What is the layer of the earth that we stand on that is only a few miles thick? it is not the crust; the answer has like 16 letters (crossword)

Does anyone know the answers for these

In an effort to japan recover from the devastating effects of the 1929 depression, japanese military leaders in the 1930s formed an alliance with nazi germany negotiated more trade treaties with the soviet union closed its doors to western trade adopted a policy of imperialist expansion

Tides are caused by a differences in the gravitational force of the sun at different points on earth. differences in the gravitational force of the moon at different points on earth differences in earth’s gravitational field strength at different points on earth’s surfac fluctuations in the gravitational attraction between earth and the moon.