You are here:

Astronomy/Solar and planetary composition

Advertisement


Question
Hi Jayendra, I was hoping you could help me with the following question:

Given that the sun is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium but was formed from the same proto-planetary disc as the rest of the solar system. How is it that most of the heavier elements seem to be concentrated in the planets?

Thanks in advance,

Jez

Answer
Hi,
No!
The relative abundance of elements in all parts of the solar system is the same.
Except, on the sun, the heavy elements have gone all to its center, never to be seen again.
We only see the most abundant element hydrogen most of the time.
regards
Jayen

Astronomy

All Answers


Answers by Expert:


Ask Experts

Volunteer


Jayendra Upadhye

Expertise

1 - General questions on most astronomy topics such as:- Solar system, Cosmology, Black holes, Quasars, Dark matter etc. 2 - General questions about the geologies of planets. 3 - General questions about Orbits and laws governing them. 4 - General questions about rockets / spaceships 5 - General questions about stellar interiors and supernovas.

Experience

I was an askme.com expert rated no#1 for quite some time - and was top ten there by the time it closed - in Astronomy and general science categories.

Education/Credentials
Bachelor of Engg. (Electrical engg), Maharaja Sayajirao university of Baroda, Gujarat, India.

Awards and Honors
None to write about except the askme rating if it is any worth!

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.