Earth's interior consists of several layers with different physical properties. The crust forms the outer surface, the mantle contains hot rock that deforms slowly, and the core has a liquid outer section and a solid inner section.
These differences help scientists explain processes such as plate movement and the generation of Earth's magnetic field.

For an introductory overview, see The Campus Review's educational guide:
https://thecampusreview.com/stem/layers-of-the-earth/Discussion question: How would you explain the difference between Earth's mantle and its outer core to a student?