Scientists have discovered a new planet. The planet is in a solar system whose star is similar in size to the sun and is about as far from the star as Venus is from the sun. The planet is similar in size to Earth, and its atmosphere is similar in thickness to Earth’s atmosphere. The atmosphere is composed almost entirely of carbon dioxide and methane. In three to five sentences, make a hypothesis about the temperature on the planet’s surface. Explain your answer using information about the planet’s location and atmosphere.
1 answer
Based on the information provided, it can be hypothesized that the temperature on the surface of the newly discovered planet would be extremely high. Carbon dioxide and methane are known to be greenhouse gases that trap heat in the atmosphere. Therefore, with the planet's atmosphere being composed almost entirely of these gases, it is likely that they would contribute to significant warming of the planet. Additionally, considering the planet's proximity to its star, similar to Venus' distance from the sun, it would experience intense solar radiation leading to further temperature increase.