Which layer of Earth contains molten material?

Which layer of Earth contains molten material?

• A. Outer Core
• B. Inner Core
• C. Crust
• D. Mantle

Answer: (A)

The main idea is where inside Earth the material is liquid. The outer part of the core is a liquid iron-nickel alloy, kept molten by the extremely high temperatures there. This liquid layer surrounds the solid inner core, which remains solid because the pressures are so immense. The mantle is mostly solid rock, though it can flow very slowly and has zones where partial melt can occur, but there isn’t a globally molten layer like the outer core. The crust is a solid outer shell. So the layer that is molten is the outer core.

The main idea is where inside Earth the material is liquid. The outer part of the core is a liquid iron-nickel alloy, kept molten by the extremely high temperatures there. This liquid layer surrounds the solid inner core, which remains solid because the pressures are so immense. The mantle is mostly solid rock, though it can flow very slowly and has zones where partial melt can occur, but there isn’t a globally molten layer like the outer core. The crust is a solid outer shell. So the layer that is molten is the outer core.