Astronomy
Astronomy
1st Edition
ISBN: 9781938168284
Author: Andrew Fraknoi; David Morrison; Sidney C. Wolff
Publisher: OpenStax
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Textbook Question
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Chapter 8, Problem 1E

What is the thickest interior layer of Earth? The thinnest?

Expert Solution & Answer
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To determine

The thickest and the thinnest interior layer of earth.

Explanation of Solution

Introduction:

Measuring the thickness of different layers of the earth is possible as all layers have different properties. This is the reason due to which during earthquake waves travel with different velocities in each layer of the earth. When the wave enters another layer, then due to the change in the denseness of the medium, refraction of seismic wave takes place which makes it possible to know the thickness of the layer indirectly.

In general, the earth is known to have 4 layers namely the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. Earth’s crust is a layer where the humans live. It is further of two types which are oceanic crust varying from 510km and continental crust varying from 3045km. Thus, the crust is thinnest among all the layers.

The mantle is the layer next to the earth’s crust layer, and it covers approximately 84% of the earth’s volume. It is the thickest among all the layers of the earth with a thickness of approximately 2900km.

Conclusion:

Therefore, Earth’s crust is the thinnest layer and mantle is the thickest one among all the layers.

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Astronomy

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