Full View

Contents of 8.4 What composes the interior of Earth?

8.4 What composes the interior of Earth?

• The core
• P- and S-wave behavior indicates a solid inner core and liquid outer core of much higher density than the mantle, most likely iron.
• Iron is the highest density of the common elements.
• Liquid iron can explain Earth's magnetic field (Ch. 10).
• Some meteorites consist mostly of iron and appear likely analogs for planet cores.