Question

study the image of earth’s layers. which statement correctly compares the thickness of earth’s layers? earth’s mantle is thinner than its oceanic crust earth’s outer core is thicker than its mantle earth’s continental crust is thicker than its lithosphere earth’s lithosphere is thinner than its asthenosphere

Explanation:

To solve this, we analyze each option using Earth's layer thicknesses:

1. Option 1: Earth’s mantle (≈2885 km) is much thicker than oceanic crust (≈5 - 10 km). This is incorrect (mantle is thicker, not thinner).
2. Option 2: Outer core (≈2260 km) is thinner than the mantle (≈2885 km). Incorrect.
3. Option 3: Continental crust (≈30 - 70 km) vs. lithosphere (includes crust + upper mantle, ≈100 km). Continental crust is thinner than lithosphere. Incorrect.
4. Option 4: Lithosphere (≈100 km) vs. asthenosphere (part of upper mantle, extends below lithosphere). The lithosphere (≈100 km) is thinner than the asthenosphere (which is much deeper and thicker). This is correct.

Answer:

Earth’s lithosphere is thinner than the asthenosphere (the correct option, e.g., if labeled as D, then "D. Earth’s lithosphere is thinner than the asthenosphere")