How does Earth's metallic core mass percentage compare to Mercury's iron dominance?
Answer
It represents closer to 30% of its planet's mass
When comparing the core size relative to the total planetary mass among the terrestrial bodies, Earth’s metallic core constitutes about 30% of its total mass. This measurement places it significantly behind Mercury, whose core fraction is estimated to be around 60%. This difference means Mercury’s iron dominance, when measured as a percentage of total mass, is almost double that of Earth. This disparity is a key factor driving theories about how Mercury formed compared to Earth, suggesting Mercury experienced a process that severely reduced its lighter silicate layers relative to its dense metallic interior.
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