Which of the following best explains why Mars' and Venus' surface temperatures vary, despite both planets having atmospheres that contain mostly carbon dioxide?(1 point)
Responses
Venus has a surface of high mountains which absorb heat.
Venus has a surface of high mountains which absorb heat.
Mars has a thin atmosphere that cannot hold much heat.
Mars has a thin atmosphere that cannot hold much heat.
Mars has a surface of red rocks and sand which reflect heat.
Mars has a surface of red rocks and sand which reflect heat.
Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface.
Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface.
Why is Venus the hottest solar system planet?(1 point)
Responses
It has a core, a mantle, and a crust.
It has a core, a mantle, and a crust.
It has abundance of nitrogen and oxygen gases.
It has abundance of nitrogen and oxygen gases.
It is closest to the sun.
It is closest to the sun.
Its atmosphere is rich in carbon dioxide gas.
Its atmosphere is rich in carbon dioxide gas.
Question
The table shows properties of some planets in the solar system.
Property Venus Earth Mars Jupiter Saturn Neptune
Average Distance from the Sun (AU) 0.72 1.0 1.5 5.2 9.5 30
Length of Year (Earth years) 0.62 1.0 1.9 11.9 29.4 164.8
Time for One Rotation (Earth days) 243 1.0 1.03 0.41 0.44 0.67
Mass (compared to Earth) 0.80 1.0 0.1 318 95 17
Surface Gravity (compared to Earth) 0.90 1.0 0.38 2.53 1.06 1.14
Size (compared to Earth) 0.94 1.0 0.53 11.0 9.1 3.9
Average Surface Temperature (ºC) 462 14 –62 –145 –140 –214
Number of Moons 0 1 2 79 82 14
The weight of an object depends on the force of gravity acting on it. On which planet would a given object weigh the most?
(1 point)
Responses
Mars
Mars
Earth
Earth
Jupiter
Jupiter
Saturn
Jupiter
Which percent of Earth’s atmosphere does carbon dioxide gas make up?(1 point)
Responses
less than 1 percent
less than 1 percent
more than 99 percent
more than 99 percent
about 78 percent
about 78 percent
about 21 percent
about 0.04 percent
Which percent of Earth’s atmosphere does carbon dioxide gas make up?(1 point)
Responses
less than 1 percent
less than 1 percent
more than 99 percent
more than 99 percent
about 78 percent
about 78 percent
about 21 percent
about 21 percent
less than 1 percent
The best explanation for the variation in surface temperatures between Mars and Venus, despite both planets having atmospheres that contain mostly carbon dioxide, is that Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface.
To understand why this is the case, we can analyze the greenhouse effect and the specific characteristics of the atmospheres of both planets. The greenhouse effect is a natural process that occurs when certain gases in an atmosphere trap heat from the sun, preventing it from radiating back into space. In the case of Mars and Venus, both planets have atmospheres that are predominantly composed of carbon dioxide, which is a greenhouse gas.
However, Venus has a much thicker atmosphere than Mars. The thick atmosphere of Venus acts as a blanket, trapping and retaining heat on the planet's surface. This results in a greenhouse effect that leads to extreme temperatures on Venus, with an average surface temperature of about 900 degrees Fahrenheit (475 degrees Celsius), making it the hottest planet in our solar system.
On the other hand, Mars has a much thinner and less dense atmosphere compared to Venus. As a result, Mars is unable to retain as much heat as Venus, leading to significantly lower average surface temperatures. The average temperature on Mars is around -81 degrees Fahrenheit (-63 degrees Celsius), making it a considerably colder planet.
So, in summary, the variation in surface temperatures between Mars and Venus can be explained by the difference in their atmospheres. Venus' thick atmosphere allows it to trap and retain heat, leading to extremely high temperatures, while Mars' thin atmosphere cannot hold as much heat, resulting in much colder temperatures.