Describe three pieces of evidence that indicate that Earth has a molten iron-rich core. Evidence for the Presence of a Molten Iron-Rich Core in the Earth

Evidence for the Presence of a Molten Iron-Rich Core in the Earth

The Earth’s core is composed mainly of iron and nickel, and is believed to be in a liquid state due to the high temperatures and pressures at the center of the planet. This molten core is believed to be responsible for the Earth’s magnetic field, which is essential for sustaining life on the planet. There are three key pieces of evidence that support the idea that Earth has a molten iron-rich core. The first piece of evidence comes from seismic observations. Seismic waves travel through the mantle and core of the Earth, and their speed and direction can provide important clues about the composition of the core. Seismic waves travel faster through the core than the mantle, and their paths are deflected by the Earth’s magnetic field, which suggests the presence of a liquid core (Bilham and Cornwell, 2019). The second piece of evidence is the fact that Earth has a magnetic field. This field is believed to be generated by the molten iron-rich core of the planet, which is in a state of convection due to the extreme temperatures and pressures at the center of the Earth (Winckler, 2018). Cont…