Earth's Internal Heat Source Flashcards
Biotic
Living Compounds
Uses of Earth’s Internal Heat
Energy Sources for
- Plate Tectonics
- Rock Cycle
- Geothermal Energy
The inner core is composed primarily of Fe and Ni, with hints of other heavy metals like Au, Pd, Ag, W with which contributes to the density in the core that ranges between 12,600-13,000 kg/m3.
Dense-Core Material
Mean initial or Ancient
Primordial
Pressure increases as one moves into the Earth’s core, due to pressing force of weight from overlaying rocks.
Through Gravitational Pressure
Heat within the core is maintained due to rocks being good insulators and heat is generated from gravitational attraction.
Through Gravitational Pressure
Heat produced from radioactive decay of some naturally occurring isotopes.
Radioactive Heat
- Produces Electricity
- Responsible for heat sync
- Renewable
Geothermal Energy
There are parts of earth that cannot be reached by sun. This serves as an alternative for sunlight.
Thermal Vents
The pressure and density are simply too great for the iron atoms to move into a liquid state. Thus, this contributes to the intense heat in the interior of the planet.
Dense-Core Material
Main energy source on earth’s surface
Sun
Heat from the collision of gasses and dusts during the formation of the Earth
Primordial Heat
The process of radioactive decay which emits heat energy as one of the products prevents the Earth from completely cooling off.
Radioactive Heat
This heat moves through convection, from the core to the mantle until the plate boundary layers
Primordial Heat
This heat moved from the surface to the core and was preserved there.
Primordial Heat
