SOLAR SYSTEM

UNIVERSE

PLANETARY INTERIORS

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Earth’s solid inner core is surrounded by the hot, molten metal of which layer?
A
lithosphere
B
outer core
C
crust
D
mantle
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -As Earth began to take shape about 4.5 billion years ago, iron and nickel quickly separated from other rocks and minerals to form the core of the new planet. The molten material that surrounded the core was the early mantle.

Detailed explanation-2: -The mantle lies below the crust and is up to 2900 km thick. It consists of hot, dense, iron and magnesium-rich solid rock.

Detailed explanation-3: -The bottom line here is simply that a large part of the interior of the planet (the outer core) is composed of somewhat impure molten iron alloy. The melting temperature of iron under deep-earth conditions is high, thus providing prima facie evidence that the deep earth is quite hot.

Detailed explanation-4: -The outer core is mainly composed of a nickel-iron alloy (liquid iron), while the inner core is almost entirely composed of a pure solid iron body. Scientists believe Earth’s magnetic field results from movements of molten iron and nickel within its liquid outer core.

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