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SSC CPO 2019 PYQ — Question 54

SSC CPO Tier I - 9th December 2019 - Shift 1 • General Awareness • Q54

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Which of the following is the outer layer of the Earth that is made of plates which fit like a jigsaw puzzle?

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Correct answer: A

Explanation

The correct answer is option 1 i.e. Lithosphere.

The Earth is separated into layers based on mechanical properties by their strength or rigidity.
Lithosphere
  • It is the outermost and most rigid mechanical layer of the Earth ~100 km thick.
  • It includes the crust and the top of the mantle.
  • It fits together like a jigsaw puzzle.
  • It is the coolest layer of the Earth in terms of temperature, with the heat from the lower layers generating the plate movements. 
Asthenosphere
  • It is below the lithosphere.
  • It includes the upper part of the mantle that is highly viscous and mechanically weak.
  • Seismic waves travel relatively slowly through the asthenosphere.
Mesosphere
  • It is below the Asthenosphere but above the outer core.
  • It encloses the lower mantle, where material flows but at a much slower rate than the asthenosphere.