SOLAR SYSTEM

UNIVERSE

LIFE IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM

Question [CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
Temperatures on Mars are generally cooler than on Earth, but they are warm enough to potentially support life. The atmosphere of Mars is much thinner than Earth’s and is composed mainly of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon. Which of the following is a reason that Mars’ atmosphere cannot support human life?
A
The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it does not contain abundant oxygen.
B
The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it does not contain abundant carbon monoxide.
C
The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it contains carbon dioxide.
D
The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it contains argon.
Explanation: 

Detailed explanation-1: -The atmosphere of Mars is much thinner than Earth’s and is composed mainly of carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon. Which of the following is a reason that Mars’ atmosphere cannot support human life? The atmosphere on Mars cannot support human life because it does not contain abundant oxygen.

Detailed explanation-2: -In orbit, Mars is about 50 million miles farther away from the Sun than Earth. That means it gets a lot less light and heat to keep it warm. Mars also has a hard time holding onto the heat it does get. On Earth, much of the sun’s heat gets trapped in our atmosphere, which acts like a blanket to keep our planet warm.

Detailed explanation-3: -Mars is also much colder than Earth. This is mostly because the Red Planet is farther away from the sun than Earth. NASA’s Viking mission, which landed on Mars in 1976, recorded average temperatures of –81 ºF, which is colder than either the North or South poles here on Earth.

Detailed explanation-4: -Mean Temperatures on Each Planet Mercury-333°F (167°C) Venus-867°F (464°C) Earth-59°F (15°C) Mars-Minus 85°F (-65°C)

Detailed explanation-5: -Mars is about half the size of Earth by diameter and has a much thinner atmosphere, with an atmospheric volume less than 1% of Earth’s. The atmospheric composition is also significantly different: primarily carbon dioxide-based, while Earth’s is rich in nitrogen and oxygen.

Detailed explanation-6: -The atmosphere of Mars is also rich in carbon dioxide (above 96%), but it is extremely thin (1% of Earth’s atmosphere), very dry and located further away from the Sun. This combination makes the planet an incredibly cold place. The absence of water makes the temperature on Mars change a lot.

Detailed explanation-7: -According to this planetary temperature calculator, an Earth-like planet (similar albedo and greenhouse-effect atmosphere) at Mars’s orbital distance would have an average surface temperature of-40ºC as compared to Earth’s 15ºC.

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