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Mercury Part 2, The Planet

Mercury Part 2, The Planet. Mercury has no Atmosphere. Why? 1. Gravity is too weak, so escape velocity is low 2. At the equator heat from the Sun causes gas molecules to move faster than escape velocity …so they leave!. Surface Temperature.

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Mercury Part 2, The Planet

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  1. MercuryPart 2, The Planet

  2. Mercury has no Atmosphere Why? 1. Gravity is too weak, so escape velocity is low 2. At the equator heat from the Sun causes gas molecules to move faster than escape velocity …so they leave!

  3. Surface Temperature Mercury has the greatest change of temperature of any planet Daytime High: 700°K (800°F) Nighttime Low: 100°K (-280°F) Because It has the … 1. Heat: It is closest to the Sun 2. Time: It has a very long solar day (176 Earth Days) 3. No Atmosphere to hold onto the heat

  4. Surface Features Craters: Cover Mercury..like the Moon But many are filled with lava plains, like lunar maria.

  5. The Caloris Basin The largest crater is the Caloris Basin 1300 km across!

  6. Scarps Long Cliffs cris-cross the surface created by shifts in the crust as it cooled

  7. The “Weird Terrain” This “hummocky” terrain on the opposite side of Mercury from the Caloris Basin Was probably caused when shockwaves from the impact at the basin met

  8. Mercury’s Interior Mercury probably has a core which is larger compared to the planet than Earth’s. The Crust and Mantle are relatively thin. As no probes have landed there we can’t be sure

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