Which of the explanations below correctly describes a solid layer of the earth and why it is solid?
The lower mantle is solid because of the movement of the outer core
The inner core is solid because of the high pressure and temperatures.
.The crust is solid because of the extremely high temperatures and pressure. ,
The outer core is solid because of the low pressure and below freezing temperatures.
The inner core is solid because of the high pressure and temperatures.
The correct explanation is: The inner core is solid because of the high pressure and temperatures.
To understand why the inner core is solid, we need to look at the conditions present in that region of the Earth. The inner core is located at the very center of the Earth and is under immense pressure due to the weight of all the layers above it. This pressure is caused by the overlying layers pushing down on the inner core.
Additionally, the temperature in the inner core is extremely high, reaching up to several thousand degrees Celsius. This high temperature is a result of the heat generated by radioactive decay and residual heat from the formation of the Earth.
Both the high pressure and temperature contribute to the solid state of the inner core. Under such extreme conditions, the iron and nickel metals that make up the inner core are compressed tightly together, preventing them from moving freely and resulting in a solid state.
Therefore, the solid nature of the inner core is primarily attributed to the combination of high pressure and temperature in that region.