Are there telescopes that can see the flag and lunar rover on the Moon? Beginner How long could life on Earth survive if the Sun stopped shining? Beginner What is the difference between a "star" and a "sun"? Beginner How do you measure the distance between Earth and the Sun?
Intermediate Why do the planets orbit the sun? Beginner What direction do planets rotate? Beginner How do we know what other planets and stars, galaxies, etc. Intermediate Can artificial gravity be created in space? Intermediate If gravity isn't a force, how does it accelerate objects? Advanced At what speed does the Earth move around the Sun? How long could life on Earth survive if the Sun stopped shining?
Beginner Are there telescopes that can see the flag and lunar rover on the Moon? Beginner Can artificial gravity be created in space? Intermediate How do you measure the distance between Earth and the Sun? Beginner Why is the moon in a different place every night? Beginner At what speed does the Earth move around the Sun? Beginner How does the position of Moonrise and Moonset change? Intermediate Which planet is most similar to Earth? Intermediate At what speed does the Earth move around the Sun?
Beginner Is the Moon moving away from the Earth? When was this discovered? Intermediate But seriously: what was there before the Big Bang? What's going to happen on December 21st ? Intermediate What color is each planet? Just as freezing water turns to ice, that liquid metal is turning solid—and adding volume in the process. The heat released by this expansion is seeping into the mantle. For all this, however, Marone says, the vast majority of the heat in Earth's interior—up to 90 percent—is fueled by the decaying of radioactive isotopes like Potassium 40, Uranium , , and Thorium contained within the mantle.
These isotopes radiate heat as they shed excess energy and move toward stability. Radioactivity is present not only in the mantle, but in the rocks of Earth's crust. For example, Marone explains, a 1-kilogram block of granite on the surface emanates a tiny but measurable amount of heat about as much as a. That may not seem like much.
But considering the vastness of the mantle, it adds up, Marone says. Sometime billions of years in the future, he predicts, the core and mantle could cool and solidify enough to meet the crust. If that happens, Earth will become a cold, dead planet like the moon.
Long before such an occurrence, however, the Sun will likely have evolved into a red-giant star, and grown large enough to engulf our fair planet. At that point, whatever heat is left in the mantle will hardly matter. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only. Use this form if you have come across a typo, inaccuracy or would like to send an edit request for the content on this page.
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