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The planet's density is the second highest in the Solar System at 5.427 g/cm 3, only slightly less than Earth's density of 5.515 g/cm 3. [4] If the effect of gravitational compression were to be factored out from both planets, the materials of which Mercury is made would be denser than those of Earth, with an uncompressed density of 5.3 g/cm 3 ...
Many TNOs are often just assumed to have Pluto's density of 2.0 g/cm 3, but it is just as likely that they have a comet-like density of only 0.5 g/cm 3. [ 4 ] For example, if a TNO is incorrectly assumed to have a mass of 3.59 × 10 20 kg based on a radius of 350 km with a density of 2 g/cm 3 but is later discovered to have a radius of only 175 ...
Mercury's density implies a solid iron-rich core that accounts for about 60% of its volume (75% of its radius). [10] Mercury's magnetic equator is shifted nearly 20% of the planet's radius towards the north, the largest ratio of all planets. [11]
The structure of rocky planets is constrained by the average density of a planet and its moment of inertia. [15] The moment of inertia for a differentiated planet is less than 0.4, because the density of the planet is concentrated in the center. [16] Mercury has a moment of inertia of 0.346, which is evidence for a core. [17]
On the basis of that data, scientists have a first-order understanding of the geology and history of the planet. [4] [5] Mercury's surface shows intercrater plains, basins, smooth plains, craters, and tectonic features. Mercury's oldest surface is its intercrater plains, [4] [6] which are present (but much less extensive) on the Moon.
Mercury, being the closest to the Sun, with a weak magnetic field and the smallest mass of the recognized terrestrial planets, has a very tenuous and highly variable atmosphere (surface-bound exosphere) containing hydrogen, helium, oxygen, sodium, calcium, potassium and water vapor, with a combined pressure level of about 10 −14 bar (1 nPa). [2]
Mercury: 0.377 g: Venus: 0.905 g: Earth: 1 g ... and the surface gravity of a planet or star with a given average density will be approximately proportional to its ...
A theoretical type of solid planet that consists almost entirely of iron and therefore has a greater density and a smaller radius than other solid planets of comparable mass. Mercury in the Solar System has a metallic core equal to 60–70% of its planetary mass, and is sometimes called an iron planet, [36] though its surface is made of ...