How do the mass and the density of of the mantle compare with the mass and density of Earth's core?

Answer 1

The Earth's mantle and core differ significantly in terms of both mass and density.

1. Mass: The mantle makes up about 84% of Earth's total volume and contains a large portion of its mass, approximately 67% of the Earth's total mass. In contrast, the Earth's core, though it occupies a smaller volume (about 15% of Earth's volume), contains about 33% of the Earth's total mass. This difference is primarily due to the core being composed of denser materials like iron and nickel.

2. Density: The average density of the Earth's mantle is around 3.3 to 5.7 grams per cubic centimeter (g/cm³), depending on the depth and the specific minerals present. The density increases with depth as materials become more compact under pressure. On the other hand, the Earth's core has a significantly higher average density, about 10 to 12 g/cm³ for the outer core and even denser for the inner core, estimated to be around 12 to 13 g/cm³. The high density of the core is attributed to its metallic composition.

In summary, while the mantle is massive and fairly dense, the core is denser and also contributes a significant amount of mass to the Earth despite its smaller volume.