- #1
Yae Miteo
- 41
- 0
So... Theoretically, planets (that are not gas giants, or water planets) could be composed of silicon, iron, or carbon. Are there any other elements that could make up most of a planet?
Yes, unless it's a rogue planet captured by the gravity of the star.Yae Miteo said:So where do the materials come from? The same materials that formed the star?
Note that Earth is a silicate planet. It most emphatically is not composed only of silicon, or even only of silicon compounds. It just means there is an overabundance of silicates as compared to the primordial gas cloud composition(which we can infer from looking at the Sun).Yae Miteo said:But why are some planet types labeled as silicate, iron, or carbon? http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/starsgalaxies/Earth'sized_planets.html (it's in the picture that says: Predicted Sizes of Different Kinds of Planets)
The Earth's crust is primarily composed of silicon, oxygen, aluminum, iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, and magnesium. These elements make up approximately 98.5% of the Earth's crust.
Yes, there are several other elements that are essential for life on Earth. These include hydrogen, oxygen, nitrogen, phosphorus, and sulfur. These elements are vital for the formation of DNA, proteins, and other essential molecules in living organisms.
The atmosphere of gas giant planets like Jupiter is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium, with small amounts of methane, ammonia, and water vapor. These elements are able to exist in a gaseous state due to the high temperatures and pressures on these planets.
The Earth's core is composed mainly of iron and nickel. These elements make up about 85% of the core's composition. Other elements found in the core include sulfur, oxygen, and trace amounts of other elements.
Yes, there are several known planets and moons in our solar system that have a composition different from Earth. For example, Venus has a high concentration of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere, while Saturn's moon Titan has a thick atmosphere composed mostly of nitrogen and methane. Additionally, the dwarf planet Pluto is primarily composed of ice and rock, with very little iron or other heavy elements.