If the Temperature in the Earth Generally Increases with Depth

question 54

Multiple Choice

If the temperature in the Earth generally increases with depth, how is it possible that the inner core is a solid?

• A)Temperatures increase to a certain point before leveling off below the melting point of the core.
• B)The pressures in the core are immense and keep it in a solid state in spite of the temperature.
• C)Earth's interior does not reach temperatures high enough to melt the material of the inner core.
• D)The inner core is shedding the heat so quickly that melting does not have time to occur.

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Definitions:

Biconditionals

Statements that are true only if both components are either true or false together, often expressed as "if and only if."

Conjunction

In logic, an operator that connects two statements or propositions so that the resulting statement is true only if both components are true.

Disjunction

A logical operation yielding a true value if at least one of its operands is true.

Conditional

A statement in logic that is compound and expresses a factual possibility or hypothetical situation and its consequence.