Difference Between Inner Core and Outer Core of Earth

The main difference between the inner core and the outer core of the earth is that the inner core of the earth is the innermost layer of our planet while the outer core is the layer that surrounds the inner core.

Inner core vs. External nucleus

Our earth is made up of four layers, namely the crust, the mantle, the outer core and the inner core. The top layer is the crust, which is followed by the thicker layer known as the mantle. The innermost layer is known as the core and it is divided into two layers i.e. the inner core and the outer core. The inner core is made up of a solid ball of iron and nickel due to the high pressure it exerts, while the outer core is made up of liquid iron and nickel. The inner core has a radius of 1,220 kilometers or 768 miles, while the radius of the outer core is almost 2,300 kilometers or 1,400 miles. The temperature of the inner core is 5,400 degrees Celsius, on the other hand, the temperature of the outer core it is about 4,000 to 8,000 K (6,740-13,940 degrees F or 3,730-7,730 degrees C).

Comparison chart

The inner core is the innermost geological layer of the Earth. Seismologist Inge Lehmann was the first to discover the solid inner core surrounded by a liquid outer core. There are no samples for direct measurement of the Earth’s core, so the information about it comes mainly from the analysis of the magnetic field and seismic waves. This core of the earth is made up of a solid ball of iron and nickel and some light elements, for example, oxygen, sulfur and silicon, etc. It is widely accepted that the inner core gradually expands as the liquid outer core cools and solidifies where the two layers meet. The inner core is 6,371 kilometers (3,958 miles) deep below the surface, and its temperature is estimated to be about 5. 400 degrees Celsius or 9,800 degrees Fahrenheit. The radius of the inner core is about 1,

What is the outer core of the Earth ?

The layer of soil that surrounds the inner core of the earth is known as the outer core. It is a liquid layer made up of iron and nickel. The constant churning of the liquid iron present in the outer core creates a magnetic and electric field. This process is called geodynamo and is responsible for the magnetic field that surrounds our planet. Earth’s outer core is 2,890 kilometers (1,400 miles) below Earth’s surface. The temperature of the outer core is 4,000 to 8,000 K. The hottest region in this core of the earth is about 3,730-7,730 degrees Celsius or 6,740-13,940 degrees Fahrenheit. It has a radius of about 2,300 kilometers or 1,400 miles thick.

Key differences

1. The innermost part or layer of the earth is called the inner core of the earth, while the layer surrounding the inner core is known as the outer core of the earth.
2. The inner core of the earth has a solid nature due to the high pressure on it, while the outer core of the earth is liquid in nature.
3. The inner core of the earth is a solid mass of iron and nickel and some light elements, for example, oxygen, sulfur, and silicon, etc. On the other hand, the outer core of the earth is made up of a liquid layer of iron and nickel. .
4. The radius of the inner core is about 1,220 kilometers or 768 miles, conversely, the radius of the outer core of the earth is about 2,300 kilometers or 1,400 miles thick.
5. The inner core is located 6,371 kilometers (3,958 miles) deep below the surface on the other side, the outer core of the earth is located 2,890 kilometers (1,400 miles) below the surface of the Earth.
6. The inner core temperature is 5,400 degrees Celsius or 9,800 degrees Fahrenheit, on the other hand, the outer core temperature is 4,000 to 8,000 K (6,740 – 13,940 degrees F or 3,730-7,730 degrees C).

Final Thought

The above discussion makes it clear that the inner core is the innermost layer of earth which is solid in nature while the outer core surrounds the inner core and is a liquid layer.