October 18, 2023 8:00 PM |
Updated: October 18, 2023 20:02
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Nature. Illustration source: Unsplash
Maybe you’ve read a book about Earth and outer space, or been heavily influenced by some cartoons that show scenes that make you curious. One day you ask your parents and they shake their heads and answer, “Wow, if this is the case, Dad doesn’t know either.” What would happen if I could dig to the other side of the earth? That’s the question that is on your mind at that moment. Maybe in some cartoon scenes it looks easy and fast, but, in its original state it can be very complicated.
Imagine, going from Indonesia to Colombia (South America) in less than an hour. All you need is “just” a hole to the other side of the earth (not forgetting lava and pressure resistant clothing, a magic shovel to cut through any surface, and special shoes that can withstand footing on lava). First, know the layers of the earth. The distance from the earth’s surface to the center is 6,378 km at the equator. There are four layers: a thin, stiff crust; rocky mantle; the outer core, namely the molten iron layer; and finally the inner core, which is believed to be solid iron. The earth’s crust (skin layer) includes tectonic plates, land and oceans. The thickness varies from 5 to 100 km. Then there is the earth’s mantle, which is 2,897 km deep, which is thick and hot. Then there is the outer earth’s core which consists of lava made of iron and nickel. Lastly, the dense inner core of the earth. Did you know? The core of the earth is as hot as the surface of the sun.
The intense heat in the mantle is strong enough to turn carbon into diamond, and, erm, strong enough to destroy you. And for every 3,170 meters of depth, the temperature rises by seventy-seven degrees. The average human will suffer from hyperthermia. Also known as the asthenosphere, this layer is responsible for the movement of tectonic plates, and is the reason why mountains, volcanoes and earthquakes occur. You may have to avoid shifting continents in the process. If you are able to survive, you still have to travel a distance of 2,897 km to reach the Earth’s core the size of Mars, which can reach 6,093 degrees Celsius. Eventually, you’ll make it to the colder layers, an ironic description, since temperatures in the Earth’s outer core range between 7,200 and 9,000 degrees. This layer consists of molten iron, but don’t try to cause too much damage from digging. The outer core of the Earth gives our planet a magnetic field and we cannot live without it. Digging into the earth’s core is not fun, the inner core is a super dense layer of earth made mostly of iron and nickel. It is solid because the pressure from 6,378 km below the earth’s surface is so great that iron cannot melt.
A hole dug through the ground will quickly close as the surrounding rock fills in the empty space, so get out quickly. the closure of the tunnel will probably cause a small earthquake, and your way home will definitely be blocked. Happy digging!
2023-10-18 13:00:00
#Happen #Dig #Side #Earth
