Home >> Science & Nature >> Science

How to Make a Model of Earth's Crust, Mantle & Core

The interior of the Earth is thought to be composed of layers known as the crust, mantle and core. The crust is the outer layer of the planet. Although this is the layer that encompasses the highest mountains and deepest ocean trenches, it is actually very thin relative to the other layers. The layer below is known as the mantle and extends about 1,860 miles beneath the Earth's surface. Beneath the mantle is the core, which can be differentiated into a liquid outer core and a solid inner core.

Things You'll Need

Plastic foam ball
Clay
Knife

Instructions

- 1
  Knead a few pieces of clay to soften the clay and ensure that it is of uniform consistency.
- 2
  Place the clay on a flat, clean surface and flatten it into pieces that are about three-quarters of an inch thick.
- 3
  Apply the flattened clay to half of plastic foam ball so that you form a shell around that half with a thickness of about three-quarters of an inch. Smooth the clay with your fingers so that the layer is evenly round. The ball represents the inner core and the layer of clay represents the outer core of the Earth.
- 4
  Knead some clay of a different color to soften it. Place the clay on a clean, flat surface and use a rolling pin to flatten it to a thickness of about three-quarters of an inch.
- 5
  Apply the flattened pieces of clay on top of the previous clay layer. Smooth the clay with your fingers so that it forms an even layer. This layer represents the mantle of the Earth.
- 6
  Knead some clay of a color different from the other two. Place the clay on a clean, flat surface and use a rolling pin to flatten it to a thickness of about one-eighth of an inch.
- 7
  Apply pieces of the flattened clay on top of the mantle layer. Smooth the clay layer with your fingers and be careful not to distort it. This final layer represents the crust of the Earth.
- 8
  Smooth the edge of each layer with a knife so all of the layers are flush with each other and form an even half-sphere around the plastic foam ball.

Science