in the centre of the earth, there is said to be a core which inside is magma at a very high temperature, but how do we know this, no one has evr been there.
2006-10-12 07:15:01 · 6 answers · asked by Andy C 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The inner core of the Earth is a solid ball, about 2560 kilometers (1590 miles) in diameter, of metallic alloy composed primarily of nickel and iron. The solid inner core is surrounded by a molten outer core of similar material about 2210 kilometers (1370 miles) thick.
We can interpret the structure of the inner Earth by the way in which seismic waves are transmitted, bent, or reflected.
2006-10-12 07:17:16 · answer #1 · answered by Deep Thought 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
There probably isn't any magma (liquid rock) at all in the Earths core. It' too light. The most recent speculation I've read proposes that the Earth's cor is solid, because of the tremendously high pressure, and made up of elements heavier than iron, surrounded by liquid iron.
We know the mass of the Earth fairly accurately from the orbit and period of the Moon. The Earth's density is much higher than that of rock or magma, The Earth also has a magnetic field, which implies that somewhere below the surface there are large concentrations of ferromagnetic materials. Geologists are almost constantly updating their views on the composition of the Earth as they learn new things.
2006-10-12 07:33:59 · answer #2 · answered by Helmut 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Geophysics! Earthquake studies show that S waves do not penetrate the outer core, which must be a liquid, since liquids do not propagate through liquids. The inner core is solid, and the reason for this is that the pressure forces the iron-nickel-sulfur out of liquid phase and into solid phase despite the higher temperature.
2006-10-12 09:25:11 · answer #3 · answered by Amphibolite 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Nice one. I remember this issue from a nice little geology book by a russian author. Don't remember the details of the book but basically there was a minority (very small) of russian geologists that believed the temperature will eventually go down as you go deeper.
2006-10-12 07:24:29 · answer #4 · answered by Dr. J. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Could it be from volcanos? I don't know the answer, I'm just guessing since volcanos spew molten rock that they deduce their answer somehow that way.
2006-10-12 07:23:12 · answer #5 · answered by Tertia 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
scientific equipment
2006-10-12 07:22:18 · answer #6 · answered by Steveo 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋