What does the existence of a weak intrinsic magnetic field on the much smaller planet Mercury suggest about Venus's core state?

Answer

Mercury's core is likely still at least partially molten and convecting.

The contrast between Mercury and Venus presents a significant paradox regarding internal thermal evolution. Mercury is significantly smaller than Venus, and generally, smaller bodies are expected to cool and solidify their cores faster than larger ones. However, Mercury possesses at least a weak intrinsic magnetic field, which requires a liquid, convecting, conductive core. Since Venus is larger, thermal models suggest it should have retained internal heat longer than Mercury. Therefore, the fact that Venus lacks a field while the smaller Mercury exhibits one implies that Venus's core situation, whether solidified or convectively stagnant, is unexpected based purely on size and cooling rates.

What does the existence of a weak intrinsic magnetic field on the much smaller planet Mercury suggest about Venus's core state?

Related Questions

What protection does Venus possess instead of an intrinsic magnetic field generated by an internal dynamo?How is the induced magnetosphere on Venus fundamentally created when the solar wind interacts with the planet?What process allows for continuous, slow atmospheric stripping despite Venus's induced magnetic barrier?Which of the three necessary conditions for generating a planetary dynamo involves organizing fluid motion into helical magnetic field lines?Approximately how long does Venus take to complete one rotation on its axis?What specific force, generated by Venus's slow rotation, is too weak to organize the core material flow needed for a dynamo?What does the existence of a weak intrinsic magnetic field on the much smaller planet Mercury suggest about Venus's core state?If Venus's core is still liquid, what is the primary limiting factor suggested to prevent the dynamo from starting?What geological feature thought to aid Earth's internal cooling and core convection is notably absent on Venus?How does Venus’s massive atmosphere effectively protect the planet from total solar wind stripping over billions of years?
Venüsplanetsolar windmagnetic fieldatmosphere