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The source of the Earth's internal heat is a result of gravitational compression and to a much lesser extent, the decay of radioactive isotopes.

The heat present in the Earth is due to several factors.

The first source of heat is from the remnants of heat from impacts with planetesimals early in Earth's history. Impacts with large bodies such as these (including the impact which led to the formation of the moon) trapped the thermal energy of the collision in the surrounding rock of the planet, and may have been enough in certain circumstances to completely melt the early Earth.

The second source of heat is also a remnant of an early Earth event known as the Iron Catastrophe. With much of early Earth still molten, denser metals, particularly iron and nickel, migrated to the center of the planet. Tremendous amounts of frictional heat was created, enough to completely melt the planet once again.

The third source of heat in the Earth is from compression due to gravity.

The fourth and final source of heat in the Earth is from the decay of radioactive elements. This source of heat is gradually declining due the decreasing amounts of radioactive isotopes, the decrease being caused by the decay.

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5mo ago

The main sources of Earth's internal heat are residual heat from its formation, radioactive decay of elements like uranium, thorium, and potassium within the Earth's crust, and heat generated by the core as a result of pressure and gravitational forces.

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10y ago

The heat in the Earth's interior comes from heat produced by the radioactive decay in the mantle. It also comes from the primordial heat left over from the formation of the heat.

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Q: What is the source of earths internal heat?
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What is the internal source of earths energy?

The internal source of Earth's energy is primarily the heat generated by the radioactive decay of elements like uranium, thorium, and potassium in the planet's core and mantle. This heat causes convection currents that drive plate tectonics, volcanic activity, and geological processes on Earth's surface.


What is the major heat source of earth's crust?

The major heat source of Earth's crust is residual heat from the planet's formation and radioactive decay of elements like uranium, thorium, and potassium within the Earth's interior. This heat is responsible for driving processes like mantle convection, plate tectonics, and volcanic activity on the Earth's surface.


Which energy source uses water that is naturally heated by the earths internal heat?

Geothermal energy uses water that is naturally heated by the earth's internal heat to generate electricity. This involves tapping into underground reservoirs of hot water or steam to drive turbines and produce electricity in geothermal power plants.


What major source of heat in the lithosphere?

The major source of heat in the lithosphere is the Earth's internal heat, mainly generated by the decay of radioactive elements in the Earth's mantle. This heat drives processes like plate tectonics and volcanic activity, influencing the dynamics of the lithosphere.


What energy is created from the earths heat?

Geothermal energy is created from the Earth's heat. This renewable energy source harnesses heat from beneath the Earth's surface to generate electricity or provide direct heating.

Related questions

What is the source of the energy that powers the earths system?

The Earth system is powered by energy from two major sources: the Sun and the planet's internal heat.


What is the ultimate source of heat that moves the plates?

The ultimate source of heat that drives plate tectonics is believed to be the Earth's internal heat from radioactive decay in the mantle. This heat causes convection currents in the mantle, which in turn drive the movement of the tectonic plates.


What is the earths main source of heat?

The Sun.


What is the internal source of earths energy?

The internal source of Earth's energy is primarily the heat generated by the radioactive decay of elements like uranium, thorium, and potassium in the planet's core and mantle. This heat causes convection currents that drive plate tectonics, volcanic activity, and geological processes on Earth's surface.


Which jovian planets do not have internal heat source?

Uranus and Neptune are the two jovian planets that do not have a significant internal heat source. They receive most of their heat from the sun and do not generate as much internal heat as Jupiter and Saturn.


What are the internal heat source?

Internal heat source include celestial objects, such as moons, dwarf planets, brown dwarfs, stars and planets.


What is the source of most of earths heat and natural li?

sun


What sort of energy allows the tectonics plates to move?

The Earths internal heat.


What is the source geothermal energy?

earth's internal heat


What is geothermal energy's source?

earth's internal heat


What are the two source of heat in the earths interior?

sunlight and meteor impacts


What is the main source of the earths interior heat?

the mantle plume There are two source of heat in the earth's interior. The main two sources are fire and breathing heat.