Multiple choice

Directions: The following item consists of two statements, one labelled as ‘Assertion (A)’ and the other labelled as ‘Reason (R)’. You have to examine these two statements carefully and decide if the Assertion (A) and the Reason (R) are individually true and if so, whether the Reason is the correct explanation of the Assertion.

Assertion (A): The outer core of the earth’s interior is in molten state while the inner core is in solid state.

Reason (R): The P-seismic waves disappear in outer core while S-seismic waves penetrate up to the inner core.

  1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.

  2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.

  3. A is true, but R is false.

  4. A is false, but R is true.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The outer core of the earth’s interior is in molten state while the inner core is in solid state. At some point of depth in the earth's interior, around 5150 km, is the transition from the liquid outer core and the solid sphere of the inner core, a ball of incredibly hot iron-nickel alloy. Temperatures here reach between 5,000°C and 7,000°C, and pressures are calculated to be around 3,000,000 units of sea level atmospheric pressure. Despite the high temperature, at these pressures, the metals cannot remain molten.

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