GEOGRAPHY

Chapter -2 INSIDE OUR EARTH

Q. What are the three layers of the earth?
Ans: The three layers of the earth are:
i) Crust
ii) Mantle
iii) Core

Q. What is the crust? Write main features of the layer crust.

Ans: The uppermost layer over the earth’s surface is called crust.
Main features of the layer crust are:
i) It is the thinnest of all the layers.
ii) It is about 35 km. on the continental masses and only 5km. on the
ocean floors.
iii) The main mineral constituents of the continental mass are silica and
alumina. It is called sial (si-silica and al – alumina).
iv) The oceanic crust mainly consists of silica and magnesium; it is
therefore called sima (si-silica and ma-magnesium).

Q. Which is the innermost layer of the earth? Write main features of this layer.
Ans: The core is the innermost layer of the earth.
Main features of the layer core are:

i) Radius of the layer core is about 3500 km.

ii) It is mainly made up of nickel and iron and is called nife (ni- nickel and
fe- ferrous i.e. iron).
iii) The central core has very high temperature and pressure.

NOTE: MANTLE – Just beneath the crust is the mantle which extends up to a
depth of 2900 km. below the crust.