2006-12-14 02:14:03 · 11 answers · asked by dawn 3 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The core at the center of the earth is solid (Iron-nickel alloy), not molten. It is the outer core that is liquid (molten Iron-nickel).
The core also contains minor amounts of U, and K, which have radioactive isotopes that generate heat when they decay to Lead, and Argon respectively. This it is what keeps the core hot over Billions of years.
2006-12-14 06:41:35 · answer #1 · answered by Scientist13905 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The pressure from the mere weight of all the surrounding material when the earth accreted in its orbit caused melting, so most of the iron and other heavy metals sank to the middle (core). Some of it was uranium and other radioactives, whose decay has kept it all hot - by now it would be solidified, and there likely would be no magnetic field to help shield out excess radiation (a little ironic).
2006-12-14 02:40:00 · answer #2 · answered by ? 5 · 2⤊ 0⤋
When the universe first was formed, the earth was a molten ball. Gradually it has cooled. This formed the crust of the earth, which solidified as the earth cooled. The inside of the earth is still very hot because the earth loses heat very slowly. It will take many years for the core of the earth to cool completely.
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2006-12-14 02:25:33 · answer #3 · answered by tora911 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋
some scientist claim there is a natural atomic reactor in the core of the earth
2006-12-14 02:19:13 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
The heat generated by the pressure, and energy from the sun being absorbed into the earth too.
2006-12-14 02:22:25 · answer #5 · answered by the man at your window 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Radioactive decay
2006-12-14 02:19:46 · answer #6 · answered by science teacher 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Heat generated by pressure
2006-12-14 02:20:38 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
Because the hydrogen reacts with something else in the earths core, and also it rotates
2006-12-14 02:21:51 · answer #8 · answered by darkstar20102010 2 · 0⤊ 4⤋
This should explain evreything for you..... very good text....
http://www.absw.org.uk/Briefings/earth.htm
2006-12-14 02:20:28 · answer #9 · answered by ambrose02476 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Probably something to do with the pressure
2006-12-14 02:18:41 · answer #10 · answered by Mikey 3 · 0⤊ 4⤋