Layers of the Earth and Atmosphere - Earth Science with Mrs. Wilson

Name: ____________________________________
Class Period: ________
Layers of the Earth and Atmosphere
We will be using the textbook to study the layers of the earth and its atmosphere. For layers of the
Earth listed below, complete the data table using pages 230-232. We will also be drawing in the layers
of the atmosphere. This data has been supplied for you.
Layer
Average
Depth
Temperature
What Is It
Made Of
Inner Core 6400 km 7200° C iron
Description
Solid made up of iron and nickel.
It is under extreme pressure.
Outer Core
Lower Mantle
Asthenosphere
Upper Mantle
Crust
You will use a strip of calculator tape to complete a scale of the layers. Color the layers as indicated
next to the name. On the scale, use 1 cm to equal 100 km. that means a layer that is 1200 km thick would
equal 12 cm. (If a layer is less than 100 km use a part of a cm.) On this scale 10 km would equal 1 mm.
You will need one meter of tape. One end of your tape will represent the center of the earth. Begin
measuring there for the inner core.

Earth and
atmosphere layers
Actual depth
(km)
Model depth
(cm and mm)
Inner core 1300 km 13 cm
Outer Core 2200 km 22 cm
Lower Mantle 2240 km 22.4 cm
Asthenosphere 250 km 2.5 cm
Upper Mantle 395 km 3.95 cm
Crust 15 km 1.5 mm
Troposphere 12 km 1.2 mm
Stratosphere 38 km 3.8 mm
Mesosphere 30 km 3.0 mm
Ionosphere 470 km 4.7 cm
Exosphere No specific depth Use 12.0 cm
Use the following colors for your model:
Inner Core – Dark Brown
Outer Core – Orange
Lower Mantle – Red Orange
Asthenosphere - Red
Upper Mantle – Light Brown
Crust (Continental and Oceanic) – Green
Troposphere – Yellow
Stratosphere –Purple
Mesosphere – Light Blue
Ionosphere– Blue
Exosphere – Scattered Blue Dots
When you finish your model, answer the following questions on notebook paper using complete sentences.
Staple your notebook paper to this sheet and turn in when you are finished.
1. What is the thickest layer of the earth
2. What is the thinnest layer of the earth
3. If you were to use an apple to represent the earth, what part of the apple would represent the
earth’s crust
4. How have scientists learned about the earth’s interior
5. What layers make up the lithosphere
6. What is the asthenosphere and why is it important
7. Why is the inner core solid even though it is very hot
8. What causes the Earth’s magnetic field

Layers of the Earth and Atmosphere
We will be using the textbook to study the layers of the earth and its atmosphere. For layers of the
Earth listed below, complete the data table using pages 230-232. We will also be drawing in the layers
of the atmosphere. This data has been supplied for you.
Layer
Average
Depth
Temperature
What Is It
Made Of
Description
Inner Core 6400 km 7200° C iron
Solid made up of iron and nickel.
It is under extreme pressure.
Outer Core
5100 km 4300° C Iron and nickel Liquid iron; as it moves it creates
electric currents making Earth’s
magnetic field.
2900 km 3700° C
Rock
Largest part of Earth’s interior;
very hot and flows slowly
Lower Mantle
Asthenosphere
660 km
Between Lower
and Upper
Mantle
Hot rock
More fluid than other parts of
the mantle – like jelly; soft
410 km
Lower part of the lithosphere
870° C Rock
Upper Mantle
Crust
15 km 0° C Granite and
Basalt
Uppermost layer; cool so it cracks
and breaks easily; floats on the
mantle
You will use a strip of calculator tape to complete a scale of the layers. Color the layers as indicated
next to the name. On the scale, use 1 cm to equal 100 km. that means a layer that is 1200 km thick would
equal 12 cm. (If a layer is less than 100 km use a part of a cm.) On this scale 10 km would equal 1 mm.
You will need one meter of tape. One end of your tape will represent the center of the earth. Begin
measuring there for the inner core.

Earth and
atmosphere layers
Actual depth
(km)
Model depth
(cm and mm)
Inner core 1300 km 13 cm
Outer Core 2200 km 22 cm
Lower Mantle 2240 km 22.4 cm
Asthenosphere 250 km 2.5 cm
Upper Mantle 395 km 3.95 cm
Crust 15 km 1.5 mm
Troposphere 12 km 1.2 mm
Stratosphere 38 km 3.8 mm
Mesosphere 30 km 3.0 mm
Ionosphere 470 km 4.7 cm
Exosphere No specific depth Use 12.0 cm
Use the following colors for your model:
Inner Core – Dark Brown
Outer Core – Orange
Lower Mantle – Red Orange
Asthenosphere - Red
Upper Mantle – Light Brown
Crust (Continental and Oceanic) – Green
Troposphere – Yellow
Stratosphere –Purple
Mesosphere – Light Blue
Ionosphere– Blue
Exosphere – Scattered Blue Dots
When you finish your model, answer the following questions on notebook paper using complete sentences.
Staple your notebook paper to this sheet and turn in when you are finished.
1. What is the thickest layer of the earth
2. What is the thinnest layer of the earth
3. If you were to use an apple to represent the earth, what part of the apple would represent the
earth’s crust
4. How have scientists learned about the earth’s interior
5. What layers make up the lithosphere
6. What is the asthenosphere and why is it important
7. Why is the inner core solid even though it is very hot
8. What causes the Earth’s magnetic field