Layers Of The Earth

Crust

The crust is the outermost and thinnest layer of the earth. It has a thickness of 0-60 km. The crust is made up of three different types of rock; Igneous, Sedimentary and Metamorphic, these hold elements such as; oxygen, silicon, aluminium, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. There are two different types of crust; Continental Crust which carries the land, and Oceanic Crust which carries the worlds oceans.

Mantle

The mantle is the second most outer layer as well as the thickest layer of the earths make up. It has a distance of 2,900 km when measuring from the bottom of the crust to the bottom of the mantle, the mantles temperature varies depending where your measuring, near the top of the mantle it ranges between 500-900 °C, towards the bottom the temperature ranges between 4000-5000 °C. It is composed of molten rock called magma, magma contains mainly magnesium and iron. The immense heat in the bottom of the mantle causes rocks to rise to the top of the mantle, where they then cool and sink back to the bottom. This movement is called a convection current. These currents are what is suspected to be the cause of the movement of tectonic plates. 

Outer Core

The outer core acts as a casing for the inner core. It is 2,200 km thick, the outer core is extremely hot with its temperature ranging between 4000-5000 °C. It is a liquid layer made up of molten iron and nickel. 

Inner Core

The inner core is the centre of the earth. It is approximately 1,200 km thick, the inner core is the hottest part of the earth with its temperature ranging between 5000-5500 °C. The inner core is composed of solid iron. The inner core spins at a different speed compared to the rest of the earth, this is what is thought to cause the earths magnetic field.