Question 1

Compared to the orbits of Venus and Earth, the orbits of both Mercury and Mars have much eccentricity.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Compared to the orbits of Venus and...

Question 2

The surface temperature of Venus is 730K, even hotter than Mercury.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 3

Mercury's rotation and revolution are an example of a 3:2 resonance.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 4

In what way is Mercury's core unusual?

Accepted Answer

Mercury has the larg...

Question 5

The Phoenix lander on Mars failed to confirm the presence of water ice under the surface.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 6

Mercury presents the same side to the Sun

Accepted Answer

A)   all the time, just like our Moon.
B)   every other orbit.
C)   twice every orbit.
D)   every 12 hours.
E)   every third orbit.

Question 7

Mercury has the widest variation in surface temperatures between night and day of any planet in the solar system.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 8

Contrast the compositions and heights of the clouds of Earth and Venus.

Accepted Answer

Our clouds of water droplets occur in ou...

Question 9

Why is the atmospheric pressure at the surface of Venus so much higher than Earth's?

Accepted Answer

The atmosphere is much more ma...

Question 10

We now know of polar caps on Mercury, the Moon, Earth, and Mars.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 11

The polar caps and dust storms of Mars can be seen with Earth- based telescopes.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 12

Because of their low surface gravities, the Moon and Mercury lack .

Accepted Answer

atmosphere

Question 13

Why are Mars' seasons more extreme than those of the Earth?

Accepted Answer

A)   Mars' orbit is more eccentric than our almost circular one.
B)   Mars' weather is affected by evaporation from the polar ice in its summer.
C)   Mars' seas dried up long ago.
D)   Mars' axial tilt is slightly more than our 23.5 degrees.
E)   All of these contribute to the huge seasonal changes that Mars experiences.

Question 14

The planet which shows us the widest range of surface temperatures between day and night is

Accepted Answer

A)   Venus.
B)   our Moon.
C)   Earth.
D)   Mars.
E)   Mercury.

Question 15

The main constituent of the Martian atmosphere is

Accepted Answer

A)   helium.
B)   nitrogen.
C)   hydrogen.
D)   carbon dioxide.
E)   methane.

Question 16

Which body has the densest atmosphere?

Accepted Answer

A)   Earth
B)   Mars
C)   Mercury
D)   our Moon
E)   Venus E

Question 17

Why do we know much more about the surface of Mars than that of Venus?

Accepted Answer

Venus has a thick cloud cover that preve...

Question 18

While surface conditions differ greatly, name three ways that Venus and Earth are indeed "sister planets."

Accepted Answer

No other two planets in the so...

Question 19

Although it has no liquid water, Mercury has a tidal bulge.

Accepted Answer

A) True 
 B)False

Question 20

Why isn't there water on Venus?

Accepted Answer

High temperatures and the runaway greenhouse effect drove water vapor high up in the atmosphere, where solar ultraviolet radiation split it into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The light hydrogen boiled off into space, and the oxygen combined with crustal rocks.

Exam 7: The Terrestrial Planets: a Study in Contrasts

Compared to the orbits of Venus and Earth, the orbits of both Mercury and Mars have much eccentricity.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The surface temperature of Venus is 730K, even hotter than Mercury.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Mercury's rotation and revolution are an example of a 3:2 resonance.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

In what way is Mercury's core unusual?

Correct AnswerverifiedMercury has the larg...View AnswerShow Answer

The Phoenix lander on Mars failed to confirm the presence of water ice under the surface.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Mercury presents the same side to the Sun

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Mercury has the widest variation in surface temperatures between night and day of any planet in the solar system.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Contrast the compositions and heights of the clouds of Earth and Venus.

Correct AnswerverifiedOur clouds of water droplets occur in ou...View AnswerShow Answer

Why is the atmospheric pressure at the surface of Venus so much higher than Earth's?

Correct AnswerverifiedThe atmosphere is much more ma...View AnswerShow Answer

We now know of polar caps on Mercury, the Moon, Earth, and Mars.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The polar caps and dust storms of Mars can be seen with Earth- based telescopes.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Because of their low surface gravities, the Moon and Mercury lack .

Correct Answerverifiedatmosphere

Why are Mars' seasons more extreme than those of the Earth?

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The planet which shows us the widest range of surface temperatures between day and night is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

The main constituent of the Martian atmosphere is

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Which body has the densest atmosphere?

Correct AnswerverifiedE

Why do we know much more about the surface of Mars than that of Venus?

Correct AnswerverifiedVenus has a thick cloud cover that preve...View AnswerShow Answer

While surface conditions differ greatly, name three ways that Venus and Earth are indeed "sister planets."

Correct AnswerverifiedNo other two planets in the so...View AnswerShow Answer

Although it has no liquid water, Mercury has a tidal bulge.

Correct AnswerverifiedShow Answer

Why isn't there water on Venus?

Correct AnswerverifiedHigh temperatures and the runaway greenhouse effect drove water vapor high up in the atmosphere, where solar ultraviolet radiation split it into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The light hydrogen boiled off into space, and the oxygen combined with crustal rocks.

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Mercury has the larg...
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Our clouds of water droplets occur in ou...
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The atmosphere is much more ma...
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atmosphere

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E

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Venus has a thick cloud cover that preve...
View Answer

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No other two planets in the so...
View Answer

Correct Answer
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High temperatures and the runaway greenhouse effect drove water vapor high up in the atmosphere, where solar ultraviolet radiation split it into hydrogen and oxygen atoms. The light hydrogen boiled off into space, and the oxygen combined with crustal rocks.