Internal Structure

Mercury is one of the four solid or rocky planets. It has a rocky body like the Earth. This planet is the smallest of the four, with a diameter of 4879 km in Ecuador. Mercury consists of approximately 70% of metal and 30% of silicates. The density of this planet is the second largest in the solar system, with its value of 5430 kg/m3, only slightly smaller than the density of the earth. Mercury's density can be used to deduce the details of its internal structure. While the high density of the Earth is significantly explained by gravitational compression, particularly in the core, Mercury is much smaller and its inner regions are not as compressed. Therefore, to explain this high density, the nucleus must occupy much of the world and also be rich in iron, [1] with a high density material. Geologists estimate that Mercury's core occupies 42% of its total volume (the Earth's core occupies only 17%). This would be partially molten core, which would explain the planet's magnetic field. Surrounding the core there is a layer of about 600 km from its center.