The Earth is composed of four main layers from outermost to innermost - the crust, mantle, outer core and inner core. The crust and rigid upper mantle make up tectonic plates that move atop the soft asthenosphere due to convection currents in the mantle and outer core.

1. Earth’s Layers
1. crust – the thin and solid outermost
layer of Earth above the mantle
2. mantle – the layer of rock between
the Earth’s crust and core
3. core – the central part of the Earth
below the mantle (outer core/inner
core)
4. lithosphere – the solid, outer layer of
the Earth that consists of the crust
and the rigid upper part of the
mantle
5.asthenosphere – the soft layer of
the mantle on which the tectonic
plates move

2. 6. mesosphere – the strong, lower part
of the mantle between the
asthenosphere and the outer core
7. tectonic plate – a block of lithosphere
that consists of the crust and the
rigid, outermost part of the mantle
8. oceanic crust – part of the crust
made up of basalt (rock)
9. continental crust – part of the crust
made up of granite (rock)
10. magma-molten rock under Earth’s
surface
11. lava – molten rock above Earth’s
surface

3. 12. geology – the study of Earth’s
surface (rocks)
13. convection currents- the movement
of a fluid, caused by differences in
temperature, that transfers heat
from one part of the fluid to another