Lesson 6 The Earth’s Internal Heat

Heat energy plays a vital role in our planet. It is one of

the extreme factors in what makes the world liveable. If Lesson 6 The Earth’s Internal Heat
you think of a volcano, you know Earth must be hot
inside. Our planet's internal heat shifts continents, Heat energy plays a vital role in our planet. It is one of
creates mountains, and produces earthquakes, but the extreme factors in what makes the world liveable. If
where does all this heat inside the earth originate? you think of a volcano, you know Earth must be hot
Before we proceed to the sources of heat, let’s have a inside. Our planet's internal heat shifts continents,
short review of layers of the earth. Basically, Planet creates mountains, and produces earthquakes, but
Earth has 3 main layers, these are Crust, Mantle and where does all this heat inside the earth originate?
Core. The Crust of the earth is a very thin layer when Before we proceed to the sources of heat, let’s have a
compared to the 3 other layers. The Mantle is the short review of layers of the earth. Basically, Planet
largest layer of the earth with estimated 1800 miles Earth has 3 main layers, these are Crust, Mantle and
thick. The mantle is composed of very hot dense rock Core. The Crust of the earth is a very thin layer when
called magma, because of the high temperatures with compared to the 3 other layers. The Mantle is the
the Mantle, the rock is kept in a semi-liquefied state. largest layer of the earth with estimated 1800 miles
The Outer Core is composed of liquefied metals such as thick. The mantle is composed of very hot dense rock
nickel and iron. It is kept in it liquefied state because of called magma, because of the high temperatures with
the immense heat in this layer. The Inner Core is also the Mantle, the rock is kept in a semi-liquefied state.
composed of metals however they are not kept in a The Outer Core is composed of liquefied metals such as
liquefied state. It is believed that the temperature and nickel and iron. It is kept in it liquefied state because of
pressure at depth is so great that the metals are the immense heat in this layer. The Inner Core is also
squeezed tightly together restricting movement, so composed of metals however they are not kept in a
much that the particles have to vibrated in place almost liquefied state. It is believed that the temperature and
like a solid structure. pressure at depth is so great that the metals are
Sources of heat in our planet can be identified as squeezed tightly together restricting movement, so
Primordial and Radiogenic heat. During the early much that the particles have to vibrated in place almost
formation of the Earth, the internal heat energy that like a solid structure.
gradually gathered together by means of dispersion in Sources of heat in our planet can be identified as
the planet during its few million years of evolution is Primordial and Radiogenic heat. During the early
called Primordial heat. The major contribution of this formation of the Earth, the internal heat energy that
internal heat is the accretional energy – the energy gradually gathered together by means of dispersion in
deposited during the early formation of a planet. The the planet during its few million years of evolution is
core is a storage of primordial heat that originates from called Primordial heat. The major contribution of this
times of accretion when kinetic energy of colliding internal heat is the accretional energy – the energy
particles was transformed into thermal energy. This deposited during the early formation of a planet. The
heat is constantly lost to the outer silicate layers of the core is a storage of primordial heat that originates from
mantle and crust of the earth through convection and times of accretion when kinetic energy of colliding
conduction. In addition, the heat of the core takes tens particles was transformed into thermal energy. This
of thousands of years to reach the surface of the earth. heat is constantly lost to the outer silicate layers of the
Today, the surface of the earth is made of a cold rigid mantle and crust of the earth through convection and
rock since 4.5 billion years ago, the earth’s surface conduction. In addition, the heat of the core takes tens
cools from the outside but the core is still made of of thousands of years to reach the surface of the earth.
extremely hot material. Today, the surface of the earth is made of a cold rigid
On the other hand, the thermal energy released as a result of rock since 4.5 billion years ago, the earth’s surface
spontaneous nuclear disintegration is called Radiogenic Heat. It cools from the outside but the core is still made of
involves the disintegration of natural radioactive elements inside the extremely hot material.
earth – like Uranium, Thorium and Potassium. Uranium is a special On the other hand, the thermal energy released as a result of
kind of element because when it decays, heat (radiogenic) is spontaneous nuclear disintegration is called Radiogenic Heat. It
produced. Estimated at 47 terawatts (TW), the flow of heat from involves the disintegration of natural radioactive elements inside the
Earth’s interior to the surface and it comes from two main sources in earth – like Uranium, Thorium and Potassium. Uranium is a special
equal amounts: the radiogenic heat produced by the radioactive kind of element because when it decays, heat (radiogenic) is
decay of isotopes in the mantle and crust, and the primordial heat produced. Estimated at 47 terawatts (TW), the flow of heat from
left over from the formation of the Earth. Radioactive elements exist Earth’s interior to the surface and it comes from two main sources in
everywhere on earth in a fairly significant concentration. Without equal amounts: the radiogenic heat produced by the radioactive
the process of radioactive decay, there would be fewer volcanoes decay of isotopes in the mantle and crust, and the primordial heat
and earthquakes – and less formation of earth’s vast mountain left over from the formation of the Earth. Radioactive elements exist
ranges. everywhere on earth in a fairly significant concentration. Without
the process of radioactive decay, there would be fewer volcanoes
and earthquakes – and less formation of earth’s vast mountain
ranges.
 ____5. Release of thermal energy as a result of
spontaneous nuclear disintegration

Sources of Heat and Heat Transfer

Both sources of heat whether primordial or Sources of Heat and Heat Transfer
radiogenic undergo heat transfer and it plays an
important role to the continuous changes and Both sources of heat whether primordial or
development of our planet. In connection, another radiogenic undergo heat transfer and it plays an
part of this module describes the heat transfer in important role to the continuous changes and
the Earth. Three processes can transfer heat: development of our planet. In connection, another
conduction, convection, and radiation. part of this module describes the heat transfer in
Conduction processes happen in the earth’s the Earth. Three processes can transfer heat:
surface and it directs the thermal settings in conduction, convection, and radiation.
almost entire solid portions of the Earth and plays Conduction processes happen in the earth’s
a very important role in the lithosphere. One of the surface and it directs the thermal settings in
three main ways of heat transfer is conduction. almost entire solid portions of the Earth and plays
Technically, it can be defined as the process by a very important role in the lithosphere. One of the
which heat energy is transmitted through three main ways of heat transfer is conduction.
collisions between neighboring atoms or molecules. Technically, it can be defined as the process by
Conduction carries heat from the Earth's core and which heat energy is transmitted through
radiation from the Sun to the Earth's surface. collisions between neighboring atoms or molecules.
When the atmosphere in normal temperature Conduction carries heat from the Earth's core and
contacts with the warm surfaces of the land, it radiation from the Sun to the Earth's surface.
transfer thermal energy, then it will heats up the When the atmosphere in normal temperature
rest of the air through convection. contacts with the warm surfaces of the land, it
Convection is the transfer of heat by the transfer thermal energy, then it will heats up the
movement of mass, and it is a more effective mode rest of the air through convection.
of heat transport in the Earth than pure Convection is the transfer of heat by the
conduction. Convection dominates the thermal movement of mass, and it is a more effective mode
conditions in zones with significant amounts of of heat transport in the Earth than pure
fluids (molten rocks) and thus governs the heat conduction. Convection dominates the thermal
transport in the fluid outer core and the mantle. In conditions in zones with significant amounts of
geological time scale, due to the tremendous fluids (molten rocks) and thus governs the heat
temperature, the mantle acts like a viscous fluid. transport in the fluid outer core and the mantle. In
In convection current, the mantle of the earth geological time scale, due to the tremendous
moves slowly because of transfer of heat from the temperature, the mantle acts like a viscous fluid.
interior of the earth up to the surface. This results In convection current, the mantle of the earth
to the movement of tectonic plates. Hot materials moves slowly because of transfer of heat from the
are added at the edges of a plate and then it cools. interior of the earth up to the surface. This results
At those edges, it becomes dense by its exposure to the movement of tectonic plates. Hot materials
from the heat and sinks into the earth at an ocean are added at the edges of a plate and then it cools.
trench. This starts the formation of volcanoes. At those edges, it becomes dense by its exposure
Radiation is the least important mode of heat transport in the from the heat and sinks into the earth at an ocean
Earth. The process of heat exchange between the Sun and the trench. This starts the formation of volcanoes.
Earth, through radiation, controls the temperatures at the Radiation is the least important mode of heat
Earth's surface. Inside the Earth, radiation is significant only transport in the Earth. The process of heat
in the hottest parts of the core and the lower mantle. When the exchange between the Sun and the Earth, through
land and water become warm in summer, it emits long – radiation, controls the temperatures at the Earth's
wavelength infrared radiation that is readily absorbed by the surface. Inside the Earth, radiation is significant
atmosphere. This continues during night time too. Convection only in the hottest parts of the core and the lower
in the air then spreads out the thermal energy throughout the mantle. When the land and water become warm in
atmosphere. summer, it emits long – wavelength infrared
radiation that is readily absorbed by the
atmosphere. This continues during night time too.
Convection in the air then spreads out the thermal
Activity 2: energy throughout the atmosphere.
Identify the sources of internal heat by writing RH
for radiogenic heat and PH for primordial heat.
Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper. Activity 2:
____1. Presence of different isotopes of heat Identify the sources of internal heat by writing RH
producing element in the mantle and for radiogenic heat and PH for primordial heat.
crust. Write your answer on a separate sheet of paper.
____2. Internal heat accumulated by dissipation of ____1. Presence of different isotopes of heat
planet. producing element in the mantle and
____3. Release of accretional energy. crust.
____4. Processes involved in mantle convection.
____2. Internal heat accumulated by dissipation of
planet.
____3. Release of accretional energy.
____4. Processes involved in mantle convection.
____5. Release of thermal energy as a result of spontaneous
nuclear disintegration

Activity 3:

Activity 3:

Activity 4:
Use the word bank to fill in the gaps in the passage below.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper. Activity 4:
Use the word bank to fill in the gaps in the passage below.
Write your answers on a separate sheet of paper.

The surface layer of the earth is called the

___________________. This layer is broken up into pieces
called ___________________. These __________________ The surface layer of the earth is called the
“float” on the mantle. Heat rising and falling inside the mantle ___________________. This layer is broken up into pieces
creates current called _____________________. The called ___________________. These __________________
___________________ current move the “float” on the mantle. Heat rising and falling inside the mantle
__________________. This movement is known as creates current called _____________________. The
___________________. The movement of the earth’s plate ___________________ current move the
causes earthquakes and ___________________. __________________. This movement is known as
___________________. The movement of the earth’s plate
causes earthquakes and ___________________.