Why is the inner core’s state of matter different from the outer core’s state of matter
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
Correct Answer:
The inner core is solid while the outer core is liquid because of differences in pressure and temperature inside the Earth.
Explanation:
The Earth is made up of several layers, and two of the most important are the inner core and the outer core. These two layers are both made primarily of iron and nickel, but they exist in different states of matter. The outer core is in a liquid state, while the inner core is solid. This difference is due to the effects of pressure and temperature deep within the Earth.
The deeper you go into the Earth, the higher both the temperature and the pressure become. Near the outer core, the temperature is extremely high, high enough to melt iron and nickel, causing the outer core to be in a molten or liquid state. However, even though the temperature is even hotter in the inner core, the pressure is much greater. This pressure comes from the weight of all the layers above it pressing inward.
When pressure increases, it can force atoms closer together, making it harder for them to move freely. This means that despite the high temperatures, the iron and nickel in the inner core are packed so tightly that they cannot flow like a liquid. As a result, they remain in a solid state.
So in simple terms, temperature wants to melt the core, but pressure wants to keep it solid. In the outer core, temperature wins, so it is liquid. In the inner core, pressure wins, so it stays solid.
This difference is also important because the movement of liquid iron in the outer core generates the Earth’s magnetic field. The solid inner core helps anchor this magnetic activity but does not move the same way as the liquid outer core.
