https://www.khanacademy.org/science/grade-6-science-tx/x6eddf2e1c524bf5a:earth-s-systems-and-structure/x6eddf2e1c524bf5a:earth-s-layers/v/earth-s-layers 2026-06-30T17:20:49.845080165Z Earth's layers Much like a peach, Earth is divided into layers. The thinnest layer is the crust, which composes all the continents and ocean basins. The crust is divided into several massive tectonic plates. Beneath the crust is the mantle, the largest layer. Next is Earth's outer core, a liquid layer of molten iron and nickel. This spins round the solid inner core, a dense sphere of iron and nickel. The movement of the outer core around the inner core creates Earth's magnetic field, which protects the planet from harmful solar radiation. Mahesh Shenoy video https://cdn.kastatic.org/googleusercontent/ZCdwTudJg6e6n-P2gsaUborP4izvMsGo71pvEVlX9dNYWcLXcP7VHkWpn2grt4TUP1KoJLQP9NswyHBuBLSFTBw Earth's layers Much like a peach, Earth is divided into layers. The thinnest layer is the crust, which composes all the continents and ocean basins. The crust is divided into several massive tectonic plates. Beneath the crust is the mantle, the largest layer. Next is Earth's outer core, a liquid layer of molten iron and nickel. This spins round the solid inner core, a dense sphere of iron and nickel. The movement of the outer core around the inner core creates Earth's magnetic field, which protects the planet from harmful solar radiation. https://cdn.kastatic.org/ka-youtube-converted/ZGoZz4H7IK0.mp4/ZGoZz4H7IK0.mp4 461 Earth's layers https://www.khanacademy.org/science/grade-6-science-tx/x6eddf2e1c524bf5a:earth-s-systems-and-structure/x6eddf2e1c524bf5a:earth-s-layers/e/understand-earths-layers 2026-06-30T17:20:49.845080165Z Understand: Earth's layers Check your understanding of Earth's layers in this set of free, standards-aligned practice questions. Allen Ruch exercise