What is the layer of the Earth that consists of solid rock and is located beneath the Earth's crust?
The layer of the Earth that consists of solid rock and is located beneath the Earth's crust is called the mantle. The mantle is approximately 2,900 kilometers (1,800 miles) thick and makes up about 84% of the Earth's volume. It is composed mainly of silicate rock rich in iron and magnesium. The mantle is divided into two sections: the upper mantle and the lower mantle. The upper mantle is cooler and more rigid, while the lower mantle is hotter and more ductile. The boundary between the mantle and the crust is known as the Moho, or the Mohorovičić discontinuity.
The layer of the Earth that consists of solid rock and is located beneath the Earth's crust is called the mantle. To find this answer by yourself, you can follow these steps:
1. Start by understanding the basic structure of the Earth. The Earth can be divided into several layers: the crust, mantle, outer core, and inner core.
2. Know that the crust is the outermost layer of the Earth, and it is relatively thin compared to the other layers. It is composed primarily of solid rock, but also contains soil, water, and other materials.
3. Learn that beneath the crust lies the mantle, which makes up about 84% of the Earth's volume. The mantle consists mainly of solid rock, but it is much hotter and less rigid than the crust.
4. Recognize that the solid rock in the mantle is composed of silicate minerals and is capable of flowing slowly over long periods of time, similar to the behavior of hot plastic. This flow is responsible for movements within the Earth's surface, such as plate tectonics.
By following these steps, you can determine that the layer of the Earth consisting of solid rock and located beneath the Earth's crust is called the mantle.