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Chapter 11: Problem 35

What is a dust devil? Why would you feel much less breeze from a Martian dust devil than from a dust devil on Earth?

Short Answer

Expert verified
A dust devil is a wind phenomenon characterized by a rotating column of air. Although Martian dust devils may have higher wind speeds, the significantly thinner Martian atmosphere exerts much less force, making the wind feel much less intense than a comparable dust devil on Earth.

Step by step solution

01

Definition of Dust Devil

A dust devil is a strong, well-formed, and relatively long-lived whirlwind that moves across a dry surface and collects loose dust and debris. Dust devils are comparable to tornadoes in that both are a weather phenomenon involving a vertically oriented rotating column of wind.
02

Analyzing Martian Dust Devil

Dust devils also occur on Mars and were first observed by the Mars Rover. The main difference between Earth dust devils and Martian ones is that Mars has less than 1% of Earth's atmospheric pressure. This means that, although wind speeds can be much higher on Mars, the thinness of the atmosphere results in much less force exerted.
03

Comparing Breezes

The feeling of a breeze is a result of the force exerted by moving air molecules. While a dust devil on Mars can have higher wind speeds than one on Earth, the significantly thinner atmosphere means there are far fewer air molecules to exert force. As a result, the 'breeze' one would feel from a Martian dust devil would be much less than from a dust devil on Earth.

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Most popular questions from this chapter

In his 1964 science fiction story "The Coldest Place," author Larry Niven described the "dark side" of Mercury as the coldest place in the solar system. What assumption did he make about the rotation of Mercury? Did this assumption turn out to be correct?

A hypothetical planet has an atmosphere that is opaque to visible light but transparent to infrared radiation. How would this affect the planet's surface temperature? Contrast and compare this hypothetical planet's atmosphere with the greenhouse effect in Venus's atmosphere.

Explain why Mars can best be viewed from Earth while it is undergoing retrograde motion.

What is the Martian crustal dichotomy? What is the evidence that the southern highlands are older than the northern lowlands?

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?
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