The outer core of the Earth is primarily composed of liquid iron and nickel. It also contains lighter elements such as sulfur, oxygen, and possibly silicon. The movement of these molten metals in the outer core generates the Earth's magnetic field through the dynamo effect. The outer core lies beneath the Earth's mantle and above the solid inner core.
what is the outer core of the earth made of?
3 answers
what is the inner core made of
The inner core of the Earth is primarily composed of solid iron and nickel. It is believed to have temperatures similar to the surface of the Sun, reaching up to about 5,500 degrees Celsius (around 9,932 degrees Fahrenheit). Despite these high temperatures, the inner core remains solid due to the immense pressure at that depth, which prevents the iron from melting. The inner core is surrounded by the liquid outer core.