Original heat formation inside the earth

Question 1

What heated up the earth?

Answer 1

Gravitational collapse of accreting planetesimals heated up the earth

Question 2

What does high pressure create?

Answer 2

Hotter temperatures

Question 3

How else does it create heat?

Answer 3

This also creates heat by friction

Question 4

How did liquid outer core form?

Answer 4

Liquid outer core formed when temperature reached melting point of iron mixed with lighter ‘impurities’

Question 5

What generated further heat?

Answer 5

Differentiation of mantle and core generated further heat

Question 6

Why is this the case?

Answer 6

As the particles move around, there is more friction which generates additional heat

Question 7

What else generated heat?

Answer 7

Energy generated by short-lived radioactive isotopes may have contributed to the initial heating

Question 8

How much of the continental and oceanic crust is radiogenic? Give examples

Answer 8

55% of heat produced continental crust is radiogenic (especially granite) and 5% of heat produced crust is radiogenic (Mid Ocean Ridge Basalts)

Question 9

What else creates radiogenic heat?

Answer 9

Even today crystalline rocks, and especially igneous rocks such as granite produce a lot of radiogenic heat in the earth’s crust