SP-345 Evolution of the Solar System

 

 

FIGURE 20.5.1.- Density of the terrestrial planets as a function of their mass.

FIGURE 20.5.1.- Density of the terrestrial planets as a function of their mass. A smooth curve could be drawn through Moon-Mars-Venus-Earth indicating that all may have a similar composition. This would require the assumption that Moon-Mars-like material can be compressed to the high core densities indicated (~15-17 g/cm3) at the core pressures of Venus and the Earth (~1.5 Mb). But it is also possible that Moon and Mars have a heavy element content entirely different from that of Earth-Venus. The composition of Mercury must in any case be different from all the other bodies.
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