Why is the metal core of the earth solid?

[scilearner]

Hello everyone,

I just want to know why is the metal core of the earth solid?

I'm a begginer and your help would be appreciated.

[RyanJ]

Hello everyone' date='

I just want to know why is the metal core of the earth solid?

I'm a begginer and your help would be appreciated.[/quote']

 

Ok, think about this (Sorry is my explaing is bad )

 

The center of gravity or any sphere is at its center, the Earth is not a perfect sphere but for simplicity lets pretend it is

 

This center of gravity is where all the gravity created by the mass of the Earth acts.

This tries to pull everything to the center of the Earth and so it creates a greater preassure the closer to the center of gravity you get.

This preassure prevents the inner core from being molten because as you increase preassure it affects the melting and boilling points of objects. Just as lowering pressure lowers the melting point of something, an exaple being water on Everest which boils below 100 degrees C, at really high presures a higher temperature would be needed to melt the solid thus explaining why the inner core is solid

 

Hope that helps,

 

Ryan Jones

[scilearner]

Ok' date=' think about this (Sorry is my explaing is bad )

 

The center of gravity or any sphere is at its center, the Earth is not a perfect sphere but for simplicity lets pretend it is

 

This center of gravity is where all the gravity created by the mass of the Earth acts.

This tries to pull everything to the center of the Earth and so it creates a greater preassure the closer to the center of gravity you get.

This preassure prevents the inner core from being molten because as you increase preassure it affects the melting and boilling points of objects. Just as lowering pressure lowers the melting point of something, an exaple being water on Everest which boils below 100 degrees C, at really high presures a higher temperature would be needed to melt the solid thus explaining why the inner core is solid

 

Hope that helps,

 

Ryan Jones[/quote']

 

Your explanation is really good but I need to clarify few things. You have stated that high temperature would be needed to melt the solid in the metal core. But isn't the metal core really really hot and thus would be able to melt the solid. Another thing to clarify is that does mt eversest have low pressure because it is high.

[RyanJ]

Your explanation is really good but I need to clarify few things. You have stated that high temperature would be needed to melt the solid in the metal core. But isn't the metal core really really hot and thus would be able to melt the solid. Another thing to clarify is that does mt eversest have low pressure because it is high.

 

1) Yes it is hot but due to the increased preassure it is not high enough to melt the metal

 

2) Yes higher height equals lower preassure due to the fact its further from the center of the Earth

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones

[scilearner]

Thank you:-) . You deserve that picture as your avater.

[RyanJ]

Thank you:-) . You deserve that picture as your avater.

 

I wish I did but thank you anyway

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones

[CanadaAotS]

actually theres low pressure on mt. everest because theres less air above your head pushind down on you. So the kPa's go down (air pressure).

[RyanJ]

actually theres low pressure on mt. everest because theres less air above your head pushind down on you. So the kPa's go down (air pressure).

 

Did I miss that bit? OOps...

 

Looks like I did your right, that is the main part of it but being further from te center of the Earth also has an effect

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones