Layers of the Earth

pressure

variable that affects the state of matter of the Earth's layers. Thick layer of rock = more pressure

inner core

A dense sphere of solid iron and nickel at the center of Earth

outer core

A layer of molten iron and nickel that surrounds the inner core of Earth

lithosphere

Earth's crust and solid upper mantle, broken into tectonic plates

mantle

Solid layer between Earth's crust and core, made of silicates.

asthenosphere

The solid, plastic layer of the mantle beneath the lithosphere; made of mantle rock that flows very slowly, which allows tectonic plates to move on top of it

crust

The thin and solid outermost layer of the Earth above the mantle, made of less silicates than the mantle, composed of oceanic and continental crust

plasticity

ability to be molded

convection current

circulation of a fluid in a loop as the fluid alternately heats up and cools down

density

the amount of matter in a given volume