The Center of the Earth
1 Approximately two thousand miles below your feet, the Earth's core is much different than the rocks you are used to seeing on the surface of the planet. Scientists believe that the Earth's core is made of iron and other elements, including sulfur. Scientists know that the core is incredibly hot—they just don't know exactly how hot it us. The core's temperature is believed to be between 4,400 degrees Celsius (7,952 degrees Fahrenheit) and 6,000 degrees Celsius (10,800 degrees Fahrenheit). That is about as high as the temperature on the sun!
2 Earth's core has two layers: the outer core and the inner core. These two layers are divided by a boundary that has the hottest temperatures in the core. The outer core is made of iron and nickel and is so hot that it is mostly liquid lava. Because of the heat, you might think that Earth's inner core would be made of liquid, too, but it is not. Because the inner core is under high pressure, the minerals cannot melt, making the core a solid ball.
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Select ALL the correct answers.
Which two questions does paragraph 1 answer?
How is the Earth's surface different from Saturn's surface?
How hot is the Earth's core, based on scientific estimates?
How old is the Earth's core, based on scientific estimates?
How is the Earth's core different from its surface?
- How hot is the Earth's core, based on scientific estimates?
- How is the Earth's core different from its surface?