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Difficulty: EasyEarth's Interior and Plate Tectonics

Earth is composed of several distinct compositional layers that vary in density, depth, and temperature. How should the four primary layers of Earth be arranged in sequence from the surface down to the center?

  1. 1Crust
  2. 2Mantle
  3. 3Outer Core
  4. 4Inner Core

Answer

The correct order from the surface down to the center is Crust, Mantle, Outer Core, and Inner Core.
Earth differentiated early in its history into concentric layers based on density. Starting from the surface and moving downward to the center, the sequence begins with the relatively light, solid Crust (0 to approximately 70 km depth), enters the thick, ductile Mantle (extending to about 2,890 km depth), passes through the liquid Outer Core (2,890 to 5,150 km depth), and reaches the solid Inner Core (5,150 to 6,371 km depth) at the center.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the outermost layer at the planetary surface.
Crust
The crust is the surface shell and the least dense compositional layer.
2
Identify the layer located directly beneath the crust.
Mantle
The mantle lies between the crust and the core, making up roughly 84% of Earth's total volume.
3
Identify the molten layer beneath the mantle.
Outer Core
The outer core is a layer of liquid iron and nickel that sits below the mantle and encloses the innermost core.
4
Identify the innermost central layer.
Inner Core
The inner core is the solid metallic center of the planet experiencing the highest pressures and temperatures.

Key Concept

Earth's Compositional Layering by Depth and Density
Estimated Time:45s
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Topics

Earth's Interior and Plate Tectonics

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