Mars Exploration and Discoveries

Mars Exploration and Discoveries

by Eric Friedman

Multiple Choice

Mars's diameter is what fraction of the Earth's diameter?

• 1/4
• 1/3
• 1/2
• 2X

​Size of Mars

​Mars (diameter 6790 kilometers) is only slightly more than half the size of Earth (diameter 12750 kilometers). Note the difference in color between the two planets. Almost 70% of Earth's surface is covered by liquid water. In contrast, Mars now has no liquid water on its surface and is covered with bare rock and dust.

Multiple Choice

How strong is the gravitational pull on Mars?

• 1/4 Earth's gravity
• 1/3 Earth's gravity
• 1/2 Earth's gravity
• 2 X Earth's gravity

​Mars Gravity

​Mars' mass is 6.42 x 10²³ kilograms, about 10 times less than Earth. This affects the force of gravity. Gravity on Mars is 38 percent of Earth's gravity, so a 100-pound person on Earth would weigh 38 pounds on Mars.

Multiple Choice

How many moons does Mars have?

• 0

• 1

• 2

• 4

Multiple Choice

Mars has two moons; what are their names?

• Phobos and Deisha
• Deisha and Seimos
• Seimos and Deimos
• Phobos and Deimos

Multiple Choice

How big in diameter are the martian moons?

• 14 miles and 8 miles

• 2500 miles and 3800 miles

• 125,000 miles and 240,000 miles

• 500,000 miles and 750,000 miles

Multiple Choice

Olympus Mons is a large volcano mountain on Mars. How many times higher is it than Mount Everest?

• 3 times
• 5 times
• 17 times
• 24 times

Multiple Choice

Mars has an atmosphere containing what percentage of carbon dioxide?

• 70%
• 27%
• 75%

• 95%

Multiple Choice

Why is Mars referred to as the Red Planet?

• High abundance of iron oxides in the Martian Soil

• The red daytime sky

• Red light reflects off the Carbon Dioxide atmosphere

• Microbial life on Mars has a red tint

Multiple Choice

What's the temperature range on the Martian surface?

• -150 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit

• -284 to 36 degrees Fahrenheit

• 0 to 100 degrees Fahrenheit

• -50 to 130 degrees Fahrenheit

Multiple Choice

Ancient rivers once meandered across Mars’ surface. 

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

Of the eight known planets, Mars is the fourth largest.

• True
• False

Multiple Choice

How long is a Martian year?

• 365 days

• 687 days

• 689 days

• 210 days

Multiple Choice

Greek god for Mars?

• Aries

• Ulysses

• Pluto

• Marsius

Multiple Choice

How many rovers are currently working for NASA on Mars?

• 1

• 2

• 3

Multiple Choice

There is water on Mars.

• True

• False