
Skip Navigation

Earth's Layers


Atoms Practice
Estimated4 minsto complete
Practice Earth's Layers
This indicates how strong in your memory this concept is
Estimated4 minsto complete
Practice Now
Turn In
Earth's Layers

What's below our feet? What's way below?

If we could cut Earth open, we'd see the inner core at the center, then the outer core, the mantle in the middle and the crust on the outside. If you are talking about plates, though, there's the brittle lithosphere riding on the plastic asthenosphere. Whew!

Layers by Composition

The layers scientists recognize are pictured below (Figure below).

Composition of Earth's layers

A cross section of Earth showing the following layers: (1) crust (2) mantle (3a) outer core (3b) inner core (4) lithosphere (5) asthenosphere (6) outer core (7) inner core.

Core, mantle, and crust are divisions based on composition:

  1. The crust is less than 1% of Earth by mass. The two types are oceanic crust and continental crust.Continental crust is felsic and oceanic crust is mafic.
  2. The mantle is hot, ultramafic rock. It represents about 68% of Earth's mass.
  3. The core is mostly iron metal. The core makes up about 31% of the Earth.

Layers by Mechanical Properties

Lithosphere and asthenosphere are divisions based on mechanical properties:

  1. The lithosphere is composed of both the crust and the portion of the upper mantle and behaves as a brittle, rigid solid.
  2. The asthenosphere is partially molten upper mantle material and behaves plastically and can flow.


  • By composition, Earth is divided into core, mantle, and crust.
  • By mechanical properties, the crust and upper mantle are divided into lithosphere and asthenosphere.
  • Continental crust is felsic, oceanic crust is mafic, the mantle is ultramafic, and the core is metallic.


  1. What are the the layers of Earth based on composition and where are they located?
  2. What is the composition of the different layers?
  3. How do the lithosphere and asthenosphere differ from each other?

Notes/Highlights Having trouble? Report an issue.

Color Highlighted Text Notes
Please to create your own Highlights / Notes
Show More



The layer below the lithosphere, made of a portion of the upper mantle, that is ductile.


The innermost, densest layer of a celestial body. Earth's metallic core has an inner solid layer and an outer layer of liquid metal. The sun's core is where nuclear fusion takes place.


The rocky outer layer of the Earth's surface. The two types of crust are continental and oceanic.


The layer of solid, brittle rock that makes up the Earth's surface; the crust and the uppermost mantle.


The middle layer of the Earth; made of hot rock that circulates by convection.

Image Attributions

Explore More

Sign in to explore more, including practice questions and solutions for Earth's Layers.
Please wait...
Please wait...