What Is Mercury's Core Made Of? | KLT

The video explores Mercury's internal structure, focusing on its solid iron core. Historically, there were only hints of this core, but recent data from the MESSENGER spacecraft, which orbited Mercury from 2011, has provided more concrete evidence. Scientists used radio observations to determine Mercury's rotational pole and gravitational anomalies, helping them understand its orientation. By analyzing variations in the data, they confirmed that Mercury has a solid iron core, which constitutes about half of its entire core and is approximately 12,160 miles wide. This core makes up nearly 85% of Mercury's volume, leading scientists to compare the planet to a cannonball.

What spacecraft provided crucial data about Mercury's core?

• Voyager

• MESSENGER

• Galileo

• Pioneer

How did scientists determine Mercury's internal composition?

• By landing a probe on its surface

• Using telescopic images

• By analyzing meteorites

• Through radio observations and computer simulations

What is the composition of Mercury's inner core?

• Solid iron

• Liquid nickel

• Rocky mantle

• Gaseous hydrogen

What percentage of Mercury's volume is made up by its metal core?

• 95%

• 85%

• 50%

• 70%

Why is Mercury compared to a cannonball?

• Due to its round shape

• Because of its high speed

• Due to its dense metal core

• Because of its small size