The Earth's inner core has the highest density.
This innermost layer, situated at the planet's center, boasts a density of approximately 13 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³). This extreme density is a result of its composition, primarily solid iron and nickel, compressed under immense pressure from the overlying layers.
Several sources corroborate this fact:
- Reference 1: States that the inner core is at the center of the Earth because it is the densest, composed of solid iron and nickel.
- Reference 2: Explicitly identifies the inner core as having the highest density and temperature.
- Reference 3: A question regarding the comparison of densities of Earth's layers concludes that the inner core possesses the highest density.
- Reference 4: Confirms that the inner core is the layer with the highest density.
- Reference 6: Clearly states that the densest layer (inner core) is located at the Earth's center.
- Reference 7: Indicates the inner core as the layer with the greatest density.
- Reference 8: Specifies that the inner core has the highest density at 12.9 g/cm³.
The density difference between layers is significant. The increasing density towards the center is a direct consequence of the gravitational compression and the heavier elements sinking towards the core during the Earth's formation.
