Test Your Mars IQ
Mars, named after the god of war in Roman mythology, is one of the five planets well known to many of the world's ancient civilizations. Throughout history, it's been the subject of observation and speculation. But how much do you know about Earth's neighbor? This quiz just might teach you a thing or two about the "fourth rock from the Sun."
- 1.
How does Mars' diameter compare with Earth's?
- A.
About one-fourth as big
- B.
About half as big
- C.
About the same size
- D.
About twice as big
Correct Answer
B. About half as bigExplanation
Mars' average diameter is 4,217 miles, about half that of Earth but twice the diameter of Earth's moon. Because of Mars' lighter density and the way diameter translates into volume, the planet's mass is a tenth of Earth's mass.Rate this question:
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- 2.
About how long is a Martian day?
- A.
A little more than 12 hours
- B.
A little more than 24 hours
- C.
A little more than 48 hours
- D.
The Martian day never ends
Correct Answer
B. A little more than 24 hoursExplanation
The Martian day is called a "sol," and lasts 24 hours, 37 minutes, 23 seconds.Rate this question:
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- 3.
In Earth terms, about how long is a Martian year?
- A.
178 Earth days
- B.
365 Earth days
- C.
687 Earth days
- D.
942 Earth days
Correct Answer
C. 687 Earth daysExplanation
The Martian year equals 687 Earth days. Mars' poles are tilted 25 degrees, creating seasons similar to Earth's but twice as long.Rate this question:
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- 4.
What is the dominant ingredient of the Martian atmosphere?
- A.
Oxygen
- B.
Nitrogen
- C.
Methane
- D.
Carbon dioxide
Correct Answer
D. Carbon dioxideExplanation
Carbon dioxide makes up more than 95 percent of the Martian atmosphere. The other ingredients include nitrogen (2.7 percent), argon (1.6 percent) and just a trace of oxygen.Rate this question:
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- 5.
How high is the highest point on Mars?
- A.
4 miles high
- B.
10 miles high
- C.
16 miles high
- D.
120 miles high
Correct Answer
C. 16 miles highExplanation
Olympus Mons is a 16-mile-high volcano that covers about the same surface area as the state of Arizona. Mars also has the largest and deepest known canyons in the solar system, measuring as much as 2,500 miles long and six miles in relief from the canyon floor to the surrounding plateaus.Rate this question:
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- 6.
If you were using radio signals to chat with a friend on Mars when the two planets were at their minimum distance from each other, about how long would the minimum gaps in the conversation be?
- A.
One minute
- B.
Six minutes
- C.
One hour
- D.
Two hours
Correct Answer
B. Six minutesExplanation
The minimum distance between Earth and Mars is 34.9 million miles, or about three light-minutes. Thus, the minimum round-trip travel time at the speed of light is six minutes. (When the distance between the two planets is widest, that figure would amount to about 45 minutes.)Rate this question:
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- 7.
How many moons does Mars have?
- A.
None
- B.
One
- C.
Two
- D.
12
Correct Answer
C. TwoExplanation
The Martian moons Phobos (Greek for "fear") and Deimos (Greek for "terror") measure only a few miles wide and are named after the mythological sons of Mars, the god of war.Rate this question:
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- 8.
What's the average surface temperature of Mars in Fahrenheit degrees?
- A.
199 degrees
- B.
64 degrees
- C.
64 degrees below zero
- D.
199 degrees below zero
Correct Answer
C. 64 degrees below zeroExplanation
The surface temperature varies from 199 below zero F during polar night to 63 degrees F at the Martian equator during midday at the closest point in orbit to the sun.Rate this question:
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- 9.
If you weighed 100 pounds on Earth, about how much would you weigh on Mars?
- A.
10 pounds
- B.
38 pounds
- C.
50 pounds
- D.
100 pounds
Correct Answer
B. 38 poundsExplanation
Gravity on the Martian surface would be 38 percent of Earth's gravity, due to factors such as density and radius.Rate this question:
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- 10.
Mars' surface environment would be deadly to animal life from Earth. Why?
- A.
Atmosphere
- B.
Radiation
- C.
Neither of the above
- D.
Both of the above
Correct Answer
D. Both of the aboveExplanation
Not only is Mars' atmosphere virtually devoid of oxygen, but the surface atmospheric pressure is less than 1 percent of Earth's - effectively a vacuum. The thin atmosphere affords virtually no protection from the sun's deadly ultraviolet radiation, and there's no global magnetic field to divert charged particles.Rate this question:
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