Astronomy Homework week 6
Name four properties of Mars that are similar to those of Earth today.
Magnetic field; average density; has weather and seasons; surface temperature can be Earthlike.
What is understood to be the cause of gaps in the ring systems?
Resonances with the moons.
Does Venus's surface experience meteorite impacts today? How do you know?
Yes. Meteorites fall into Venus's surface often because of the planet's slow retrograde rotation and absence of moons.
Name four properties of Venus that are different from those of Earth today.
Very slow, retrograde rotation; no magnetic field; very dense and hot atmosphere of mostly CO2; no surface water.
Name four properties of Mars that are different from those of Earth today.
No magnetic field; lower density; thin atmosphere of mostly CO2; no plate tectonics.
What ingredients are needed to power a dynamo effect inside a planet?
A highly conductive liquid metallic interior that is circulated by convection and spun by the rapid rotation of the planet.
Why doesn't Mars have folded mountain ranges like the ones on Earth?
Because Mars does not have plate tectonics.
How are today's atmospheres of Venus and Mars similar? How are they different?
Both atmospheres consist of primarily CO2 and protect the surface from micrometeorite impacts. The atmosphere of Venus is very thick, and Mars's atmosphere is very thin.
How does belt-zone circulation transport energy—by radiation, conduction, or convection? Explain your answer.
Convection. Heat flowing upward from the interior causes rising currents in the bright zones, and cooler gas sinks in the dark belts.
Name four properties of Venus that are similar to those of Earth today.
Equatorial radius; mass; average density; location within the Solar System.
Why doesn't Earth have large volcanoes like those on Mars?
Earth's crust is not thick enough to support such large mountains, moreover, its plates move.
Why are no craters seen on Io and few seen on Europa?
Io and Europa are both geologically very active and impact craters are quickly erased. NOT Io and Europa are located far from Jupiter where meteorite impacts are relatively rare NOT Io and Europa both have strong magnetic fields that do not allow meteorites to come near the surface.
Why are magnetic phenomena such as extensive radiation belts and auroras so strong around Jupiter?
Jupiter has a powerful magnetic field that is induced by liquid metallic hydrogen in its interior.
Why is Jupiter more oblate than Earth?
Jupiter rotates rapidly and is not as rigid as Earth because it has a liquid interior.
Do either Venus or Mars have composite volcanoes? Why or why not?
Mars and Venus only have shield volcanoes. Geological processes are vertical on these planets, and plate tectonics and significant horizontal crust motion do not occur.
This provides evidence of crustal movement (horizontal or vertical) on Venus.
NOT Coronae. NOT tesserae NOT Pancake domes
What determines which cloud layers are found at which altitudes in Jupiter's and Saturn's atmospheres?
Temperature.
Describe four differences between the Jovian planets and the Terrestrial ones.
The Jovian planets are larger and more massive than Terrestrial planets, have much lower densities, have rings and multiple moons, their compositions are dominated by hydrogen and other gasses, while Terrestrials are more rocky and metallic.
How are a weather radar map and an image of a highland on Venus related?
Weather radar reveals information that cannot be obtained using visible wavelengths. An image of a highland on Venus is also made by radar because its surface is hidden by thick clouds.
Which of these features of Mars would suggest that it might be a favorable for supporting life today?
none of the above
