answersLogoWhite

0

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Astronomy

Which planet has the most extreme temperature variations?

Planet mercury had the most extreme temperatures since it locate very near to sun and had no atmosphere so it don't have green house effect to normalize the temperature. Lowest temperature is -183oC on the side face out the sun to 427 oC on the side that facing the sun.


Why is there no oxygen on Mars?

Every planet has its own atmospheric gases. The atmosphere around Mars is very different from our own here on Earth. Many scientists do believe that Mars had an oxygenated atmosphere at some point in its past. But now it is too thin, and too cold that far from the Sun. The atmosphere of Mars is made up of 95% carbon dioxide, 3% nitrogen, and 1.6% argon. The remainder is probably methane. The pressure at the surface is less than in the stratosphere on Earth. Oxygen is not thermodynamically stable in the presense of most other elements. If it's not continually renewed, it eventually combines with them. Any oxygen that may have been present in Mars' atmosphere has long ago combined with elements like iron to make iron oxide (prevalent in the soil of Mars) and carbon to make carbon dioxide (which makes up most of the atmosphere of Mars). The only reason there is elemental oxygen in Earth's atmosphere is that it's constantly being produced by plants. Mars would need an ecosystem, namely plants, which make oxygen by taking carbon from carbon dioxide. If Mars were closer to the Sun (warm enough for liquid water), and large enough to hold a denser atmosphere, Earth-like plants could grow there. But under current conditions, plants would require pressure domes, heating, water, and artificial light.