The Inner Planets: Mercury

The video explores Mercury's extreme temperature variations, being the planet with the greatest temperature range in the solar system. It is the second smallest planet, about one-third the size of Earth. In 1974, NASA's Mariner 10 spacecraft provided the first close-up images of Mercury, revealing a heavily cratered surface with high cliffs and expansive plains. Mercury orbits the sun quickly, completing a revolution in 88 Earth days, but rotates slowly, taking 59 Earth days for a full rotation, resulting in long days and nights.

What is the temperature range on Mercury?

• From -180 to 430 degrees Celsius

• From -50 to 50 degrees Celsius

• From 0 to 100 degrees Celsius

• From -100 to 100 degrees Celsius

How does Mercury's size compare to Earth's?

• It is about half the size of Earth

• It is about the same size as Earth

• It is about one-third the size of Earth

• It is twice the size of Earth

What was the significance of NASA's Mariner 10 mission?

• It provided the first close-up images of Mercury

• It was the first mission to land on Mercury

• It discovered water on Mercury

• It was the first mission to orbit Mercury

How long does it take Mercury to orbit the sun?

• 365 Earth days

• 59 Earth days

• 88 Earth days

• 24 Earth hours

Why are days and nights on Mercury so long?

• Because Mercury has a very slow rotation on its axis

• Because Mercury is tilted on its axis

• Because Mercury is very far from the sun

• Because Mercury has a thick atmosphere