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This phenomenon has to do with melting temperature and pressure. The more pressure a substance is under, the higher its melting point becomes. Both the liquid outer core and the solid inner core are made of an iron alloy, which means that chemically their melting points are the same. However, the outer core is under less pressure simply because it is under less material. The outer core supports the weight of the crust and mantle, while the inner core must also bear the weight of the outer core. The additional mass of the outer core creates enough pressure on the inner core to raise the melting temperature of the iron alloy above the temperature at the center of the earth, causing it to solidify.

So in short, the inner core is solid because it is under more pressure than the outer core.

Hope this helps

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14y ago

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