answersLogoWhite

0

The presence of a magnetic field would signal whether or not the planet had a churning metallic core. Mars does not have a Magnetic field because its core stopped spinning.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

What observations are needed to tell whether an Earth-like planet is geologically alive or dead?

To determine if an Earth-like planet is geologically alive or dead, observations of tectonic activity, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and mountain building, are needed. Detecting the presence of a magnetic field can also indicate a planet's geologic activity, as it is generated by a molten outer core. Additionally, analyzing surface features like rift valleys, plate boundaries, and uplifted mountain ranges can provide clues to the planet's geological history and current activity.


Why is Mars no longer geologically active?

Mars is no longer geologically active because it has a smaller core compared to Earth, leading to a diminished internal heat source. This lack of heat prevents the movement of molten rock within the planet, inhibiting the formation of geological features like volcanoes or tectonic activity. Without these processes, Mars remains geologically inactive.


How long has mercury been geologically inactive?

Mercury has been geologically inactive for billions of years, with the last significant volcanic activity ceasing around 3.5 to 4 billion years ago. This extended period of inactivity has led to the planet's surface being heavily cratered and preserving ancient geological features.


What Pluto observations did not help convince scientists to change Pluto's status from that of a planet?

Observations of Pluto's orbit and size did not provide enough evidence to change its status from a planet. Astronomers cited factors such as its small size and irregular orbit as reasons for excluding it from the planetary classification.


What does it mean when you say Mercury is geologically dead?

The moon, Mercury, and Mars are all so small that over time they have lost much of their internal heat and have become geologically dead. Unlike the Earth which is geologically alive, mercury has no tectonic or core activity. There are no tectonic plates There are no volcanos There is no wind erosion There is no frost erosion There are no rivers and therefore no water erosion There is no change due to living organisms eg sedimentation

Related Questions

What observations are needed to tell whether an Earth-like planet is geologically alive or dead?

To determine if an Earth-like planet is geologically alive or dead, observations of tectonic activity, such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, and mountain building, are needed. Detecting the presence of a magnetic field can also indicate a planet's geologic activity, as it is generated by a molten outer core. Additionally, analyzing surface features like rift valleys, plate boundaries, and uplifted mountain ranges can provide clues to the planet's geological history and current activity.


Do bigger planet become geologically dead sooner than small planets?

No. Smaller planets become geologically dead sooner. A larger planet has a larger volume and thus a larger heat reservoir than a smaller planet and so can remain geologically active for longer.


Is the moon an active planet?

The Moon is not a planet, it, as the name suggest, is a moon.It is not geologically active anymore.


Why earth is active?

The Earth is geologically active due to the convection of heat from the planet's interior.


Does mercury has volcanoes storms or water?

No. Mercury is a geologically dead planet. It has no volcanoes, not atmosphere, and no water.


What does saying a planet is geologically active mean?

It describes the ongoing changes to the surfaces of terrestrial worlds. This is because terrestrial surfaces change over time. The moon and mercury are considered geologically dead because their surfaces have remained the same for billions of years.


Which of the terrestrial planets including the moon are considered to still be geologically active?

Earth is the only geologically active planet among the terrestrial planets. There are some geologically active moons in orbit around the gas giants. Enceladus is quite an interesting moon of Saturn.


The principle clue that the surface of a planet is geologically young?

Massive and widespread volcanism could be one clue. Lack of mountains would be another.


What is the significance of Galileo's observations of the phase of venus?

The phases of the planet Venus are the different variations of lighting seen on the planet's surface


Was there any observations of the planet mercury which could not be explained by newtons theory of gravity?

yes there were observations of the planet mercury but were hard to explain by Issac newtons theory of gravity as scienctists didn't have enough information to investigate more on the subject.


How can we tell how elliptical an exoplanet's orbit is?

It takes five good observations to find the orbital elements for a planet. The observations need to be taken over enough time for the planet to cover a good fraction of the orbit. That allows an ellipse to be fitted to the measurements.


Does Mercury have landforms?

Mercury has no atmosphere, and its surface is heavily cratered much like Earth's moon. It is estimated that the planet has been geologically dormant for a few billion years.