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25. Structure of Earth
Figure 25.1 (Structure of Earth)
Inner Core
Temperature: 5,000°C – 6,000°C
State: Solid
Composition: iron and nickel
The Earth’s inner core is a huge metal ball, 2,500km wide. Made mainly of iron, the
temperature of the ball is 5,000°C to 6,000°C – that’s up to 6,000 times hotter than our
atmosphere and scorching enough to make metal melt! The metal at the inner core stays solid
because of the incredible pressure surrounding it.
Outer Core
Temperature: 4,000°C – 6,000°C
State: Liquid
Composition: iron, nickel, sulphur and oxygen
This liquid layer of iron and nickel is 5,150km deep. The outer core flows around the centre
of the Earth, and the movement of the metals creates our planet’s magnetic field.