Chapter 13, Problem 1LC

To determine

To compare: The characteristics of the Earth’s crust, mantle, inner core, and outer core.

Answer to Problem 1LC

The Earth is made up of three layers comprising crust, mantle, and core. The outermost layer being the crust is made up of soil and rocks. The mantle that rests between the core and the crust takes up a large quantity of the earth’s volume. The solid inner core is dense, and it is surrounded by a layer of molten outer core.

Explanation of Solution

The characteristic comparison of Earth’s crust, mantle, inner core, and outer core are explained below.

CRUST	MANTLE	CORE
The outermost layer of Earth	It lies between the core and crust, and it is the thickest layer of the Earth.	It lies beneath the mantle and the innermost layer of Earth.
Ranges from 5-70 kilometers in depth.	Extends up to a depth of 2,900 kilometers.	Transition between inner and outer cores is 5,000 kilometers
The crust consists of oceanic crust and continental crust.	The mantle is divided into upper mantle and lower mantle.	The core consists of outer core and inner core.
It takes up less than 1 percent of the Earth’s volume.	It takes up 84 percent of the Earth’s total volume.	It takes up to 15 percent of the Earth’s volume.
It take up 0.3 percent of the Earth’s mass.	It takes up two-third of the total mass.	It takes up 32 percent of the Earth’s mass.
It is made of silicate minerals, metamorphic, igneous, and sedimentary rocks.	It is made of hot iron and nickel.	It is made of iron and nickel alloy.