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