The center of the earth (1 Viewer)

[Mark Fitzsimmons]

Why is the center of the earth hot?

 

[Ricardo C]

Because there's a pound of feathers stuck in there.

 

[Mark Brewer]

Because it is surrounded by a crust of Silica, which sucked all the moisture out causing spontaneous uncontrollable conbustion which heats up the salsa......

 

[Jeff Kleist]

I'm no geology expert, but it has to do with the pressures of the material above it and the constant shifting masses.

 

[Holadem]

Because there's a pound of feathers stuck in there.

It used to be hot all over, the surface cooled down, the center just never did . It (the earth) will eventually become an inert piece of rock like the moon, though I have no idea how long that takes. Then the inhabitants of LA will have this huge celebration.

Now will someone who knows what the hell they're talking about comment already?

--
Holadem

 

[Andrew Pratt]

Its just the pressure of the rock above it. Increase pressure and you'll increase temperature.

 

[Eric_L]

It is a combination of the pressure and the sun and moons gravitational pull on the core.

 

[Justin Ward]

The earth was extrememly hot when it had just formed. The center is the only part that hasn't cooled off yet. It probably will cool down evantually but I can't see it happening anytime soon.

Edit: I should add that I made an 85% in grade 12 Geology, so don't debate what I say!

 

[NickSo]

According to my geography knowledge (which i finally finished just a few weeks ago), the center of the earth is hot due to radioactive decay of radioactive materials (duh).

 

[MarkHastings]

Increase pressure and you'll increase temperature.

Is that like when my boss throws 8 things for me to do at once? Sometimes I feel like I'm going to burst into flames

 

[James L White]

Dang I thought it was caused by all the oil well fires in Iraq

 

[McPaul]

Maybe there's no windows that can be opened?
There's no lake down there to jump in and cool off - it's all beach
MarkHastings' boss is down there.
It has no pores so it cannot sweat

and finally....

Cause they don't have air conditioning in Toronto?

ba-dum-bum!



(or for you americans out there, subsitute New York)

 

[Philip_G]

you put yer weeeed in there man.

 

[Rob Gardiner]

Planet Earth. Caution: Contents Hot!

 

[Scott L]

ermmm.. ok we have 5 prevailing arguments:

1) Massive pressure of the rock above casues the core to be so hot.

2) Gravity from the sun and moon may be playing a role.

3) Earth was hot as sh*t when it was formed, the core will cool down soon enough.

4) There are radioactive materials down there causing things to heat up.

5) Something about feathers that I STILL don't get.

I think it's safe to choose the default answer which is...

BLAME CANADA!

 

[Cees Alons]

OK, those who say that it's simply still hot there are right. It has nothing to do with pressure or radioactivity.
The earth was formed from debris of the sun (along with the other planets). The outside of our ball of gas cooled a bit more than the inside (by radiation). But don't forget that at the outside, where we live, it is still 273 degrees Kelvin. Not even close to zero.

Cees

 

[Todd Hochard]

Here's an article that suggests that the center of the earth is actually an active fission reactor-
http://www.discover.com/aug_02/featplanet.html

The more I think about it, the more compelling it becomes.

Todd

 

[MarkHastings]

Planet Earth. Caution: Contents Hot!

And still some moron will go touching it, get burned, and sue the earth. :rolleyes

p.s. I wonder if there's a Dunkin Donuts down there?

 

[BrianW]

It has nothing to do with pressure or radioactivity.

I beg to differ. It is true that the Earth started out hot as a result of its violent formation. But I believe that it's taking longer to cool because of heat contributed by radioactive decay. I don't know how much cooler it would be, however, if not for radioactive decay, but I've heard it said that Earth would have been solid, or close to it, by now if not for decaying elements.

When the Earth does finally solidify, what will happen to its magnetic field?

 

[Cees Alons]

Brian,

Yes, right. When I wrote that sentence, I wondered if someone would call it too absolute a statement. But I tried to say that pressure or a radioactive process wasn't warming the earth up. You're right that it may contribute to a slower cooling down. I wouldn't know how much either.

Your second point is interesting too. I wouldn't know. Would the nickel-iron core stay in place? Perhaps the magnetic field would no longer rotate, but still be there.

Cees