How Does Pressure Inside Earth Maintain Its High Temperature?

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  • Thread starter Thread starter Tor Barstad
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the relationship between pressure and temperature inside the Earth, exploring how these factors contribute to the Earth's thermal state. Participants examine the sources of internal heat and the implications of Earth's size on its cooling process, touching on concepts related to geology and planetary science.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that high pressure contributes to high temperature, questioning how kinetic energy is transferred from the Earth's interior to its outer layers.
  • Another participant asserts that high pressure is not a source of high temperature, proposing that radioactivity is the primary source of internal heat, independent of the cooling process.
  • A similar point is reiterated by a different participant, emphasizing that high pressure persists even as the Earth cools.
  • Another participant introduces the idea that the Earth's size provides insulation, potentially slowing the cooling process, and compares this to Mars, which may have lost its atmosphere due to its smaller size and resultant cooling.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the relationship between pressure and temperature, with some arguing that pressure does not contribute to temperature while others suggest a connection. The discussion remains unresolved regarding the mechanisms of heat retention and the implications of Earth's size.

Contextual Notes

Participants have not fully explored the assumptions underlying their claims, such as the definitions of pressure and temperature in geological contexts, and the specific mechanisms of heat transfer within the Earth.

Tor Barstad
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I know very little about this topic, so it would be very nice of you to help me out.

The inside of the Earth has a high temperature because there is high pressure I have been told. But how does this work? The kinetic energy from inside the Earth must reach the outer layers of the Earth and must then be radiated out to space sooner or later I suppose. At the same time no work is done either?

As far as I have understood the Earth is cooling (at least in the long run), but surely heat is produced inside the Earth even if it doesn't produce quite as much as it looses. Why?
 
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High pressure is not a source of high temperature. Radioactivity is a source of energy that heats the inside, but there will be high pressure even when the Earth cools down.
 
Borek said:
High pressure is not a source of high temperature. Radioactivity is a source of energy that heats the inside, but there will be high pressure even when the Earth cools down.

Thank you!
 
I'm pretty sure the size of the Earth keeps it from cooling off as well. It might not be huge in cosmic terms, but there's still a lot of insulation between the inside of the Earth and the outside.

Not sure of the mechanics behind it, but I heard that Mars doesn't have an atmosphere because it's small size resulted in the inside cooling off, thus losing its magnetic field, thus allowing the solar wind to strip off the atmosphere.
 

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