About the Inner core of the Earth:
- It is the innermost layer of the Earth.
- Structure:
- It is a solid metallic ball made mainly of iron.
- The inner core is solid due to the pressure caused by the weight put on it by the Earth’s other top layers.
- It is distinct from the outer core, which is a liquid.
- Radius:
- The inner core has an average radius of 1220 km.
- The boundary between the inner and outer cores is located at approximately 5150 km below the surface of the Earth.
- This boundary is called the Lehman Seismic Discontinuity.
- Temperature: Inner core temperatures reach extraordinary levels, estimated to be between 7,200–8,500ºF (4,000–4,700ºC).
- Properties:
- It is predicted to have very high thermal and electrical conductivity.
- The inner core generates its own magnetic field and spins a bit faster than the rest of the planet.
What are the three layers of Earth?
- The earth is made up of three different layers: the crust, the mantle and the core.
- The crust: This is the outside layer of the earth and is made of solid rock, mostly basalt and granite.
- The mantle: It lies below the crust and is up to 2900 km thick. It consists of hot, dense, iron and magnesium-rich solid rock.
- The core: It is the center of the earth and is made up of two parts: the liquid outer core and solid inner core. The outer core is made of nickel, iron and molten rock.
