EASC 108 Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Caloris Planitia, Seismic Wave, Rupes
29 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
Closest to sun (0. 4 au), 10th largest world. Part of core must be in a liquid state. Intense solar radiation boils off sodium & calcium atoms. Light pressure & solar wind blows atmosphere outwards. Until the 1960"s thought it was tidally locked like the moon. Orbit shape follows for stable orbital resonance of 3:2. Orbital precession can not be completely described by newtonian physics need general relativity. Different aerodynamic drag between metal & silicate particles in solar nebula. Differentiation & boil-off of silicate mantle from strong disk heating & vapor removal by solar wind. Differentiation followed by giant impact which striped away most of the mantle. Mercury"s uncompressed density much higher than other terrestrial planets. Core volume: ~ 42% of the planet vs 17% for earth. Core mass: ~ 60% of the planet. Proportion of light or radiation reflected by the surface . The incredible shrinking planet dominant tectonic landforms are huge cliffs lobate scarps or rupes .
