The presence of a Mercurian magnetic field surprised the planetary scientists on the Mariner 10 team because
A) Mercury lacks an iron core.
B) the dynamo theory predicted that Mercury was spinning too slowly for one.
C) it's still too hot for its core to have differentiated.
D) Mercury is low in iron.
E) Mercury spins too rapidly to produce a stable dynamo.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The dynamo theory, which explains the generation of a planet's magnetic field through the motion of conducting materials in its core, predicted that Mercury was spinning too slowly to sustain such a magnetic field. This was why the discovery of a magnetic field around Mercury by the Mariner 10 team was surprising.

The Presence of a Mercurian Magnetic Field Surprised the Planetary