Have you ever tried digging a really deep hole, hoping to reach the center of the Earth and come out on the other side? That would be amazing, but it’s actually impossible. However, what’s really underground is even cooler than you might imagine. Let’s find out what’s going on inside our planet!
The Earth is made up of layers, kind of like a cake or an egg! The top layer is called the crust, and it’s like the shell of an egg. This is the layer you’re standing on right now. The crust covers all of Earth’s surface, including mountains, rocks, dirt, and even the land under the ocean. It’s the thinnest layer, usually between 8 and 40 kilometers thick, which is much deeper than you could ever dig.
The crust is solid and can break, just like an eggshell. That’s why sometimes, during an earthquake, the crust cracks!
If you keep digging down, you’ll reach the next layer called the mantle. The mantle is much hotter than the crust. It’s so hot that the rocks and minerals in it melt and can flow like hot tar. You can think of the mantle as the egg white, which is the thickest part of an egg and kind of squishy.
Below the mantle, things get even hotter! The next layer is the outer core, which is between 4,000 and 6,000 degrees Celsius, almost as hot as the sun’s surface. This layer is so hot that it’s completely liquid, even though it’s made of rock.
At the very center of the Earth is the inner core. It’s super hot here too, but unlike the outer core, the inner core is solid. The weight of the entire planet presses down on it, making the hot liquid rock solid again. You can think of the outer and inner core as the yolk of an egg, since they’re in the middle.
So, let’s review our journey inside the Earth! We have the brittle, rocky crust on top, the soft, bendy mantle next, the liquid outer core, and finally the solid, super-hot inner core. If you could dig down to the center of the Earth, you’d have to get through all four of these layers.
But do you think you could dig all the way through the Earth? The deepest hole ever made is in a mine in Russia, which is 12 kilometers deep and took about 20 years to dig. The engineers had to stop because it got too hot, and their tools stopped working. Even at 12 kilometers deep, they weren’t close to reaching the bottom of the Earth’s crust!
So, we won’t be able to dig all the way through the planet, but keep exploring! There’s a lot more to discover under our feet. Thanks for joining us on this adventure!
If you have questions about the Earth or anything else, or if you found something cool in your yard, ask a grown-up to help you leave a comment or send an email to [email protected]. See you next time!
Layer Cake Activity: Create your own Earth layer cake using different colored playdough or clay. Each color will represent a different layer of the Earth: the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core. Roll out each layer and stack them to form a model of the Earth. As you build, think about how each layer is different in terms of temperature and texture. Discuss with a friend or family member what each layer represents and why it’s important.
Egg Experiment: Take a hard-boiled egg and carefully crack the shell. Notice how the shell represents the Earth’s crust. Peel the egg to reveal the egg white, which is like the mantle. Cut the egg in half to see the yolk, which represents the outer and inner core. Talk about how the egg is similar to the Earth and what makes each layer unique.
Observation Walk: Go on a walk around your neighborhood or a park with an adult. Look for different types of rocks, soil, and other natural features. Discuss how these might be part of the Earth’s crust. Imagine what it would be like to dig down through the layers of the Earth. What do you think you would find? Share your thoughts with a friend or family member.
