EESC1168 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Oldest Dated Rocks, Inner Core, Outer Core
1 Feb 2017
School
Department
Course
Professor
Document Summary
Our solar system is about 4. 57 billion years old. We live in a rotating cloud of gas and dust. Matter accumulated in the center, creating the sun. Solar energy from the sun produced by the conversion of hydrogen to helium. Earth began as a rotating cloud of gas and particles, which coalesced and stratified over time. Iron-rich materials moved toward the center (center is more dense) Differentiation - process of separating core and mantle. Early atmosphere formed from volcanic gases - mostly h2o and co2. Plants eventually produced enough o2 for multi-cellular organisms to be able to survive. Temp increases as you move toward the center. High pressures at earth"s center cause the inner core to be solid. Hotter, but the pressure is enough to keep it solid. Crust composed of less dense elements, separated from denser elements. Asthenosphere (seen as lava/magma) is a denser, soft plastic layer. The difference in materials helps create earthquakes and volcanoes.
