What kind of surface features are found on Mercury? How do they compare to surface features on the Moon? Why are they probably much older than most surface features on the Earth?

Short Answer

Expert verified
Mercury and the Moon both have many impact craters due to their exposure to space debris and lack of significant atmosphere leading to negligible erosion. However, Mercury has vast plains and cliffs, unlike the Moon. These features are probably older than most surface features on Earth because, unlike Earth, Mercury and the Moon lack significant atmospheres and surface water, which leads to less weathering and erosion, preserving their surface features for longer.

Step by step solution

01

Information Gathering

The first step is to gather information about the geographical features of Mercury and the Moon. Some of Mercury's surface features include impact craters, vast plains, cliffs, and regions of smooth terrain. As for the Moon, it also has many impact craters, lunar maria which are large, dark, basaltic plains, highlands and valleys.
02

Comparison

Next, compare the features on both celestial bodies. Both Mercury and the Moon have numerous ongoing impact craters, evidencing their exposure to impacts from celestial bodies. Neither have a significant atmosphere, which necessitates a lack of weathering or erosion. This is unlike the Earth where weathering and erosion are significant.
03

Age Analysis

Finally, explain why surface features on Mercury are probably much older than most surface features on the Earth. Given Mercury's and the Moon's lack of significant atmosphere, the rate of erosion is negligible. Hence, their surface features remain preserved for a long time. Comparatively, the Earth, having a significant atmosphere and water, experiences significant erosion and weathering changes. This means that Earth's features are being constantly reshaped and are typically younger than those on Mercury or the Moon.

Unlock Step-by-Step Solutions & Ace Your Exams!

  • Full Textbook Solutions

    Get detailed explanations and key concepts

  • Unlimited Al creation

    Al flashcards, explanations, exams and more...

  • Ads-free access

    To over 500 millions flashcards

  • Money-back guarantee

    We refund you if you fail your exam.

Over 30 million students worldwide already upgrade their learning with Vaia!

One App. One Place for Learning.

All the tools & learning materials you need for study success - in one app.

Get started for free

Most popular questions from this chapter

Why is it reasonable to assume that the primordial atmospheres of the Earth, Venus, and Mars were roughly the same?

Use the Starry Night Enthusiast \({ }^{\mathrm{TM}}\) program to compare the orbits of Venus and the Earth. Select Options > Viewing Location. .. from the menu. In the Viewing Location dialog box, set the View from to a position moving with the Sun and choose the option Above orbital plane. Then click the Set Location button to close the dialog. Click on and hold the Increase current elevation button in the Viewing Location section of the toolbar until the distance shown in the Viewing Location display pane is approximately \(\mathbf{1 . 5}\) au from the Sun. Open the Find pane and click both of the checkboxes on either side of the listing for the Earth and for Venus. This labels the two planets and draws their orbits in the view. Close the Find pane. Stop time flow and set the time and the date to 0:00:00 UT on August 19, 2007 AD. You can zoom in and zoom out on these two planets and their orbits using the buttons in the Zoom section of the toolbar. You can also rotate the solar system by holding down the Shift key and then holding down the mouse button and moving the mouse. (On a two-button mouse, hold down the left mouse button.) Are the orbits of Venus and of the Earth in the same plane? At the time shown in the image, is Venus nearest to inferior conjunction, superior conjunction, greatest eastern elongation, or greatest western elongation as seen from Earth? Explain your answers. Rotate your view to look down upon the orbits from above the pole of the Sun. Are the orbits of Earth and Venus circular?

Water has a density of \(1000 \mathrm{~kg} / \mathrm{m}^{3}\), so a column of water \(n\) meters tall and 1 meter square at its base has a mass of \(n \times\) \(1000 \mathrm{~kg}\). On either the Earth or Venus, which have nearly the same surface gravity, a mass of \(1 \mathrm{~kg}\) weighs about \(9.8\)

Compare the volcanoes of Venus, the Earth, and Mars. Cite evidence that hot- spot volcanism is or was active on all three worlds.

How is Mercury's magnetosphere similar to that of the Earth? How is it different? Why do you suppose Mercury does not have Van Allen belts?

See all solutions

Recommended explanations on Physics Textbooks

View all explanations

What do you think about this solution?

We value your feedback to improve our textbook solutions.

Study anywhere. Anytime. Across all devices.

Sign-up for free