2006-11-25 06:29:56 · 10 answers · asked by rdelabarcena 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Temperature increases as pressure increases due to increased molecular collisions. The Earth generates an incredible amount of gravity, meaning that everything is pulled towards the center of the Earth. So at the center of the Earth is an incredible amount of pressure due to the incredibly high density of molecules moving around there, and thus the temperature is incredibly high!
2006-11-25 06:35:43 · answer #1 · answered by socplayer8 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The Earth is 4.5 billion years old, and the liquid center is very, very small compared to all of the outer layers. That makes it extremely insulated which keeps it liquid (As well as the fact that the earth spins on its axis). If the earth stopped spinning it would cool a little faster, but other than being exploded by an enormous asteroid, it will continue to be hot for a very long time. Something like 100 million years, but don't quote me on that one, it could be longer--I can't quite remember.
2006-11-25 07:20:08 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first answer is wrong. There is not "fusion" going on in the center of the Earth, and there never was. The core is hot mainly because of the pressure of the massive amount of material on top of it, and also radioactive decay.
2006-11-25 06:34:16 · answer #3 · answered by The Wired 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
from chemistry we figured that iron is the heaviest element, and therefore (noone ever took a direct look) we assume iron to be the core of our planet.
even billions of years later after formation just the outer 100 or so miles are solid and the rest is still liquid including the iron core.
normally if not being in orbit around the sun and having the moon in our own orbit the whole planet would have already cooled down, cause heat would have been radiated away.
the reason why its still hot deep down below is believed to be the gravitational pull of moon and sun causing friction to the core.
this friction keeps it hot.
2006-11-25 07:01:51 · answer #4 · answered by blondnirvana 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pressure it is. When the Russians managed to dig up to 12.500m (the deepest hole ever made by human hands) the temperature up there was 110 degrees C, much more than expected. So we can only guess how hot it is at 12700 km deep
2006-11-28 16:02:58 · answer #5 · answered by dimimo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because of all of the pressure on the core
2006-11-28 13:57:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because there is still fusion going on in the centre of the earth.
2006-11-25 06:31:51 · answer #7 · answered by NICK 2 · 0⤊ 2⤋
It's gradually cooling, give it time. This is a pretty big ball.
2006-11-25 06:39:17 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
because it is compressed and the air cat escape
2006-11-25 06:38:24 · answer #9 · answered by tt 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is boiling mad at what we humans are doing to it!
2006-11-25 06:33:34 · answer #10 · answered by AnnieD 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋