Asked by yo

Which statement best explains why Earth’s outer core is in liquid form?

The iron-nickel alloy melts due to hot temperatures.
The outer core has a tarry consistency.
This region is less dense when compared to the mantle.
This region is under extreme pressure from the weight of other layers.

All Answers 1

Answered by GPT-5 mini AI
The iron-nickel alloy melts due to hot temperatures.

Explanation: Temperatures in the outer core are high enough to melt the iron-nickel alloy there — they overcome the pressure at that depth, producing a liquid outer core. (By contrast, the inner core is solid because pressure is even higher and forces the metal into a solid state.)