EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The inner core is hotter than the outer core. However, in the outer core, the heat melts the core despite the amount of pressure present. In the case of the inner core, the effect of the pressure trumps the effect of heat and holds the core’s particles close together to form a tough solid.

Detailed explanation-2: -However, unlike the outer core, the inner core is not liquid or even molten. The inner core’s intense pressure-the entire rest of the planet and its atmosphere-prevents the iron from melting. The pressure and density are simply too great for the iron atoms to move into a liquid state.

Detailed explanation-3: -Earth’s inner core is solid because it is under such intense pressure from the weight of the entire planet that its atoms are held together by force. By contrast, the outer layers of Earth, while being slightly cooler (but still incredibly hot), have less pressure and thus their atomic form reverts to liquid.

Detailed explanation-4: -The inner core of the Earth has temperatures and pressures so great that the metals are squeezed together and are not able to move about like a liquid, but are forced to vibrate in place as a solid. The inner core begins about 4000 miles beneath the crust and is about 800 miles thick.

Detailed explanation-5: -The dense, iron core forms the center of the Earth. Scientists know that the core is metal. The inner core is solid, and the outer core is molten.