Final answer:
Earth is composed of various layers including the crust, mantle, and core, differentiated by composition and mechanical properties. Scientists utilize earthquake data and computer modeling to study these layers and understand their properties and behaviors.
Step-by-step explanation:
The layers that make up Earth include the core, mantle, and crust, differentiated also by their mechanical properties into the lithosphere and asthenosphere. Each layer has distinct characteristics:
- Crust: The thin, outermost layer of Earth, it comes in two types - continental and oceanic, varying in thickness and composition.
- Mantle: The thickest layer, composed of a solid rock that behaves in a deformable manner due to high temperatures and pressures, and essentially makes up most of Earth's volume.
- Outer Core: A liquid layer composed of iron and nickel, which generates Earth's magnetic field due to the flow of these molten metals.
- Inner Core: The innermost layer, a dense sphere composed primarily of an iron and nickel alloy, remaining solid despite the extreme conditions.
Scientists study Earth's interior using data from earthquakes and through computer modeling. Seismic waves generated during earthquakes travel at different speeds and reflect differently depending on the materials they pass through, providing insights into the composition and state of the internal layers.