The crust is the thinnest layer of the Earth. It accounts for less than 1% of the planet's total volume.
Earth's Layers: A Comparison
The Earth is comprised of several distinct layers, each with unique characteristics:
- Crust: This is the outermost solid shell. It's the thinnest layer, varying in thickness from about 5 kilometers under the oceans to 70 kilometers under the continents. Multiple sources including ZME Science and Quizlet confirm this.
- Mantle: This is a thick layer beneath the crust, primarily composed of solid rock. It's significantly thicker than the crust. Mental Floss highlights that the mantle is the thickest layer.
- Outer Core: A liquid layer primarily composed of iron and nickel.
- Inner Core: A solid sphere, also primarily iron and nickel, but under immense pressure.
Numerous sources, including Socratic, Chegg, Byjus, and Toppr corroborate the crust's status as the thinnest layer. Oregon State University's Volcano World visually emphasizes the relative thinness of the crust compared to other layers.
The thinness of the crust is a significant factor in various geological processes, such as plate tectonics and volcanism.
