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Planetary differentiation

In cosmogony, planetary differentiation is a process by which the denser portions of a molten planet will sink to the center; while less dense materials rise to the surface. Such a process tends to create a core, crust, and mantle. Note that some materials may differentiate to regions due to their chemical affinities rather than their densities, "carried along" by other materials that they're associated with; the uranium in Earth's crust is an example.

On Earth, this process created a surface density of 3000kg/m3, while the average density of the planet is 5515kg/m3.



Last updated: 11-01-2004 07:21:33