MasteringAstronomy Assignment #6

The Surface of Venus
Part A
Compare the surface characteristics of Venus with those of Earth.

Part B 
Venus and Earth's Moon are quite different. Venus is much larger, more massive, and has an atmosphere. However, Venus and the Moon share some similar surface features. Sort the following surface characteristics as describing Venus, the Moon, or both.

Part C
Many of Venus’s volcanic surface features are similar to those on Earth and the Moon. Compare and contrast the following features on Venus with similar features on Earth and the Moon.



Characteristics of Venus's Atmosphere
Part A
A convenient way to analyze a planet's atmosphere is to observe how its structure, pressure, and temperature vary with altitude. Compare the atmospheric cross-sectional diagrams for Venus and Earth and complete the statements as to whether the various atmospheric properties of Venus are "greater than Earth's" or "less than Earth's."

Part B 
The following characteristics describe the composition, structure, and features found in the atmospheres of Earth and/or Venus. Sort the various statements as describing Venus, Earth, or both.

Part C
The drastic contrast between the atmospheres of Venus and Earth is evident in their atmospheric compositions. For each planet, place the four atmospheric gases in order of their abundances.

Visual Activity: Exploring the Surface Features of Mars 

Part A
Assuming that features you see on Mars are similar to features found on Earth, what would a casual inspection of the interactive photo of Mars lead you to suspect about water on Mars?
Surface water only exists as frozen ice.

Part B 
Which of the following Mars surface features provides dramatic evidence that volcanism has played a role in shaping the surface of Mars?
Olympus Mons

Part C
When you zoom in on the section labeled “Southern Highlands,” which geologic processes are most clearly evident?
impact cratering and erosion

Ranking Task: Atmospheric Pressure
Part A
The following images show the four terrestrial planets in our solar system. Rank these planets from left to right based on the atmospheric pressure at the surface, from highest to lowest. (Not to scale.)

Part B
The following images show the four terrestrial planets in our solar system. Rank these planets from left to right based on the total amount of gas in their atmospheres, from most to least. (Not to scale.)

Ranking Task: Understanding the Greenhouse Effect in Planet Atmospheres
Part A
The following images show four types (wavelengths) of light. Rank these from left to right based on the amount of each that is emitted (as thermal radiation) by Earth’s surface, from greatest to least. If you think that two (or more) types should be ranked as equal, drag one on top of the other(s) to show this equality.

Part B 
In Part A, you found that Earth emits only infrared light. This infrared light can be absorbed by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and water vapor, in the atmosphere. In fact, all the terrestrial planets emit infrared light from their surfaces. The following images show the four terrestrial planets in our solar system. Rank these planets from left to right based on the total amount of infrared-absorbing greenhouse gases in their atmospheres, from greatest to least.

Part C
The following images show the four terrestrial planets in our solar system. Rank the planets from left to right based on the strength of the greenhouse effect occurring at their surfaces, from strongest to weakest.

Part D
The following images show the four terrestrial planets in our solar system. Rank the planets from left to right based on the amount by which the greenhouse effect increases their surface temperatures, compared to what their temperatures would be without the greenhouse effect, from largest to smallest increase.

Sorting Task: Terrestrial Planetary Atmospheres
Part A
Listed following are characteristics of the atmospheres of Venus, Earth, and Mars. Match each atmospheric characteristic to the appropriate planet.

Ranking Task: Tectonic Activity of the Terrestrial Planets
Part A
Shown below are the four terrestrial planets of our solar system. Assume that all the planets started out equally hot inside. Rank the planets based on their expected cooling rates, from fastest cooling to slowest cooling.

Part B
Shown following are three terrestrial planets of our solar system. Rank the planets based on the amount of time the surface of the planet has had a moderate to high level of volcanic/tectonic activity, from longest to shortest.

Sorting Task: Geological Processes
Part A
Listed below are geographic features of the terrestrial worlds. In each case, identify the geological process: impact cratering, volcanism, erosion, or tectonics (where tectonics is any large-scale processes affecting the structure of the planetary crust), most responsible for the feature described. Match the geographic feature to the appropriate geologic process.

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Although Mars appears quite bright, it is still considerably fainter than Venus due to a combination of three factors. Which of the following is NOT one of the three factors?
The red color of Mars's surface causes it to appear less bright.