7.4 Earth’s Core

Is this what the core looks like?

Yes! The outer core, anyway. The outer core is liquid metal, like in this photo. Of course, the metal is under an incredible amount of pressure.

Core

The dense, iron core forms the center of the Earth. Scientists know that the core is metal. The inner core is solid, and the outer core is molten. Here are some of the reasons they know this:

Metallic meteorites are thought to be from the same type of material that is found at the core (Figure below).

An iron meteorite is the closest thing to the Earth’s core that we can hold in our hands.

Scientists calculate Earth’s density from the planet’s rotation. To match the total density, the inner layers must be denser than the outer layers. They must be as dense as metal.

Seismic waves show that the outer core is liquid. The inner core is solid.

For there to be a magnetic field, there must be liquid metal. The metal must be convecting. If the core did not have convecting metal, there would be no magnetic field.

Summary

Density calculations show that Earth’s core is metal.
Seismic waves show that the inner core is solid and the outer core is liquid.
Metallic meteorites and the magnetic field are also clues about the makeup of the core.