Final answer:
The density and elastic moduli of Earth's interior generally increase with depth due to the greater pressure and resultant compression of materials deeper below the surface.
Step-by-step explanation:
As we descend through the Earth's layers, the density and elastic moduli typically increase. This is because the pressure exerted by the weight of the overlying material compresses the material beneath it. In the Earth's mantle, density increases from about 3.5 g/cm³ at the top to more than 5 g/cm³ closer to the core. This increased density is due to the compression produced by the overlying material.
Email scraping. The Earth's core, which begins at a depth of 2900 kilometers, has an even higher density because of its composition of metals like iron, nickel, and sulfur, all compressed under extreme pressures. The core's outer part is liquid, while the inner core is solid. Similarly, the elastic moduli of materials within the Earth also tend to increase with depth. Elastic moduli are measures of a material's resistance to deformation when stress is applied. The greater the depth, the higher the pressure, and therefore the higher the elastic modulus, as the material needs to be more resistant to deformation.
Elastic moduli include Young's modulus for tension and compression, the shear modulus for shape deformation, and the bulk modulus for volume change under pressure. Materials deeper within the Earth are subject to greater pressures and therefore exhibit greater resistance to deformation, leading to higher elastic moduli.