Podcast
Questions and Answers
What causes Mars to appear red?
What causes Mars to appear red?
Mars has a thicker atmosphere than Earth.
Mars has a thicker atmosphere than Earth.
False
How long is a Martian year in Earth days?
How long is a Martian year in Earth days?
687
Mars completes one rotation approximately every ______ hours and 37 minutes.
Mars completes one rotation approximately every ______ hours and 37 minutes.
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Match the following characteristics of Mars with their descriptions:
Match the following characteristics of Mars with their descriptions:
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What percentage of the Martian atmosphere is made up of carbon dioxide?
What percentage of the Martian atmosphere is made up of carbon dioxide?
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Mars and Earth experience similar seasonal changes.
Mars and Earth experience similar seasonal changes.
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What is the primary reason Mars is much colder than Earth?
What is the primary reason Mars is much colder than Earth?
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What primarily characterized the Hesperian Period on Mars?
What primarily characterized the Hesperian Period on Mars?
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The map of Mars uses blue to represent higher elevations.
The map of Mars uses blue to represent higher elevations.
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What type of volcano is Olympus Mons?
What type of volcano is Olympus Mons?
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The presence of a large impact basin on Mars is represented by the _______ Basin.
The presence of a large impact basin on Mars is represented by the _______ Basin.
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Match the surface features to their descriptions on Mars:
Match the surface features to their descriptions on Mars:
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Which of the following factors contributes to the disappearance of liquid water on Mars?
Which of the following factors contributes to the disappearance of liquid water on Mars?
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What is one reason scientists want to explore Mars?
What is one reason scientists want to explore Mars?
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Mars currently has a significant amount of liquid water on its surface.
Mars currently has a significant amount of liquid water on its surface.
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What are the present conditions on Mars during the Amazonian period?
What are the present conditions on Mars during the Amazonian period?
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Name the two moons of Mars.
Name the two moons of Mars.
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The Noachian period is characterized by heavy ______.
The Noachian period is characterized by heavy ______.
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Match the geological periods of Mars with their main characteristics:
Match the geological periods of Mars with their main characteristics:
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How do scientists determine the relative ages of different areas on Mars?
How do scientists determine the relative ages of different areas on Mars?
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The northern hemisphere of Mars is characterized by older terrain.
The northern hemisphere of Mars is characterized by older terrain.
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The Tharsis Plateau is a massive volcanic region that includes the largest volcano in the solar system, ______.
The Tharsis Plateau is a massive volcanic region that includes the largest volcano in the solar system, ______.
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Study Notes
General Characteristics
- Mars appears red due to iron oxide (rust) on its surface, reflecting sunlight.
- Mars has about half the diameter of Earth and approximately one-tenth the mass.
- Mars is about 15% of Earth's volume and 11% of Earth's surface area.
- A Martian day (sol) is roughly 24 hours and 37 minutes.
- A Martian year lasts for 687 Earth days.
- Mars is colder than Earth due to its greater distance from the sun and thin atmosphere.
- Both Mars and Earth have polar ice caps, seasons, and similar day lengths.
- Mars has a thinner atmosphere, colder temperatures, no liquid water on the surface, and a smaller size compared to Earth.
- Polar ice caps on Mars are comprised of water ice and carbon dioxide (dry ice).
- Early astronomers observed features on Mars resembling canals, polar ice caps, and seasonal changes, associating them with Earth's features.
- "Earth and Mars at opposition" occurs when Mars is on the opposite side of Earth from the Sun, making it appear brightest and closest in the night sky.
- Seasonal changes are caused by Mars' axial tilt (25.2 degrees, similar to Earth's) and its elliptical orbit around the Sun.
- Seasonal changes on Mars include growth and shrinking of polar ice caps and sometimes planet-wide dust storms.
Martian Atmosphere
- The primary atmospheric gas on Mars is carbon dioxide (CO2), making up about 95% of the atmosphere.
- Martian atmospheric pressure is less than 1% of Earth's, making it extremely thin.
Exploration of Mars
- Scientists explore Mars to study potential past or present life, geology, and climate.
- Exploration also aims to prepare for possible human colonization.
Geologic History of Mars
- Scientists determine the relative ages of different areas on Mars by counting the number and size of impact craters.
- The three main geological periods on Mars are: Noachian (4.1-3.7 billion years ago): Heavy cratering and potential liquid water; Hesperian (3.7-3 billion years ago): Volcanic activity and declining water; Amazonian (3 billion years ago-present): Dry, cold conditions with minimal surface changes.
Moons of Mars
- Mars has two moons, Phobos and Deimos.
- Both moons are much smaller than Earth’s Moon.
- They are irregularly shaped objects.
Hemispheric Dichotomy
- Mars displays a striking difference between the northern lowlands (smooth, flat, and younger terrain) and southern highlands (heavily cratered, elevated, and older terrain), this is called the hemispheric dichotomy.
Martian Basin
- The Borealis Basin, likely a giant impact basin, may have been formed early in Mars' history.
Noachian Period
- Characteristics of the Noachian period include heavy cratering; evidence of flowing water, such as valley networks; formation of the planet's oldest surfaces.
River Valleys
- Potential liquid water might have flowed across the surface, creating river valleys.
Loss of Mars' Magnetic Field
- Without a magnetic field, Mars' atmosphere was stripped away by solar wind.
Tharsis Plateau
- A huge volcanic region on Mars that houses some of the largest volcanoes in the solar system.
Hesperian Period
- Mars transitioned from a wet environment to a cold, dry planet during this period, and volcanic activity decreased.
Maps and Surface Features
- Elevation maps colour Mars based on height, and lower elevations are typically represented by blue-coloured maps, while orange or red elevations represent higher ones.
- Olympus Mons is a volcano shown on the Mars map and is located in a volcanic region.
- Heavily cratered areas are Noachian terrain.
- Large impact basin on the map labelled Hellas Basin is an example of one.
- The Northern Lowlands are smooth and blue coloured on the Mars map.
- The boundary between northern lowlands and southern highlands is marked by a white wavy line.
- Shield volcanoes with broad, dome structures formed by lava flows.
- Surface features such as valley networks hint at past liquid water on Mars.
Significance of Atmospheric Pressure
- Low atmospheric pressure prevents liquid water from existing on the surface—water either freezes or evaporates.
Loss of Liquid Water
- Loss of magnetic fields and atmosphere are primary reasons for Mars' loss of liquid water.
- Cooling of the planet from warm temperatures to freezing led to liquid water loss.
Amazonian Period
- During the Amazonian period, wind erosion and dust storms were primary forces of change.
Current Martian Conditions
- Mars' current conditions include cold, dry, thin atmosphere and occasional dust storms.
Current Ice Caps
- Polar ice caps, subsurface ice discovered by radar, and frost in shaded areas are the primary indicators of ice on Mars currently.
Starbucks on Mars
- Currently there are no Starbucks on Mars.
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Description
Test your knowledge about the unique features of Mars, including its size, atmosphere, and seasonal changes. This quiz will challenge your understanding of Mars compared to Earth, including aspects such as its polar ice caps and orbital characteristics.
