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32 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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All four inner planets are composed of primarily rock and ice, and thus they are classified as _________.
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terresterial
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Even at its greatest orbital elongations, _________ can be seen from Earth only briefly after sunset or before sunrise.
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Mercury
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Mercury is pocked with _______ like the moon's, but extensive, smooth plains lie btwn these craters.
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crater
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Long cliffs meander across the surface of Mercury. The _______ probably formed as the planet colled, solidified, and shrank.
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scarps
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When something hit Mercury a long time ago, what did it do it's surface?
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It shoved up jumbled hills on the opposite side of the planet.
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What kind of core does mercury have? Hint: it's the same as the Earth's.
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iron
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_______ is similar to the Earth in size, mass, and average density, but it is covered by unbroken, highly reflective clouds that conceal its other features from Earth-based observers.
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Venus
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What is Venus's atmosphere like?
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It is mostly made up of:
CO2 dense clouds containing concentrated sulfuric acid mixed with yellowish sulfur dust. volcanoes cause sulfur veil |
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What caused Venus's high temp?
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greenhouse effect
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What does venus's surface look like?
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flat
rolling hills 2 continents Large volcanoes Tectonic plate activity |
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Is Mars solar day the same as the Earth's solar day?
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yes
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On mars, can you tell the difference in seasons? how?
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yes. it has seasonal color changes.
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Does mars have polar ice caps that shrink and expand with the changes of the seasons?
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yes
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What does the surface of mars look like?
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has canals
flat-bottomed craters volcanoes canyon dried up riverbeds |
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________ water would quickly boil away in Mar's thin presentday atmosphere, but the planet's _______ ____ contain some frozen water, and a layer of permafrost may exist beneath the regolith.
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Liquid
polar caps |
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What is mars atmosphere made up of mostly?
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Co2
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Chemical reactions in the regolith together with ultraviolet radiation from the Sun apparently act to __________ the Martian surface.
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sterilize
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Does mars have a magnetic field?
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Yes, but not a global one, it only appears in 9 different places around the planet.
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Have they found any signs of life on Mars?
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They have found meteorites with fossilized bacteria that are believed to come from Mars, but other than that, no.
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How did Mar's moons get there?
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By the capture theory.
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What are the names of Mars's moons?
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Phobos and Deimos.
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Are Phobos and Deimos in synchronous rotation with mars?
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yes
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Which of the two planets, Mercury or Earth, has the cooler temperature?
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When Mercury is facing the sun, earth is the coolest. When Mercury is not facing it is the coolest.
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Which planet is most similar to Earth?
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Venus in size and density, but Mars in length of day and the fact the it might have polar caps.
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What is the composition of the clouds surrounding Venus?
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The clouds are made primarily of sulfuric acid.
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Does mars have liquid water on the surface of the planet?
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No, but they think that there might be some underneath the surface.
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Is life known to exist on Mars today?
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No
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Why is Mercury so difficult to see? When is the best time to observe it?
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Because it is the closest planet to the Sun and the sunlight will hide the planet. The best time to observe Mercury is at before sunrise and after sunset.
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Why is Venus hotter than Mercury?
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B/c Venus produces its own CO2 gases and this heats up the planet more, called greenhouse effect.
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What is the greenhouse effect?
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It is when CO2 gets trapped in the atmosphere and cannot go anywhere. So, it causes the atmosphere to heat up.
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Why is mars red?
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caused by rust (iron oxide) in the soil.
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When is the best time to observe Mars?
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Anytime during the night
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