Compare the atmospheres of Mars and Venus.
A)Both are made of hydrogen and helium, like the jovians.
B)Like Earth, nitrogen is the chief atmospheric gas.
C)Both are chiefly carbon dioxide, but at Mars it can freeze as dry ice.
D)Mars is rich in oxygen, like ours, accounting for its red surface.
E)Both are too hot for water to now exist as a liquid at the surface.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Both Mars and Venus have thick atmospheres, but their compositions differ. Mars' atmosphere is composed mainly of carbon dioxide, with small amounts of nitrogen and argon. This carbon dioxide can freeze as dry ice, creating the polar ice caps. In contrast, Venus' atmosphere is composed mainly of carbon dioxide, with small amounts of nitrogen and sulfur dioxide. Venus' thick atmosphere leads to a runaway greenhouse effect, making it the hottest planet in our solar system. Both Mars and Venus have thick atmospheres, but the chief atmospheric gas on both planets is carbon dioxide. However, at Mars, the carbon dioxide can freeze as dry ice due to the lower atmospheric pressure. Additionally, while both planets are too hot for liquid water to exist on the surface, there is no mention of either planet being made of hydrogen and helium like the jovians (A) or having a nitrogen-rich atmosphere like Earth (B). It is also incorrect to say that Mars is rich in oxygen, as the Martian atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide with only trace amounts of oxygen (D).

Compare the Atmospheres of Mars and Venus