Mercury - Interior and
Evolution
Density:
(examine uncompressed density
-- that is, the density of an object after the compressional effects of
gravity are taken out)
(gm/cm3)
|
Mercury
|
Moon
|
Earth
|
Average Density
|
5.4
|
3.3
|
5.5
|
Uncompressed Density
|
5.3
|
3.3
|
4.1
|
Clues to the interior:
-
Mercury is very dense
- what does this tell us about the interior?
-
Mercury has a magnetic field
(2nd largest of terrestrial planets) - what does that tell us about the
interior? Why is this confusing?
Possible Evolutionary History
-
Impacts and accretion of Mercury (major collision removes
significant amount of low density rock?)
-
Differentiation: Iron rich material settles into the core:
heat production and expansion
-
Late impacts (eg Caloris Basin, etc)
-
Cooling, shrinking, cracking of crust (scarps!)
Discussion: How
is this like the Moon? How is it different?