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)
6 O
Item 1
CO G Go Go
• Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface.
O Venus has a surface of high mountains which absorb heat
• Mars has a thin atmosphere that cannot hold much heat.
O Mars has a surface of red rocks and sand which reflect heat.
The correct answer is: Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface. This is because Venus' atmosphere is composed of dense clouds of carbon dioxide, which create a greenhouse effect that traps heat and raises the planet's surface temperature to extreme levels. Mars, on the other hand, has a thin atmosphere that cannot hold much heat, resulting in significantly lower surface temperatures.
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 that blocks heat from the surface. This means that the heat generated from the Sun gets trapped in Venus' atmosphere and does not reach the surface, resulting in extremely high temperatures on the planet. In contrast, Mars has a thin atmosphere that cannot hold much heat, so the heat from the Sun escapes easily, resulting in much lower temperatures on the planet's surface. Therefore, the thickness of the atmosphere plays a crucial role in determining the surface temperatures on Mars and Venus.
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, while Mars has a thin atmosphere that cannot hold much heat.
To arrive at this answer, we need to understand how a planet's atmosphere can affect its surface temperature. The atmosphere acts as a blanket around the planet, trapping and retaining heat. In the case of Venus, its atmosphere is composed mostly of carbon dioxide and is quite dense. This density causes it to have a significant greenhouse effect, trapping solar radiation and preventing it from escaping into space. As a result, the surface of Venus experiences a strong greenhouse effect, leading to extremely high temperatures.
On the other hand, Mars has a much thinner atmosphere compared to Venus. Although its atmosphere also contains carbon dioxide, it is not sufficient to create a strong greenhouse effect. As a result, Mars is unable to retain as much heat and has significantly lower surface temperatures compared to Venus.
So, the correct answer is that Venus has a thick atmosphere which blocks heat from the surface, and Mars has a thin atmosphere that cannot hold much heat.