Here's a breakdown:
* Crust: The outermost layer of the Earth, made of solid rock. It's relatively thin compared to other layers, and can be divided into oceanic crust (thinner and denser) and continental crust (thicker and less dense).
* Mantle: The layer below the crust, extending down to about 2900 kilometers. The upper mantle is mostly solid, but it behaves more like a very viscous fluid over long periods.
* Lithosphere: The rigid outer layer of the Earth, composed of the crust and the uppermost portion of the mantle. This layer is about 100 kilometers thick and is broken into tectonic plates that move and interact with each other.
The lithosphere is important because it is the layer where earthquakes, volcanoes, and mountain building occur.
