Mass planetary formation calculation?

AI Thread Summary
The discussion revolves around calculating the mass of volatile materials, specifically hydrogen and helium, that were not accreted by Earth, given that 7e23 kg was accreted. Participants express confusion about the assumptions needed for the calculations and the relationships between the constituents of the solar nebula and Earth's formation. The key question is how to determine the mass of the initial nebula required to produce Earth, considering the relative abundances of elements like hydrogen and helium. Clarification is sought on how to approach the problem and what specific calculations are necessary. The conversation highlights the complexity of linking elemental composition to planetary formation processes.
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Homework Statement



Compute the mass of volatile material (specifically just H and He) not accreted by the Earth. Assume the mass accreted by the Earth is 7e23 kg. How does the mass of the missing volatiles compare with the actual mass of the Earth? Use the following table:

Principal Constituents of Sun and Solar nebula:
(Relative to number of atoms in the Sun)
Hydrogen 92.1 %
Helium 7.8 %
Oxygen 0.061 %
Carbon 0.030 %
Nitrogen 0.0084 %
Iron 0.0037 %

I'm confused what the questions want me to do? What assumptions am I supposed to be making? What do these things have in common?

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The Attempt at a Solution

 
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I suppose the question can be reworded to something like "In what mass of the initial nebula there was enough metals (in astrophysics sense) to create Earth".
 
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