Eli5: How does the core of the Earth (or any planets) not cool and still give off tons of heat energy? Where is this energy coming from?
In: 202
The planet is cooling off, although very slowly. Heat in the inner planet has three sources:
Original heat present when the planet formed
Heat given off via radioactive decay
Heat given off when liquid outer core iron crystallizes at the inner/outer core boundary.
Eventually the latter two will subside and Earth will slowly cool down permanently.
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