STRUCTURE

OF THEEARTH,
PROCESSES
INJERNAL
ANDWEATHERING
4 I
I

~arth's Structurei I
I
SYLL BUS I
I
Structure of the Earth I
Ea h's Structure : Core mantle, crust - meaning, extent and their composition . I

OUTLI E OF THE CHAPTER

Sub-units - 1. Introduction
2. Structure of the Earth - Core, mantle, crust - meaning, extent and their composition.

1. I TRODUCTION state at such a high temperature. It is, therefore,

Man bas constantly explored the three realms inferred that the source of lava eruption from
of the Earth - Lithos here, Hydros here and volcanoes is at the depth of about 48 km.
Atmosphere - since ages. Although man has been • If we assume that temperature goes on increasing
able to solve the mysteries of atmosphere beyond at this rate (I °C for every 32 metres), the
space to some extent and has been able to study the temperature at the centre or core of the Earth can
depth of the oceans in detail, the interior of the Earth be calculated to be more than 4000°C.
and its composition still remain a mystery among the • It .has. also been estimated by the Earth's I
great geologists and geophysicists. scientists that the rate of increase of temperature
Our knowledge of the structure of the Earth's ms1dethe Earth undergoes an increase at greater I
interior is based on indirect evidence provided depths from the surface.
by a study of physical properties of the
inaccessible regions of the Earth. Crust

The change in temperature, pressure and density Mantle

in the Earth's interior with increasing depth can Outer Core
be estimated from velocity of earthquake waves
Inner Core
through the Earth and by studying lavas emitted
from volcanoes.
The thermal and physical state of the interior of
the Earth also helps in ascertaining the structure and
composition of the Earth.
(i) Temperature : It is an established fact that as
we go down below the surface, of the Earth,
the temperature goes on increasing at the rate of Fig. 4 •1a : Earth's Structure
1C for every 32 metres of descent. At this rate • In the upper laayers of the Earth a • rtant
the temperature at the depth of 48 km would source of heat is . ' n tmpo
be between 1200° and 2000° . Uranium d t~e radioactive minerals like
an Thonum.
• The rocks and materials cannot remain in solid • Th min rals are .
more abundant upto a depth
A Textbook oflCSE Geography Class IX
 of about 100 km below which they are formed atmospheres and at core of the Earth, the pressure
in much lesser quantities. is estimated to be about 3.5 million atmospheres.
The thennal conditions of the Earth may be (iii)
Density : The average density (the weight per
summarised as follows : unit volume) of the Earth is 5.5. The surface
* At a depth of about 48 km the temperature layer of the continents, composed of Sial
is about l 200°C. (Silica and Aluminium) or Graphite rocks,
* The temperature at the depth of 400 km is however, has a density of about 2.7.
about l 500°C. * It is believed that the middle layer, which
o The temperature at molten outer core and consists of Sima (Silica & Magnesium), has a
the inner solid core (at the depth of approx. density of about 4.3 and the core of the Earth
5,100 km) is estimated to be about 4300°C. consists of Nife (iron and nickel) and the
density at the core may be 16.
p-0-
Pressure : The pressure exerted by the weight
ofof the atmosphere inside the Earth has also 2. STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH
been used to determine the composition and On the basis of the study of physical property
structure of the Earth's interior. of the Earth's surface, behaviour pattern of seismic
• One atmospheric unit equals to a pressure of waves of earth uakes and the lava erupted from
about 14.7 lb per sq inch. At this rate, at a depth .volcanoes, it is believed that the Earth is composed
of 2,500 km, the pressure is about one million o three parts - (1) Crust, (2) Mantle, and (3) Core.

- Ww-bt - ou ermost
Man
nt-t"{), - midd oU.t
Mid-Atlantic
Ridge(oneof the
zoneswherenew basaltic
rocksare formed) \ .
- Cor e _ innermost ..

===f----++--;./-
> }(mainly
Verydenserocks
I nlckleand iron)

The GutenburgDiscontinuity 1
wheresomeearthquake I
wavesare absorbed \ ._..__ __ The MohoDiscontinuity
where
\ earthquakewaveschangespeed

The Oceansform
the HYDROSPHERE

- _

Fig. 4.1 b: Interior of the Earth

Mountains
Continental shelf

M
M

Fig. 4.1c : Lithosphere

A Textbookof ICSE Geography Class IX---------------------------

 IAL
(i) Crust (Lithosphere) : Th w rd • lithosphere 1. This is belowtheSIAL
1. This is the uppermost
has b en tak n fr m a re k word • t: hos layer.
. , Th of th layer of the earth's
m anm . h l
crust.
arth's is a
and o la
2. Its thickness is nearly 2. Its averagethicknessis
IS
20 km. about 25 to 30 km.
i) . lid 3. It is composed of Silica 3. It is composedofSilica
1 ensity (Si) and Aluminium (Si) and magnesium
(Al). Therefore, it is (ma). Therefore, it is
known as the layer of known as Sima.
1 n called 'Sial'
(bec minance of silica and Sial.
. .. • • • • • n. (the granite 4. Sial layer is not a 4. It is a continous
iii l continuous layer(3s layer:..
The lower continuous layer termed it is not traceable
f its richness in silica and on the ocean asms
an average density _and The sial being lighter
ii ilar to that of the common remains floatin over
_____ la_v_acalled basalt) the heavier sima la er.
basal layer direc
directly lies under the
here forms the thinnest art
st. In continental areas
granitic and asa tic layers together can
eh a thickne s of approximately 45 to 48
. The d n ity of Sial is lower 2.77) than
ima (2.95). SIAL SIMA
(v'\(l

T th whole i thicke t beneath

and in the ocean.
of of rocks.
t part on i t of edimenrary

ontinuou o er
and i u ually
e edi
in th

. n
th Earth 1
. f I ns•.
mp

ography la
 in molten fom1. Why
is it olidis
state? theit
Earth than at the surface.
(b) The inner core, with a radius of 1,400 km The density of this layer ranges from 14.5 to
is believed to consist of l!ifs, but is forced 16.Temperature also mcreases sha 1 with
into a solid state by mcreased ressure until 1t may reach atleast
tlu·ee million tonne greater at t e center o 4000
CONTENTANALYSISIN BRIEF
1. lf one moves from surface of the Earth towards its the continuous layer of Sima..
centre, the temperature, pressure and density all the (c) The contact zone of the crust and mantle is
three goon increasing.
called Mohorovicic Discontinuity
2. The temperature of the earth's interior goes on 6. Mantle is the second layer of the Earth between the
increasing at the rate of 1°C for every 32 metres. crust and the core with its upper boundary. marked
3. High pressure in the interior of the earth exercises a by Mohorovicic Discontinuity and its lower bounda
powerful influence on the temperature and physical marked by the Guten urg Discontinuity
state of the earth. - p

7. Mantle consists of dense and rigid rocks containing

4. The density of the m • • e core of the earth magnesium and iron.
•
is s found in th 8. Barysphere or Core consists of core and inner core.
uppermos
* Core consists of nickel and iron with a
5. (a) The outermost layers of the earth form the crust temperature estimated to be 2700 C
or lithosphere containing Sial and Sima. Sial is
• The inner core also consists of nickel and iron
composed of silicon and aluminium while Sima
but is forced into a solid state by increased
consists of silica and magnesium
pressure.
(b) The density of Sima is much higher than Sial.
Hence, Sial is a discontinuous layer floating over Core : The central part of the earth below a depth of 2900 km.

Mind Map: 4.1

~ STRUCTURE OF THE EARTH tt

~
....

____ . r
~--~-~
► Crust (Lithosphere) "' tie (Pendolite shell) ·:
w ~

l
~
Sima
-l -J -
I Up er
~

Inner Core
S1al
I l ,?~
_l
Lies under the ~ -'>( also called as
4000°C
oceanic floor J Mesosphere

l -
_ I B ist in s
Silicon
+ Alwniniwn ~jlicon+ Magnesium Consists o'u \
sulphides IConsistsof
nickel & iron state
..__............................
lid

l
Basaltic layer

.,
Sial is less dense
andfloats on Sima

A Textb00 k of /CSE Geography Class IX ______ ___;,~-----------------------1 ---·---

 TERMSTO REMEMBER
TECHNICAL . 81.1; a and alumina.
rich ll1 ic h'
l wer layer of the eart s outer crust
Sima : The o . .. . that
• t.11e s1'al and is rich m s1hca, iron, and rnagne.
underlies s1ullt.
rust to m unt.ainran s. d Gutenbe1•g Discontinuity: The boundary between . ' e
therna"·tt
Mantle : lt i a lay r of iii ate ro k b ·t, n 1h rust an and the core is known as the. Gutenberg Discontinuity .1
th outer re. f the • ic Discontinuity: It 1s the layer between thec-n,..
ial : Th mat"tial f th um r or mtin ntal part_o Moho1·ov1c -·~i

'i b relativ I low density and and the mantle.

EXERCISE
A. II I inque tion : 4 _ Gutenburg Discontinuity separates __ & ---.
1. What d u understand by lithosphere? ( ) Crust & Core ~Core & Mantle
2. am the two layers of lithosphere. (~) Mantle & crust (c) Sial & Sima
at d you understand by mantle?
5 Mesosphere is another name of __ _
4. What i the position of mantle in the Earth?
• (a) crust (b) Core ~ Mantle (d) Sima
5. at is core? By what other name is it known as?
,6. tate the compositionof the SIAL layer. 6. Asthenosphere remains in ___ state.
• State the properties of the core of the Earth. (a) Liquid (b) ~olten
• W at is Earth's crust composed of? ,Partially Molten ._(dfSolid
•. W at does 'Nife' mean? 7. Gutenburg Discontinuity is placed at __ km
y does the temperature increase as we go down depth from the surface.
(uni erground)?
11. (a) 3270 J!ef2900 (c) 32 (d) 1000
ow does Sial differ from Sima?
12. ame the two most important and abundant chemical
8. Which of the following layer is also called Barysphere?
etements present in the Earth's crust. (a) Mantle (b) Asthenosphere
13. W at is meant by Mohorovicic Discontinuity? ~ore (d) Continental crust
14. What is mantle composed of? 9. _Inn~ core is solid due to
• Defin the following terms : ~igh temperature . ""igh pressure
1. Crust 2. Mantle 3. Core (c) high density (d) low pressure
4. Nife 1
C. D,sti guish between the following pairs : 0. Which of the following rocks and mineral composi·
• Crus and Core 2. Sial and Sima tion is correct for Continental crust?
D. Diagram • (a) Basalt, Si, Al. (b) Granite, Si, Ma.
Ora a setf--explanatory
diagram showingthe composition ~Granite, Si, Al. (d) Basalt, Granite, Si, Ma.
and swcture of the Earth. 11
• The ave.rage density of earth expressed in g/cm3 is
E. Choo t c rrect opti n : 5
1. W, at t the r~te of change of temperature inside 12 _;P?s. (b) 2.7 (c) 11 (d) 4.3
.earth? • Which of the following discontinuity is found between
crust & mantle?
(a) Te perature decreases at the rate of 1°c for
every 32 metres of descent. (a) Conrad
(b) Gutenberg
Ti mperature increases at the rate of 1°c for JPY'Mohorovicic
e ery 32 metres of descent. (d) Lehmann
(c.) Temperature r.emalns-eonstant ANSWERS
1. (b)
(d) Temperatur d creas s at th rate f 32° for 2, (c)
6. (c) 3, (c) 4. (b} 5. (c)
every 1 metr of desc nt. 7. (b)
2. Sial i the part of ·-· 11. ( ) 8. ( ) 9. (b) 10. ( )
12, ( )
(a) Mantle (b) Core .~ ru t (d) ini
3. Sima is composed of ___ & ns fi r th fol/ Wing:
(a) Silica & Aluminium (b) ---- II d Nif
2.
~ilica & Magnesium {d)
r i r1 ·h
rrou • Ith ugh th t mper ture is hl9 •
r is w rking s
m gn ti field.
♦