Question

venus
108.2 (million km)
0.82
0
12,104
224.7 days
243 days
5.2
counter-clockwise
clockwise
very thick
870-870 (f)
earth
149.6
1
1
12,756
365.26 days
23 hours 56 min
5.5
counter-clockwise
counter-clockwise
thin
-129-136 (f)
select the statement(s) that describe why the temperatures of earth and venus differ so greatly.
venus rotates in the opposite direction, which raises its surface temperature.
venus has a much thicker atmosphere that traps the suns heat, making the planet hotter.
earth is further from the sun and is cooler than those that are closer.
earth has more mass, which makes the planet cooler.

• please choose an answer

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first option: Venus's rotation direction (counter - clockwise vs Earth's counter - clockwise with different axial rotation) doesn't directly cause a large temperature difference. So this option is incorrect.
2. Analyze the second option: From the table, Venus has a "very thick" atmosphere and Earth has a "thin" atmosphere. A thick atmosphere (like Venus's with greenhouse gases) traps heat, leading to higher temperatures. This is a valid reason.
3. Analyze the third option: Venus is at 108.2 million km from the Sun and Earth at 149.6 million km. The closer a planet is to the Sun, the more solar radiation it receives. So Earth being further makes it cooler, and Venus closer makes it hotter. This is a valid reason.
4. Analyze the fourth option: Earth's mass (density related, but mass alone) doesn't directly cause it to be cooler. The temperature difference is more about atmosphere and distance from the Sun. So this option is incorrect.

Answer:

B. Venus has a much thicker atmosphere that traps the Sun's heat, making the planet hotter.
C. Earth is further from the Sun and is cooler than those that are closer.