Question

The central regions of earth's core are solid because ?

a. the composition at the center of the core is lower in iron.
b. the pressure at the center raises the melting point.
c. the magnetic field cannot penetrate into the center of the core.
d. convection does not extend all the way to the center of the core.
e. earth initially formed from solid particles in the solar nebula.

Answer 1

The central regions of the Earth's core are solid because of the high pressure that raises the melting point of iron. The magnetic field cannot penetrate the center of the core because it is solid. Therefore, the correct answer is B. The pressure at the center raises the melting point.

Step-by-step explanation:

The central regions of the Earth's core are solid because the pressure at the center raises the melting point. The Earth's core is under immense pressure due to the overlying layers, which causes the melting point of iron to be higher than the temperature at the center. As a result, the iron in the core remains solid even though it is extremely hot.

This solid inner core is surrounded by a liquid outer core, which is responsible for generating the Earth's magnetic field. The magnetic field cannot penetrate the center of the core because the innermost part of the core, about 2400 kilometers in diameter, is solid, preventing the magnetic field from reaching the center. This solid phase exists within a liquid outer core, with the discontinuity between them discovered by seismic studies. The solidification of the inner core has been part of Earth's cooling process since its formation.