust (see felsic materials). Some have argued that the
inner core may be in the form of a single iron crystal.

UNIT 2
THE INTERIOR OF THE EARTH

THINKING SESSION

Brain Relaxer 2.1

Recent evidence has suggested that the inner core of Earth may
rotate slightly faster than the rest of the planet; however, more
recent studies in 2011 found this hypothesis to be inconclusive.
Options remain for the core which may be oscillatory in nature or
a chaotic system. In August 2005 a team of geophysicists
announced in the journal Science that, according to their
estimates, Earth's inner core rotates approximately 0.3 to
0.5degrees per year faster relative to the rotation of the surface

The interior structure of the Earth is layered in

spherical shells, like an onion. These layers can be
defined by either their chemical or their rheological
properties. Earth has an outer silicate solid crust, a
highly viscous mantle, a liquid outer core that is
much less viscous than the mantle, and a solid inner
core. Scientific understanding of the internal
structure of the Earth is based on observations of
topography and bathymetry, observations of rock in
outcrop, samples brought to the surface from greater
depths by volcanoes or volcanic activity, analysis of
the seismic waves that pass through the Earth,
measurements of the gravitational and magnetic
fields of the Earth, and experiments with crystalline
solids at pressures and temperatures characteristic
of the Earth's deep interior.

Brain Relaxer 2.2

Look at the Fig. 3

Fig.3

THE INTERIOR OF THE EARTH

Say True or False

Test your knowledge

1-The crust is the thin, solid, outermost layer of the Earth

False

True

2-The liquid outer core surrounds the inner core and is believed to be
composed of iron mixed with nickel and trace amounts of lighter
elements

False

True