What is the current hypothesized core structure of Mercury?
Answer
A solid iron core surrounded by a shell of molten iron
Despite being the smallest terrestrial planet and having cooled quickly, Mercury is thought to retain a liquid outer layer around its solid iron core due to the massive initial energy of formation.
#Videos
What a Journey to Different Planets Cores Looks Like - YouTube
Related Questions
What process fundamental to planet formation leads to heavier materials sinking to the center?What is the current general structure believed to exist within Earth's core?Why is Mars thought to no longer possess a substantial global magnetic field?What two primary mechanisms provide sustained heat to keep Earth's core molten over geological timescales?What is the current hypothesized core structure of Mercury?What layer surrounds the dense core of Jupiter?What set of three conditions is necessary for a planetary magnetic field to be generated via the dynamo effect?What characterizes the deep interiors of the ice giants, Uranus and Neptune?What is the implication of Venus lacking a strong global magnetic field despite its Earth-like size?In exoplanet systems, what external energy source can help sustain a molten core state?