2007-07-01 11:47:15 · 4 answers · asked by Shawn C 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
The Earth's inner core is not molten. It is solid iron nickel. The outer core is molten, however, and the high temps caused in the Earth's interior are primarily caused by radioactive decay. The Earth has been able to stay so warm for so long because rock, molten or otherwise, is a very poor conductor of heat.
2007-07-01 11:53:12 · answer #1 · answered by Lady Geologist 7 · 3⤊ 1⤋
The Earth's inner core is solid. The outer core is molten liquid and both are iron and nickel
2007-07-01 12:11:40 · answer #2 · answered by Bri 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Earth's inner core is not molten- it is solid- despite it's higher temperature, it is under extreme pressure, & as a result is compressed into a solid.
The outer core is a molten liquid (metallic iron), which generates Earth's magnetic field.
2007-07-01 12:06:01 · answer #3 · answered by SamB12 3 · 3⤊ 0⤋
There is a fascination discussion about the Earth's inner core at Bad Astronomy and Universe Today. It started as a discussion about a black hole at Earth's center, then it got into some Bermuda Triangle stuff; now they're talking about seismic data that suggests the presence of giant crystals in the core. Not the kind of stuff that is usually taken seriously on that forum.
2007-07-01 14:16:12 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋