Question 1

When the huge polar caps on Mars form every winter, they are made chiefly of ________.

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Question 2

If Mars's atmosphere is mostly carbon dioxide, why isn't it as hot as Venus?

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Question 3

Olympus Mons is the tallest (volcanic)mountain in the entire solar system. Explain how Marscan have mountains taller than the ones on Earth.

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Question 4

Why does Mars appear red from Earth's surface?

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Question 5

The vast flood deposits support the hypothesis that Mars once had much running water.Assuming that Mars did have water once, what happened to it?

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Question 6

Where is most of the water on Mars believed to be?

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Question 7

The large canyon of Mars, Valles Marineris, is a(n)________ produced when the entireTharsis region bulged outward causing the surface to split.

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Question 8

How is the Mars Rover mission different from Global Surveyor mapping mission?

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Question 9

The largest volcano in the solar system, ________, is found on Mars.

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Question 10

Our Moon and Mars both have very different hemispheres. Compare them and explain whythis occurred in each case.

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Question 11

Because it can support huge Olympus Mons, and does not show tectonics on the scale ofEarth, we conclude the crust of Mars must be ________ than ours.

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Question 12

Describe the primary difference between the northern and southern hemispheres on Mars.

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Question 13

What role did solar radiation play in the loss of Mars's atmosphere?

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Question 14

The ________ hemisphere of Mars appears older and more heavily cratered.

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Question 15

Why do oppositions of Mars stir such interest among amateur astronomers?

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Question 16

Mars and Mercury are similar in size, and Mercury is even denser. Why then is it that Marshas more atmosphere?

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Question 17

Curiosity found that water used to exist in the Gale Crater in the form of ________ and________.

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Question 18

It used to be thought that both of Mars's moons were captured asteroids. Information fromMars Express and Mars Global Surveyor has led to the conclusion that Phobos may have formedby a different process. Briefly describe that process.

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Question 19

The residual polar cap that does not vanish during the Martian summer is ________.

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Question 20

Seasonal changes in the darker surface features of Mars are due to ________ and ________.

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Quiz 10: Mars: a Near Miss for Life