Q:
How deep is the outer core of earth?
A:
Quick Answer
The outer core of the Earth begins about 1,800 miles below the Earth's surface and is between 1,370 and 1,430 miles thick. It is composed of liquid iron and nickel with some trace elements.
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Full Answer
The outer core surrounds the solid inner core, which is about 750 miles thick and is itself surrounded by the mantle. The boundary between the outer core and the mantle is the Gutenberg discontinuity, and it is marked by the disappearance of shear waves from seismic activity and the loss of about 30 percent of velocity for other types of seismic waves. The outer core is believed to be the source of the Earth's magnetic field.
Learn more about Layers of the EarthRelated Questions
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Q:
What is the center of the earth called?
A: The center of the Earth is called its inner core, which is solid and surrounded by the liquid outer core. The outer core is surrounded by the solid mantle ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are the layers of the Earth called?
A: The four layers of the Earth are called the inner core, the outer core, the mantle and the crust. In addition, there are two different types of crust. The ... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
How do we know the Earth has a liquid core?
A: The biggest reason scientists theorize that the Earth has a liquid outer core and a solid iron inner core is that shear seismic waves, which cannot move th... Full Answer >Filed Under: -
Q:
What are the main two metals making up the earth's core?
A: The Earth's core is made up primarily of the metals nickel and iron. The inner core is mostly iron, while the outer core is composed of both nickel and iro... Full Answer >Filed Under:
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