What is the state of matter of the mantle?
Social Studies · High School · Mon Jan 18 2021
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- The Earth's mantle is in a state of matter that is predominantly solid; however, it behaves in a way that allows it to flow very slowly over geological time scales.
- This behavior is due to the intense heat and pressure conditions present within the mantle, which can cause rocks to deform and act like a very viscous fluid. This deformation and flow are known as mantle convection and are responsible for the movement of tectonic plates on the Earth's surface.
- The concept of states of matter is commonly introduced in school science classes. The four fundamental states of matter that we usually learn about are solid, liquid, gas, and plasma. Each state has different properties. Solids have a fixed shape and volume. Liquids have a definite volume but take the shape of their container, and gases completely fill the container they are in, having neither a fixed shape nor volume. Plasma is an ionized gas with unique properties, usually found in extremely hot environments like stars.
- However, the mantle of the Earth is a bit more complex. Even though it is mostly solid, the intense pressure and temperature inside the Earth can cause rocks to behave in an unusual way. Over long periods, this solid rock can flow, similar to how glaciers (large bodies of ice) flow on the Earth's surface. This process is not something we observe in everyday materials, so it can be a challenging concept to grasp.