Mercury/Venus Quiz

What is Mercury's orbital period?

• 22 days
• 44 days
• 66 days
• 88 days

Of the gods, Mercury was the _____

• Roman god of war
• Greek god of the sky
• Roman messenger god
• Greek fire god

Which planet is closest to the Sun?

• Mercury
• Venus
• Earth
• Mars

Which planet closely matches Earth in size & composition?

• Venus

• Mercury

This planet has the densest composition overall.

• Venus

• Mercury

Mercury has a much larger ___ - compared to Earth's moon.

• polar ice cap

• or thicker crust

• core

• atmosphere

Today, all of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) on Venus is located almost entirely in the

• crust

• mantle

• atmosphere

• oceans

Venus has a level of plate tectonic activity (compared to Earth) that is

• virtually non-existent.

• a little less.

• very comparable.

• a little more.

Why can't astronomers directly study the surface of Venus?

• the surface is just way too hot

• the surface is permanently obscured by thick clouds

• there is no surface of Venus

• too many active volcanoes

MESSENGER was the first space probe sent to Mercury to map its surface.

• True

• False