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Which statement is true with regard to the atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planet

ID: 340 • Letter: W

Question

Which statement is true with regard to the atmospheres of the Terrestrial Planets (Rocky Worlds) within the Solar System?

The smaller of these planets have no significant atmosphere at all, while the larger examples support dense atmospheres. Carbon dioxide is usually about 95% of these atmospheres, but there is one example of an atmosphere that has been modified to 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases.

The hydrogen and helium rich atmospheres of these planets, which are filled with clouds of various hydrocarbons and ammonia, gradually become denser and are under higher pressure with increasing depth until, in the larger examples of these planets, a region of metallic hydrogen is reached.

These planets are too small to hold any significant atmosphere.

Most of these planets have little or no atmosphere, however there is one example of a thick nitrogen atmosphere with hydrocarbon clouds.

                            a.           

The smaller of these planets have no significant atmosphere at all, while the larger examples support dense atmospheres. Carbon dioxide is usually about 95% of these atmospheres, but there is one example of an atmosphere that has been modified to 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, and 1% other gases.

                            b.           

The hydrogen and helium rich atmospheres of these planets, which are filled with clouds of various hydrocarbons and ammonia, gradually become denser and are under higher pressure with increasing depth until, in the larger examples of these planets, a region of metallic hydrogen is reached.

                            c.           

These planets are too small to hold any significant atmosphere.

                            d.           

Most of these planets have little or no atmosphere, however there is one example of a thick nitrogen atmosphere with hydrocarbon clouds.

Explanation / Answer

(b) The hydrogen and helium rich atmospheres of these planets, which are filled with clouds of various hydrocarbons and ammonia, gradually become denser and are under higher pressure with increasing depth until, in the larger examples of these planets, a region of metallic hydrogen is reached.