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A2. The Inner Core of the Earth is composed of nickel and iron and other heavy elements, many of which are radioactive. Lord Kelvin (of temp fame) studied this problem of the source of the earth's internal heat, but as radioactive generation of heat was yet to be discovered, his calculations were in error.

The Inner Core has a temperature of about 5800 deg C, similar to the surface of the Sun! Because of the pressure, the Inner Core of the Earth is solid.

The Outer Core has a similar composition, but, under less pressure, it is liquid.

And above this again is the magma, which drives tectonic plates, volcanoes and the like. Electrical currents generated in the cooler magma and running roughly parallel to the equator, are responsible for most of Earth's magnetic field.

[BTW, his given name was William Thomson, and upon his elevation to the peerage he chose the name of the small stream, the Kelvin that runs by Glasgow University, as his peerage name. ]

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14y ago

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