Which statement describes the inner core?

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Prepare for the NES Earth and Space Science (307) Test. Use flashcards and multiple-choice questions with explanations to enhance your understanding and boost your confidence. Excel in your exam preparation!

Multiple Choice

Which statement describes the inner core?

Explanation:
The inner core stays solid because of the extreme pressures at Earth’s center. Even though temperatures there are incredibly high, the crushing weight of the overlying layers forces iron and nickel into a solid phase. That’s why the inner core is described as a solid ball primarily composed of iron with some nickel. Surrounding it is the liquid outer core, which is where the magnetic field comes from. The other descriptions don’t fit what seismology shows about the center: it isn’t gaseous, it isn’t porous rock, and it isn’t liquid.

The inner core stays solid because of the extreme pressures at Earth’s center. Even though temperatures there are incredibly high, the crushing weight of the overlying layers forces iron and nickel into a solid phase. That’s why the inner core is described as a solid ball primarily composed of iron with some nickel. Surrounding it is the liquid outer core, which is where the magnetic field comes from. The other descriptions don’t fit what seismology shows about the center: it isn’t gaseous, it isn’t porous rock, and it isn’t liquid.

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