Seriously... we all know it's solid... but WHY is it solid?
It is truly mind boggling!
2007-02-15 19:19:48 · 8 answers · asked by AdiMo 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The melting point (and boiling point) of every substance is governed by the pressure which it is subjected to. (The water in a pressure cooker goes well above 100deg.C. but still remains liquid)The core of the earth is under such great pressure that it cannot possibly melt at the temperature which surrounds it.
2007-02-15 23:45:47 · answer #1 · answered by U.K.Export 6 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Maybe because the melting point of the element or compound is higher than the liquid magma. Like water is a liquid at room temperature, yet iron is a solid. And alcohol is a liquid at a lower temperature than water.
2007-02-15 19:31:57 · answer #2 · answered by J G 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We really do not know many things about our planet-earth. The core is understood to be divisible in two parts, an inner solid core and an outer fluid core.
This is based on indirect studies mainly seismological, mass and density, geothermal considerations within the interior of the earth. We also understand that large convective cells operate within the mantle part of the earth and the mantle itself has layers which behave fluid like to seismic waves. The most plausible reasons for such variations or behavior is said to be phase transformation of minerals and elements under very high pressure and temperatures.
Our knowledge about the interior of earth is at present skin deep only considering the earth’s average radius of about 6371 km.
The core matter is not like the common rocks we are familiar with as found on the surface or the magma that erupts as lava flows. The lattice of atoms under high pressure and temperature is compressed, even the atoms may not occur in their normal state. It is possible that the core is more like “plasma" of heavy nuclides differentiated into two parts based on density differentiation. It is just a conjecture but, not a piece of fictional idea, it explains geomagnetism also. No magnetic field can remain at this temperature, which is high above the curie temperature to retain magnetrisation or a magnetic field from a known normal matter. It is known that most of the earth’s magnetic has its source in the core of the earth. It is also understood that the outer and inner core together acts like a self exciting dynamo system to produce magnetic field or magnetic flux. This magnetic field acts as a container to hold the plasma (outer core). So the outer core serves two purpose, creates a large magnetic field and this magnetic field in turns hold the plasma within it. The surrounding rocks cannot hold matter in plasma state. Well I would say this is not the final answer to your question, we really do not know much about our earth as yet….
thnks
nk agarwal
2007-02-16 01:50:07 · answer #3 · answered by mandira_nk 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Pressure. If you shake a beer can over and over it doesn't foam up till you release the pressure by popping the top, then it explodes. There is nothing mind boggling about it at all.
2007-02-17 12:03:17 · answer #4 · answered by Amphibolite 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has same principle as the combustion engine we used everydays such as CAR.
Why did not the combustion engine melt?
2007-02-15 23:16:38 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has a higher melting point
2007-02-15 20:31:02 · answer #6 · answered by ? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
because the center is a dense ball
2007-02-16 03:19:56 · answer #7 · answered by Pistonsfan101 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
UK has it right.
2007-02-16 00:43:38 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋