Structure of the Earth
Earth is made of layers: a solid inner core, liquid outer core, mantle and thin crust on which we live.
▶ Interact
Play with the controls to see the idea in action.
📘 Learn
Earth is made of layers: a solid inner core, liquid outer core, mantle and thin crust on which we live.
- Temperature rises with depth
- The mantle is mostly solid rock that slowly flows
- Seismic waves reveal the layers
🧠 Quick quiz
Three questions. Score 2 or more to complete the topic.
What is Structure of the Earth?
Within Earth & Environmental Science, which covers our planet, its resources and ecosystems, and how people can protect the environment, this topic explains Structure of the Earth. Earth and environment topics show how the planet’s systems shape landscapes, climate and life, with models that make these processes visible.
Check that you can explain Structure of the Earth in your own words and give one example from everyday life. If you can do that, you have understood the core idea.
Understanding Structure of the Earth helps you explain the environment around you and weigh up how people can protect it.
Structure of the Earth in detail
The Earth has layers. The crust is the thin, solid outer layer, 5–10 km thick under oceans and 30–70 km under continents. Beneath is the mantle, about 2,900 km thick, which is solid rock but flows slowly, and its upper part with the crust forms the rigid lithosphere. The outer core is liquid iron and nickel, and the inner core is solid, with temperatures around 5,000–6,000 °C.
Movements in the liquid outer core generate Earth's magnetic field. Scientists know the structure through seismic waves, since P-waves travel through all layers but S-waves cannot pass through liquid. Heat from the interior drives plate tectonics.
How the interactive helps you understand Structure of the Earth
Watch the tectonic plates in the interactive. Use any sliders or buttons it offers to change the values and see how the tectonic plates responds.
Before you change anything, predict the result. Then change one value at a time and check whether your prediction was right. This is a quick way to build a correct mental model of Structure of the Earth.
Real-life uses and examples
- Use a diagram of Structure of the Earth to describe the steps of a process in order.
- Discuss how human activity changes Structure of the Earth, using a named example.
- Explain how Structure of the Earth affects the landscape or climate near you.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Describing a process without the timescale it works over.
- Presenting one cause as the only cause of an environmental change.
- Learning the definition without testing it. Use the quiz and the interactive to check that you can apply the idea.
Frequently asked questions about Structure of the Earth
What is Structure of the Earth?
Earth is made of layers: a solid inner core, liquid outer core, mantle and thin crust on which we live.
What are the most important points about Structure of the Earth?
The main points are: Temperature rises with depth; The mantle is mostly solid rock that slowly flows; Seismic waves reveal the layers.
Why is Structure of the Earth useful?
Understanding Structure of the Earth helps you explain the environment around you and weigh up how people can protect it.
How can I practise Structure of the Earth?
Open the interactive at the top of this page and change the controls one at a time. Predict the result before each change, then take the three-question quiz. A score of two or more marks the topic as complete on this device.
Which topics are related to Structure of the Earth?
Related topics in Earth & Environmental Science include Fossils and Geological Time, Plate Tectonics, Mountains and Landforms.