identify and give the composition of the layer responsible for the earth’s gravity
Identify and give the composition of the layer responsible for the earth’s gravity
The earth’s gravity comes from all its mass. All its mass makes a combined gravitational pull on all the mass in your body as well as in the air, on the trees, and on everything else on Earth. The mass of the Earth is not evenly distributed. It is denser in some areas and less dense in others. This is due to the Earth being composed the of different layers.
The layer of the Earth responsible for the majority of its gravity is the inner core. The inner core is a solid sphere composed largely of iron and nickel with a radius of about 1200 km. It is the central part of the Earth and its temperature is estimated to be about 5700 kelvin (5426.85 °C, 9799.33°F). The inner core is responsible for generating the Earth’s magnetic field.
The inner core is surrounded by the outer core, which is also composed of iron and nickel, but in a liquid state. This layer is about 2,200 km thick. The motion of the liquid in the outer core generates electric currents and this creates a magnetic field. This magnetic field changes over time and has reversed itself a number of times throughout the Earth’s history.
Above the core is the mantle. The mantle is the widest section of the Earth and is about 2,900 km thick. It’s made up of a thick viscous fluid and solid rock and is composed mainly of silicate rocks rich in iron and magnesium. The mantle is responsible for movements and shifts in the tectonic plates, the process that drives earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and the formation of the Earth’s mountains.
Finally, the outermost layer of the Earth is the crust. The crust is a thin layer, typically between 6 and 48 km thick. It is the layer that we live on and is composed mainly of oxygen, silicon, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, and potassium. The crust is divided into tectonic plates, and their movement is what causes earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.
In summary, the inner core, composed largely of iron and nickel, is responsible for the majority of the Earth’s gravity. Surrounding the inner core is the liquid outer core, then the mantle composed of thick viscous fluid and solid rock, and finally the outermost layer of the crust where we live.