1. Crust:
* This is the outermost layer, and what we walk on.
* It's relatively thin, ranging from 3 to 50 km thick.
* Divided into two types:
* Oceanic Crust: Thinner, denser, made up of basalt.
* Continental Crust: Thicker, less dense, made up of granite.
2. Mantle:
* The thickest layer, extending from the crust to about 2,900 km deep.
* Made of mostly solid rock, but it behaves like a very viscous fluid over long periods.
* The upper mantle contains the asthenosphere, a partially molten zone where convection currents drive plate tectonics.
* Lower mantle is solid, but still very hot and under immense pressure.
3. Outer Core:
* Liquid layer, mostly composed of iron and nickel.
* Extends from about 2,900 km to 5,150 km deep.
* The movement of the outer core generates Earth's magnetic field.
4. Inner Core:
* Solid ball of iron and nickel at the Earth's center.
* Extends from 5,150 km to the Earth's center, about 6,371 km deep.
* Despite being solid, the inner core is incredibly hot, around 5,200 °C (9,392 °F).
* The immense pressure prevents it from melting.
Here's a simple way to remember the layers:
Crust (like the crust on a loaf of bread)
Mantle (like the thick middle part of the bread)
Outer Core (like a liquid filling)
Inner Core (like the hard, solid center of the bread)
