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Which layer of the earth is the largest? which is the smallest? was that what you expected

User Amal P
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Final answer:

The mantle is the largest layer of the Earth, stretching from the crust to a depth of 2900 kilometers, with its rock capable of deforming and flowing at high temperatures and pressures. The smallest layer of Earth is the crust, which is only about 6 kilometers thick for the oceanic crust and up to 70 kilometers for the continental crust, and it only makes up 0.3% of Earth's total mass.

Step-by-step explanation:

The largest layer of the Earth is the mantle. It stretches from the base of the crust to a depth of 2900 kilometers, and at the temperatures and pressures found there, the mantle rock can deform and flow slowly. The density in the mantle increases downward from about 3.5 g/cm³ to more than 5 g/cm³ due to the compression from the weight of overlying material.

On the other hand, the smallest layer of the Earth is the crust. This is the part of Earth we are most familiar with. The oceanic crust, which covers 55% of the Earth's surface, is typically about 6 kilometers thick while the continental crust, making up 45% of the surface, can be 20 to 70 kilometers thick. Despite this, the crust only makes up about 0.3% of Earth's total mass.

Learn more about Earth's Layers

User Chris X
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